[migratory birds]

It's time to submit our migrant levy fees and send our passports for our PR stamps of approval :raebanana

We need to send them to London from the US.

For those of you who've sent your passports overseas in this direction - which carrier did you use? US Postal Service? Fed-Ex? UPS? Did you insure only for value of replacing passports if lost? Any other tips before sending them off (aside from making a copy)?

Time is not of the essence so we don't need to overnight or expedite them and fees will be paid via credit card so no cheque will be enclosed in packet.

[CjChris]

I used Fed-ex for important docs simply because I could track the package using the identifying number on the mailing form.

Even though you are not in a hurry, it seems that using a fast service means your very valuable passports are not "out there somewhere" any longer than they have to be.

It might be cheaper to use US postal service; if you do, get tracking and signature option. You don't want to take any chances!

[Bruckner]

I used FedEx and don't remember if I claimed anything to be insured. No problems.

Emily

[SarahEDH]

I used UPS and did not insure for anything; had no problems.

[wanderingoregonian]

I used fed ex.. no problems.

I was needing to track the return of my passports, and an email to my case manager was all it took for him to give me the DHL tracking numbers once he'd mailed the passports back to me.

[Malay-Coopers]

Used UPS - no problems.

It is nerve racking though to let go of your passport. Almost as bad as sending in your birth certificate for the d*** passport!

[johnandbethcox]

I recommend DHL one hundred and ten percent!!!

Here's a horror story for you:

I sent my passport from the US to London for processing using FedEx. When it arrived in London, I got a call from the folks at NZIS saying that my passport was damaged. Evidently, someone had opened the package in transit, dunked my passport in water, and tried to slice my picture out of it. It was very obvious when I saw it after the NZIS team returned it. I had to get a new passport (and you know what the processing times are like in the US these days because of the new restrictions on travel).

DHL, on the other hand, tried to deliver the stamped passports to my house when my husband and I were not home. Despite having left a letter for them authorizing them to leave the package on the stoop, they would not leave a package from an immigration agency because of the potential liability. So, they sent a driver back to my house at 6:30 pm, after he was supposed to be off work for the day and in rush hour traffic, just to deliver this one package.

Again, DHL, one hundred and ten percent.

[migratory birds]

WOW! That's quite an interesting story!

I ended up going with UPS from US to London - sent on late Friday afternoon, arrived 9 am Monday morning. No reports of damage.

Now in queue for PR visa stamp/sticker!!