Passport Renewal Hits A Snag

[Renato1]

Yesterday my wife couldn't progress with her Passport Renewal at the Post Office. The Post Office couldn't scan the QR Code box at the top right hand side of the printed-out Application form, and the Passport people told the Post Office that the Renewal process could only proceed by scanning the QR Code, and not by using the adjacent Application Number. The print out of the QR Code box from my Brother Laser printer contained bits of gray, when it is supposed to be all black.

My wife asked if there was a standard form should could use for the Renewal. The answer was No, that it had to be done on-line. I had a look on-line and couldn't find any such standard form to fill out manually either.

So, I've printed out the form again at high density, and hope that works - even though there is still a bit of gray in the QR Code.

I think this raises a few questions -
a. Plenty of people don't have the internet - how do they renew?
b. Plenty of people don't have a printer - how do they renew?
c. Plenty of people may have a printer, that does not accurately print out the QR Code box - how do they renew?

It will be interesting to see how this works out.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday my wife couldn't progress with her Passport Renewal at the Post Office. The Post Office couldn't scan the QR Code box at the top right hand side of the printed-out Application form, and the Passport people told the Post Office that the Renewal process could only proceed by scanning the QR Code, and not by using the adjacent Application Number. The print out of the QR Code box from my Brother Laser printer contained bits of gray, when it is supposed to be all black.

My wife asked if there was a standard form should could use for the Renewal. The answer was No, that it had to be done on-line. I had a look on-line and couldn't find any such standard form to fill out manually either.

So, I've printed out the form again at high density, and hope that works - even though there is still a bit of gray in the QR Code.

I think this raises a few questions -
a. Plenty of people don't have the internet - how do they renew?
b. Plenty of people don't have a printer - how do they renew?
c. Plenty of people may have a printer, that does not accurately print out the QR Code box - how do they renew?

It will be interesting to see how this works out.
Cheers,
Renato

I’m wondering if the Post Office people might be nice and print it out for her. Maybe time for the printer to have a deep clean?

 

[Renato1]

I’m wondering if the Post Office people might be nice and print it out for her. Maybe time for the printer to have a deep clean?

Thanks. We'll see what happened at the Post Office when she gets back.
I just changed the toner cartridge in the printer, and in all other aspects, the printout looks immaculate and razor sharp.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Hvr]

Can you test the QR code by reading it with your phone?

 

[mrsterryn]

Was the passport help line of use ?
131232

 

[moa999]

Send yourself a PDF and get them to scan it off your phone perhaps.

Seems a bit bizarre given all the information is already online. The barcode is literally an application number.

Also don't get why they don't let Aus Post submit digital photos. They take the photo with a digital camera, then print it out, then the passport office rescans it.

I just renewed mine. Submitted on 24 Dec and got approval email today. From memory the inkjet printout also had some dots that were more dark grey than black but scanned fine.

 

[Atleastonce]

I was looking on line at the passport information yesterday for another issue, but I do recall seeing them saying that post offices do have forms you can manually complete if you ask, they are just not on display.

 

[Pleb Status]

In 2019, the subset of the Australian public who have no access to the Internet (in any form) but have the excess money to pay for a passport, overseas flights, accommodation etc would be so small that they could be neglected.

Also, Officeworks (or other printing service) can print anything you need at a reasonable cost.

Problems solved.

 

[slinky123]

You can still get APIS ( Passport info service) to prepare them and post them out. Just call 131232 and they will do that for you over the phone. They did stop for a while but resumed doing that a few months ago.
The PO also has access to the Passport office website. You can log in, ( email address and previously created password). Access the checklist, and click to print it.

 

[Renato1]

Good news. My wife's reprinted application did scan at the Post Office today.

Clearly the solution is to go into the printer's Advanced Options dialog, find "Density", and increase it to the maximimum.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

In 2019, the subset of the Australian public who have no access to the Internet (in any form) but have the excess money to pay for a passport, overseas flights, accommodation etc would be so small that they could be neglected.

Also, Officeworks (or other printing service) can print anything you need at a reasonable cost.

Problems solved.

Thanks, though I'd have thought the subset was pretty big - lots of retirees out there.
Even those with just mobile phone internet access would find it difficult to do it, then to figure out how to print it.

Having to go to Officeworks to get it done, is more a case of problem created that needed solving.

Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

You can still get APIS ( Passport info service) to prepare them and post them out. Just call 131232 and they will do that for you over the phone. They did stop for a while but resumed doing that a few months ago.
The PO also has access to the Passport office website. You can log in, ( email address and previously created password). Access the checklist, and click to print it.

