Can I renew my passport from abroad and will my residence permit carry over?

by Rachel
(London, England)

Question: I live and work in London, England. My US Passport expires in December 2010 and I need to start the renewal process. The problem is that I have a UK Residence Permit/Work Visa which is valid until 2011. What is the best way to renew my passport, and will my UK work visa 'carry over' to my new passport?

I will be traveling back to Houston, Texas in late August for 2 weeks in case I need to go in person to the regional passport office.

Thanks for your help.

Answer: You can renew you passport during the two weeks you will be in Houston but there is no need for this. It will only consume your time and cost extra since you would need to expedite the process.

You can apply for a renewal through the U.S. Embassy in London. If you meet the criteria, the application and supporting documents can be sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery. For more information, click the link below.

U.S. Embassy in London - Passport Services

Concerning your UK work visa, you need to check with the issuing agency. Some countries allow you to just carry the old passport with the visa in it while other require you submit the new passport for a new stamp.