Sorry if this has been covered already, but I'm in a bit of a panic! We sent in our EEA1 and EEA2 applications back in March. I sent in my passport in April. My husband was offered a job in China about 2 weeks after I sent in my passport. Since things weren't completely definite, I decided to wait to withdraw my application in case things fell through and I needed to stay in the UK. I'd read that the Home Office returns your passport very quickly if you need it back, so I thought it'd be okay.

So, I called 2 weeks ago to say that not only do I need my passport and the wedding certificate back, but that I want to cancel the whole application as we just found out we would be moving to China. I was told that we would have everything back within two weeks. My husband called the next business day to request his things back as well as they said he had to call for his own application. He was also told everything would be returned within two weeks. Two weeks later--nothing. My husband called today to check on things and was told that no action had yet been taken. This woman said that 10 days was the minimum amount of time it could take and that there was no maximum!!!

This is extremely distressing as we need my passport and the marriage certificate to get my Chinese visa. Not only that, but we are set to have our wedding ceremony in Greece in August and have our flights booked for 5th August. We also have our flights booked to fly straight to China from Athens. This situation is putting our wedding and my husband's job in jeopardy.

Is there anything I can do to get my documents back faster? Are they really allowed to hold me hostage like this? Please help.

 

Thanks Plum70. That number should be cheaper than the 0870!

I called after posting this and had the man on the phone tell me that while they aimed to have them back within 3 weeks, it could take longer. So all of a sudden it's gone from 2 weeks to 3. He said it had been marked urgent (but I'm sure all of them are!) and just kind of laughed when I told him they couldn't just hold me hostage like this. He gave me a fax number and said my best bet would be to write via fax stating all my info and what date I need the passport back by. But of course, the fax number has been busy for the last couple of hours. I don't see how giving them the information that way instead of via phone like I have been will make a difference, as they seem to have very detailed records of when we've called and what's been said, but here's the fax number if you'd like to try it: 0208 196 4290

Between this and our delayed invitation letter to China, I might lose it! My husband wants me to contact the US Embassy but I don't know if that could really help.

 

Plum70-- Lucky you! My husband called again on Tuesday and actually got through to someone who cared. She put him on hold to speak to whoever's in charge of this, then assured him that our docs were being collected and that everything would be back by Friday. She also said that we should have been told to fax over our e-tickets 2 weeks ago, when we first called. Sigh.

So, today while home for lunch, the post came. Our docs! Except that it was everything except my passport! And all in a special delivery envelope that was not the one I sent in the first place. Sigh. I really hope they haven't lost it. Must call back yet again.


ETA: Got through to a very rude woman on the phone. She said that even though I specifically told the others I spoke to that my passport was sent in separately, that of course they assumed everything was together and that they did their jobs just perfectly. She says I have to write a letter asking for it back. Even though I already did that. Twice. This is so frustrating! I might just have to say I lost it and get a new one.