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Original poster

Still no passports for kids. Holiday in a week.

30 replies

Gribbie · 14/08/2018 19:29

I applied for first passports for my kids and I’m still waiting. My renewal arrived 2 weeks ago - all forms were send in together. Phoned to see what was going on and am waiting to hear if they can be fast tracked. But soetently if they can’t be fast tracked they don’t call me. Aaahhhhhj!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 19:30

But apparently...

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Addy2 · 14/08/2018 19:59

My boss once went to see his MP to get his fast tracked for a holiday. Apparently, it worked. Could try that?

Strawberrybelly · 14/08/2018 20:00

I hope they arrive in time.

dementedpixie · 14/08/2018 20:02

Have they asked for info from your countersignatory?

EmmaC78 · 14/08/2018 20:03

How long ago did you send them?

dementedpixie · 14/08/2018 20:03

Did they say why they were delayed?

ApocalypseNowt · 14/08/2018 20:04

Have the people you got to countersign them been contacted?

TheConstantMoaner · 14/08/2018 20:07

Kids passports can be fast tracked

Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 20:14

countersignatory was the same for my passport as the kids. They’ve not been contacted. No comments on the acct to say why the delay.

I’m waiting for the fast track team to call me. Request was put in Monday pm.

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Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 20:14

Sent about 6 weeks ago.

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Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 20:16

Can you collect them? DP had to do this.

Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 20:18

Happy to collect - just need them to call me back.

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Knitjob · 14/08/2018 20:19

Good luck. I think once they are in the system you can't switch to fast track because a human would have to go and dig through the piles of standard applications and take your application to the fast track pile and this is too complicated.

Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 20:21

They said they can request to fast track, but if they can’t do change it then they don’t call to let you know. I’ve had birth certs back weeks and weeks ago so they must have put the docs on the system.

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rebelrosie12 · 14/08/2018 20:21

This happened to us, the countersignitories are contacted on a random basis for new passports (so not yours). Ours was a paediatric Dr friend and the letter went into her pigeon hole at work and was left untouched. Then they cancelled the application and we were able to do the fast track with a new countersignitory, this time they didn't contact them. Could this be what's happened?

AlexaShutUp · 14/08/2018 20:28

We had a problem with dd's counter signatory. He said he hadn't heard anything, whereas they insisted that they had written to his work address and that the letter had been returned to them unopened, saying "not known at this address"....but I work with him and he is very much known at our work address! I'm sure that it wasn't him not cooperating either, because he signed mine and had done dd's before without any problems!

They wouldn't re-send it so we had to get a new counter-signatory and start again. However, they didn't communicate any of this proactively, we only found out that there was a problem because I kept ringing up asking where it was. The whole process took months, whereas mine came back within the week.

Eventually, we were getting close to our flight dates so we contacted the MP's office for help. She is a Tory and I'd never vote for her, but credit where credit is due - her team were on it really quickly and the passport office, which had been really bloody unhelpful, suddenly couldn't do enough to help! We eventually got dd's passport a day before we were due to travel.Shock

Original poster
Gribbie · 14/08/2018 20:42

I’ll check with the countersignatory again just in case. It’s the lack of info that’s driving me nuts. I know my local mp so if I don’t get any answers tomorrow I’ll get onto him. Thanks for the tips and hand holding.

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Original poster
Gribbie · 15/08/2018 15:13

Called again this morning and no progress, called the Liverpool office this afternoon who said they are with Belfast, called Belfast and a lovely lady said she'll get someone to call me back this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I'm sitting on my hands until that call. Email to MP drafted ready to go if needed...fingers crossed I get some news soon!

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BertieBotts · 15/08/2018 15:19

DS's earlier this year took forever and I got no info about the delay or why it took so long, just kept being told "It's processing and it's due to higher security checks to keep you safe" well fine - but don't say it will take a maximum of 3 weeks then!

Original poster
Gribbie · 15/08/2018 15:29

Indeed - it's the lack of info that's so frustrating! I read an old Mumsnet thread that said to call the office it was being processed at directly to get better info.

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mamalovebird · 15/08/2018 15:31

I had the same situation a few years back. 7 days to go and still no passport despite sending all the forms in plenty of time. Contacted my MP who had it sorted within 48 hours for me. Def email your MP.

Scrumptiousbears · 15/08/2018 16:15

How odd. We applied for our DD passport the week of her birth and flew out in 6 weeks ours took 3 max. I know that's no help but what a strange delay.

Original poster
Gribbie · 15/08/2018 16:19

Lovely lady called my back - all checks had been passed, then they got "stuck" for no reason. They're going to print them locally and get them couriered out to arrive Friday. i might have declared my undying love for her Grin

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Original poster
Gribbie · 15/08/2018 16:20

If I'd have carried on calling the main line god knows if we'd have made any progress!

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GreatDuckCookery6211 · 15/08/2018 16:45

Oh phew. How stressful. I've never known them to be longer than 2 weeks to arrive, must have been a cock up somewhere.

Glad you've sorted Smile