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Original poster

Passport disaster.

107 replies

Goslowlysideways · 06/08/2020 18:53

Has anyone done a passport renewal in the last month? Or during this COVID fun? I was so busy assuming my holiday would be cancelled I only remembered my daughters passport needed renewing recently. I sent if about 10 days ago and when I checked it said it was being processed on August 4th!
We could ( who knows!) if things go ahead be travelling in two weeks.

The passport office said it will take 6 weeks.

Do I have a hope?
I’m such a muppet.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 06/08/2020 20:37

@LucyLeak Oh nooooo

OP posts:
Subordinateclause · 06/08/2020 20:41

New passport for our baby took about 4 weeks - arrived a couple of days ago. Didn't get to the processing stage for a fortnight of that though I think.

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 06/08/2020 20:48

@Subordinateclause It’s says it’s processing now. So fingers crossed.

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pollyannaperspective · 06/08/2020 21:24

Mine took a week from me submitting electronically before the update said it had been received. It went through all the processing stages the following day and was then sent back. Took about 4 days for it to be delivered to home. The 'track/trace' for delivery to me did not work.
Good luck OP. Hope you get away/back safely.

MrsSpookyM · 06/08/2020 21:37

Mine took 11 days last year!

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 06/08/2020 21:38

@pollyannaperspective Thank you so much. All my fingers crossed x

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 06/08/2020 21:45

I’m afraid mine was processing for a month. I got it back a month ago - 6 weeks start to finish. You could try HMPO on Twitter - sometimes if you beg the person managing the account takes a look for you...

DazzlingDee · 06/08/2020 22:32

Applied 10.06.20, approved 03.07.20, despatched 06.07.20, received 07.07.20 so almost 4 weeks.

I did exactly the same as you so was panicking. Our holiday ended up getting cancelled anyway (Spain!)

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 06/08/2020 23:21

I’m going to try Twitter. I’m being realistic and planning for a disaster.
Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 07/08/2020 06:16

I renewed my DS’s passport - I sent it off the beginning of March, had the processing text - and then had 3 more talking about slow systems because of lockdown! It arrived the middle of June, so about 3 months.

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:20

@PotteringAlong Really?!?! I’m getting more pessimistic by the minute

OP posts:
Sheenais · 07/08/2020 06:21

@ShirleyPhallus

I got one for my new baby, it took about 5 weeks from sending in the birth cert to receiving the passport

Apparently you can tell them if you’ll be travelling to get them to hurry it along, not sure if this is true or not but try twitter

I did message them on Twitter to ask if anything could be done to speed it up, they replied saying no but the next day the status changed to approved and then it was dispatched pretty quick after that. Not sure if it’s coincidence but worth a go!

A coincidence? No I bet they went through the pile to fast track your application. Amazing how Twitter works. Oh wait, it took 5 weeks? Hmm. What do you really think?
someoneseatenmyapple · 07/08/2020 06:23

Applied online for my sons on 15th July. It came 2 days ago.

someoneseatenmyapple · 07/08/2020 06:25

... it was a renewal. Also stated it was for ID so no travel dates given.

MrsBungle · 07/08/2020 06:26

3 weeks ago I applied to renew 2 dc’s passports. They were both received within 2 weeks (even though they were sent to different passport offices too).

Caspianberg · 07/08/2020 06:28

We are still waiting on new baby passport sent May 20th.
Have spoken to them several times as we are hoping to travel asap back to the uk as my mother is very sick and it hasn’t been sped up at all. Email received last week says ‘ should arrive in 5 weeks if no issues with documents’

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:32

@Caspianberg I’m so sorry to hear about your mum I hope you get it soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:33

@MrsBungle @someoneseatenmyapple The variation seems huge.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:34

@Sheenais You seem a delight.

OP posts:
Sheenais · 07/08/2020 06:36

That poster actually said it took 5 weeks to get her passport. Which is only one week shorter than they told you. It is not Twitter is it? 😂

WhentheDealGoesDown · 07/08/2020 06:42

They are fast tracking some but you have to have sent it 4 weeks ago and go on holiday within 2 weeks, apparently the government has told them to get those ones done. Where are you going OP because France looks a bit dodgy for quarantine now

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:44

@Sheenais I think she took the time to reply to try and make me feel better and maybe without Twitter it would have been longer who knows. It’s not a Newsnight interview.....just a message board so no need for anyone to scrutinise the responses.

OP posts:
someoneseatenmyapple · 07/08/2020 06:45

[quote Goslowlysideways]**@MrsBungle* @someoneseatenmyapple* The variation seems huge.[/quote]
I don't know if it was quicker because we applied online plus it was a renewal too. We had just apples, then heard about the 400k backlog so was very surprised when it came.

someoneseatenmyapple · 07/08/2020 06:45

Applied not apples!!! 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
Goslowlysideways · 07/08/2020 06:49

@someoneseatenmyapple This was online then I sent the old passport.
I just wish I hadn’t been so lax!

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