Re: Useful Passport Information.

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:44 pm

Very useful info from Admin with link etc.
Question:
WHAT THE HECK DOES THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION DO FOR US?
They don't even run the warden scheme anymore for passing on info and instructions in an emergency, and Cyprus is
in a highly volatile Region where an emergency could suddenly occur.
I am not trying to slag off the BHC, I am asking a serious question.
My UK Passport says: "failure to do so (registering with the BHC in our case) may in an emergency result in difficulty or
delay in according them assistance and protection"
Geoff.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 2:31 pm

One of the links in the text I posted (which came from the BHC) was to their facebook page. It might be worthwhile asking them on there.

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:44 pm

Dominic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2017 2:31 pm One of the links in the text I posted (which came from the BHC) was to their facebook page. It might be worthwhile asking them on there.

Thanks for that, but I never use Facebook.
Registration is strongly recommended, and they still do that. Problem arises in an emergency, e.g. requiring evacuation of
UK Nationals; they have to contact many individually. The old warden scheme meant they only had to call the wardens, they called those on their patch. Very efficient scheme and I have worked in countries where this happened.
I guess in the event of troubles here we would rush to the SBA at Ay. Nik and take it from there.
The BHC probably read all the forums, I hope so, maybe they will respond.
I don't want to be accused of scaremongering but when an emergency situation does arise everything occurs very quickly, just
like the shootings in Tunisia a couple years ago.
Anyway, if you are resident here you should register with the BHC.
Geoff.

Rita Sherry · Post by **Rita Sherry** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:48 pm

"WHAT THE HECK DOES THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER DO FOR US?"

Dont be too harsh Geoffreys - when my two friends sustained serious injury in a road accident early in February it was the British Consul office who informed their relatives in the UK and made contact with my friends at the hospital the same night.

Rita

panoscouse · Post by **panoscouse** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:13 pm

"WHAT THE HECK DOES THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER DO FOR US?"

What do you expect them to do for you?
They are there in case of an unforeseen emergency to offer help, guidance and assistance.

They are not there to provide for you what you can or should already provide for yourself. Nor are they there to help you avoid the consequences of an illegal activity.

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 7:10 am

panoscouse wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:13 pm "WHAT THE HECK DOES THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER DO FOR US?"

What do you expect them to do for you?
They are there in case of an unforeseen emergency to offer help, guidance and assistance.

They are not there to provide for you what you can or should already provide for yourself. Nor are they there to help you avoid the consequences of an illegal activity.

They are not there to provide UK Nationals assistance, even evacuation, then in the event of an emergency in Cyprus?
Geoff.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:15 am

I don't follow you. Panoscouse said they are there for unforeseen emergencies.

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:43 am

Dominic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:15 am I don't follow you. Panoscouse said they are there for unforeseen emergencies.

If you read my original post my point is that by discontinuing the Warden scheme they are now thus unable to promptly/properly/speedily offer such assistance; i.e. to meet their duty of care to UK Nationals residing here, in the event of unforeseen emergencies.
He also mentioned illegal activities - I did not understand that point.
Geoff.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:41 am

I think Panoscouse meant if you rob somebody you are on your own. That sort of illegal activity.

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:49 am

Dominic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:41 am I think Panoscouse meant if you rob somebody you are on your own. That sort of illegal activity.

OK, I didn't read it that way; in which case he is right.
Thanks,
Geoff.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:46 am

Where did you get your two photos from?

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:07 pm

PhotoLady · Post by **PhotoLady** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 3:27 pm

From a link posted today on a thread about Brexit from the BHC in Nicosia, there was another link in there to a PDF file which provides a summary of what they do for those overseas:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... eb__1_.pdf

If you want to see what they Government have said about Brexit, the lead up to and everything else - take a peep here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/info ... ing-the-eu

geoffreys · Post by **geoffreys** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:34 pm

PhotoLady wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2017 3:27 pm From a link posted today on a thread about Brexit from the BHC in Nicosia, there was another link in there to a PDF file which provides a summary of what they do for those overseas:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... eb__1_.pdf

If you want to see what they Government have said about Brexit, the lead up to and everything else - take a peep here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/info ... ing-the-eu

Thanks for the link.
I see they don't even register Brits living overseas anymore. So in an emergency listen to the TV/Radio.
Geoff.

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 3:57 am

geoffreys wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:44 pm Very useful info from Admin with link etc.
Question:
WHAT THE HECK DOES THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION DO FOR US?
They don't even run the warden scheme anymore for passing on info and instructions in an emergency, and Cyprus is
in a highly volatile Region where an emergency could suddenly occur.
I am not trying to slag off the BHC, I am asking a serious question.
My UK Passport says: "failure to do so (registering with the BHC in our case) may in an emergency result in difficulty or
delay in according them assistance and protection"
Geoff.

I think they last emergency ..1974 entitled you to buy a very cheap property ..so good news for you

memory man · Post by **memory man** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 7:44 am

UK passport awareness campaign kicks-off in Cyprus

British High Commission representatives have paid a visit to the Silverline Private School in Limassol to launch a new passport awareness campaign targeted at British expat and dual national children.

The #PassportHero campaign aims to raise awareness of passport renewal and passport safety, targeting children specifically to better understand what a passport is, how important it is for passports to be kept safe, and to pass on these messages to their parents.

After colouring in their Passport Hero, children are encouraged to ask their parents to share their drawing on social media with the hashtag #PassportHero to spread the message.

The British High Commission regularly runs consular campaigns, given the large numbers of British visitors to and residents on the island, but #Passport Hero is the first one specifically targeted at children.

Vice Consul Christina Smith said: "We’re grateful to Silverline School for their help in launching #PassportHero. Raising awareness about passports with children is a great way of also influencing behaviour in adults. You never know when you may need to travel so having a valid passport is important. Many people do not realise that if they let their passports lapse for more than 10 years, they will be considered as first time applicants if they then seek to renew - which can be a far more complicated procedure. It is therefore best to keep your passport valid”.

Each year, the consular service of the British High Commission issues over 250 Emergency Travel Documents where British nationals, or Cypriots with dual nationality, have lost, had stolen, or most commonly have let their passports expire.

British Embassy staff presented prizes to Silverline pupils for the best coloured in Passport Heros, as selected by High Commissioner Matthew Kidd.

The winning designs will be featured on the High Commission’s social media channels at: www.facebook.com/ukincyprus and www. twitter.com/ukincyprus.

British nationals can now renew your British passport online at: www.gov.uk/overseas-passports in a quick and simple procedure. The turnaround time is currently 4-6 weeks and the passports can be delivered directly to your home address in Cyprus.

More information on other consular services provided by the British High Commission is available at: www.gov.uk/government/world/cyprus

Commenting on recent Cypriot concerns about possible changes to entry requirements to the UK because of Brexit, a High Commission spokesperson said: "For the time being, the UK remains a full member of the European Union. This means that there are no visa requirements for EU nationals wanting to visit the UK. Cypriots are currently able to visit the UK using their Cypriot ID cards only, provided that this mentions your nationality as "Cypriot” or Cypriot/British on the reverse side. But we recommend also, in line with the messages of the Passport Hero campaign, that UK passport holders keep their UK passports valid”

— © FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE CYPRUS

Paphos Life