Thanks. They don't say that anywhere at their site that I could find.

One can go behind the Post Office counter and log in on their computer to fill out the form?
I don't think that's the case at my tiny Post Office.

Anyhow, I still don't understand why suddenly one can't get hold of a simple Passport Renewal form that one manually fills out, as used to be the case. Problems are being created on the part of some customers for the sake of efficiency which previously was not the case.
Regards,
Renato

P.S. I forget to mention that yesterday, when my wife asked the lady at the Post Office desk,
"What happens if after my husband prints out the form again it still doesn't scan?"
she replied,
"I don't know"

 

[Pleb Status]

Thanks, though I'd have thought the subset was pretty big - lots of retirees out there.
Even those with just mobile phone internet access would find it difficult to do it, then to figure out how to print it.

Having to go to Officeworks to get it done, is more a case of problem created that needed solving.

Regards,
Renato

Every retired person I know has home internet access. In fact, my mother and her friends probably use the internet more than I do (excluding streaming).

Also, most mobile phones can now be configured as mobile hotspots so you can use a proper computer with them if required.

So the subset is still extremely small. Retired people can still be part of the modern world if they choose to be....

 

[mrsterryn]

As a slight off topic my father when he was 80 was teaching a computer class at the local senior Cits.
He bar one was the youngest out of a group of six.. one of the women was 96 at the time

 

[slinky123]

Thanks. They don't say that anywhere at their site that I could find.

One can go behind the Post Office counter and log in on their computer to fill out the form?
I don't think that's the case at my tiny Post Office.

Anyhow, I still don't understand why suddenly one can't get hold of a simple Passport Renewal form that one manually fills out, as used to be the case. Problems are being created on the part of some customers for the sake of efficiency which previously was not the case.
Regards,
Renato

P.S. I forget to mention that yesterday, when my wife asked the lady at the Post Office desk,
"What happens if after my husband prints out the form again it still doesn't scan?"
she replied,
"I don't know"

The service is definately available, just ring APIS and they will complete it and post it out. You don't need to go behind the PO counter, just get them to open the page for Passport Office, turn the keyboard around and let you login. You can then click to print it, and all will be well.

There has never been a renewal form available over the counter. Its either printed from www.passports.gov.au or APIS can prepare for you. You can also complete a PC1 full application ( Handwritten). PO has those forms. Only thing is you will need a Guarantor, photos endorsed and full set of Documents.

hope that helps, message me if you need

 

[Renato1]

Every retired person I know has home internet access. In fact, my mother and her friends probably use the internet more than I do (excluding streaming).

Also, most mobile phones can now be configured as mobile hotspots so you can use a proper computer with them if required.

So the subset is still extremely small. Retired people can still be part of the modern world if they choose to be....

People from non-english speaking backgrounds too?
I know plenty who wouldn't have a clue.
Come to think of it, I don't have a clue about,
"most mobile phones can now be configured as mobile hotspots so you can use a proper computer with them if required"
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

The service is definately available, just ring APIS and they will complete it and post it out. You don't need to go behind the PO counter, just get them to open the page for Passport Office, turn the keyboard around and let you login. You can then click to print it, and all will be well.

There has never been a renewal form available over the counter. Its either printed from www.passports.gov.au or APIS can prepare for you. You can also complete a PC1 full application ( Handwritten). PO has those forms. Only thing is you will need a Guarantor, photos endorsed and full set of Documents.

hope that helps, message me if you need

Thanks. It's not an issue for my wife anymore (see post above, where the QR code was finally scanned).

You must have more knowledgeable staff at your post office, because what you describe wasn't offered to my wife.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[ozbeachbabe]

In 2019, the subset of the Australian public who have no access to the Internet (in any form) but have the excess money to pay for a passport, overseas flights, accommodation etc would be so small that they could be neglected.

Believe me this subset far from extinct. They're often found at domestic terminals with a bewildered expression on their face uttering "where's normal checkin". Rockhampton seems to be a common destination.

 

[straitman]

Every retired person I know has home internet access. In fact, my mother and her friends probably use the internet more than I do (excluding streaming).

Also, most mobile phones can now be configured as mobile hotspots so you can use a proper computer with them if required.

So the subset is still extremely small. Retired people can still be part of the modern world if they choose to be....

I agree but also agree that printing could be an issue for some.

The Officeworks option sounds good if it wasn't 50km away.

 

[Atleastonce]

Anyhow, I still don't understand why suddenly one can't get hold of a simple Passport Renewal form that one manually fills out, as used to be the case.

Prior to this post I did offer information that you could do this. Clearly you don’t read all the replies to your thread