U.S. passports are good for 10 years, but travelers need to start thinking about renewing them after nine years. That�s because many countries require passports to be good for at least six months after the traveler exits the country. Depending on how busy the U.S. Passport Agency is, it may take two to three months for the office to process your renewal application. Travelers renewing passports can submit applications by mail.
With the heightened fears of terrorism these days, it has never been more important to have your papers in order than it is today. An improper or out of date passport could find you in a bit of trouble when trying to travel internationally, so you should take every step possible to make sure that your passport is valid. A big part of this is passport renewal. Many people forget to get a passport renewal because it takes so many years for the passport to become invalid and they don't use it enough to really think about it. If you need to have your passport renewed, you can either mail the passport office itself, or you can find any of the paperwork you need for a renewal at your post office.
In the US please approach your local post office who can help you out.
http://travel.state.gov/
passport
Renewing your passport used to require an in-person visit to a passport office. Not anymore. Renewing a passport can now be done online. There are reputable companies that work with the relevant government agency, provide the appropriate paperwork and assist customers in renewing passports online. To complete the process, the applicant should contact one of these companies, download and complete the required forms, submit their current United States passport and have a passport photo taken.
Nothing 'happens'. Your passport has expired and needs renewing.
Yes
Your current passport and your birth certificate are required every time you want to renew your passport.
Contact the British Embassy in Hong Kong for advice on renewing your British Passport.
Yes, it is legal. The passport office itself does this when a British Citizen living outside the UK renews their passport. The new passport is produced in and sent from the UK. Note that different procedures and different forms are needed fro renewing a passport outside the UK to renewing one in the UK. It also costs nearly twice as much to renew a passport if you live outside the UK.
Your book number is most probably your passport number usually indicated inside the information flap of the Passport where the details of the holder is written.
For purposes of renewing a passport by mail, the weight to mail in the two-page renewal form, two passport photos, and the old passport in a standard letter-sized envelope is about 1.5 ounces. If you use a priority mail envelope from the USPS the total mailing wait is 2.6 ounces.
The cost of purchasing or renewing your passports online vary from country to country. It is best to consult your immigration office within your country.
See the jamaican high commission website on www.jhcuk.org. All the information is available there for you. You will still need to keep the old passport as that will have your indefinite leave to remain in the UK, unless you wish to pay to have the stamp transferred to your new Jamaican Passport by the Home Office in UK. Otherwise travel with both.