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Original poster

Passport applications

30 replies

IcyApril · 20/10/2020 17:04

Has anyone applied for a first U.K. passport recently (or a renewal)? If so, please could you tell me how long it took to come through?

OP posts:
Original poster
IcyApril · 20/10/2020 22:13

Just bumping.

OP posts:
Someonesayroadtrip · 20/10/2020 22:16

I applied for my children, took about 10 days for all 4 of them and one of them went to a different place to the other three.

jimmyjo · 20/10/2020 22:18

Husbands renewal went to Glasgow, passport returned within a week , fab service

Original poster
IcyApril · 20/10/2020 22:30

Fantastic, thank you. It sounds like they are doing a great job. Fingers crossed don’t daughters is as quick.

OP posts:
Shopaholic100 · 20/10/2020 22:33

My renewal came back in about 10 days. Excellent service was kept informed every step of the way .

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 02:44

Applied for DDs in August. Still waiting.
I can't say more or I will rant and cry and scream - it's caused us serious shit and there's no end in sight. There are no "fast track" or emergency ones now either. And the phone line is 55p a minute..... stops self

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 02:45

Renewals and child ones are not the same btw. First adult ones are nigh on impossible

Original poster
IcyApril · 21/10/2020 11:38

Oh PomBear I’m so sorry. I know a couple of other people who have got their first child ones in about three weeks but this was a couple of months ago. I’m so sorry you’ve had such a tough time and I hope you get it sorted soon. I also hope my daughter’s doesn’t turn into a nightmare as we need it now.

OP posts:
Someonesayroadtrip · 21/10/2020 17:29

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS

Applied for DDs in August. Still waiting. I can't say more or I will rant and cry and scream - it's caused us serious shit and there's no end in sight. There are no "fast track" or emergency ones now either. And the phone line is 55p a minute..... stops self
Argh that's sounds dreadful. Sorry it's been so useless for you. Did you apply online?
PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 19:52

@Someonesayroadtrip
We couldn't apply online, it has to be an actual form for a first adult one.
It's a longgggggg story, and the stress is making me ill.
Basically, without a passport, nowhere will give DD a bank account, so they can't/won't pay her student finance.
She is now in London, alone, with about £30 in cash left. We had to borrow her accommodation deposit and rent instalment, her coach fare, and £200 cash to take with her to live on. She travelled alone on the coach with a single case and a backpack. If the damn passport doesn't come soon she's going to have to come home we think. We can't get anymore money, and need hers to arrive so we can pay back what we borrowed. The passport office SAID that they would try and speed it up, twice, after very long twatty phone calls, then ignored us. It's a nightmare.
And there I went ! Sorry.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 19:55

Covid has a lot to answer for @IcyApril! Hope you get better luck than we've had. If you are actually going abroad as an emergency, it might be worth asking for help to speed up. Not going abroad means it's not an emergency though, and they won't help. Negotiating their automated phone system is an epic adventure in itself though. If you say the wrong thing they disconnect you...

Itchybush · 21/10/2020 20:00

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS Oh god , that's horrific. Hopefully this will help.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-to-beat-id-issues-when-opening-a-bank-account/amp

A friend of mine didn't have a passport, driving licence or proof or address. We gathered up absolutely everything she had, made an appointment with the bank manager and basically begged for an account. She got a basic account that day.

Can her student finance not be paid into someone else's account? By cheque and taken to a cheque cashing place?

Itchybush · 21/10/2020 20:02

Also speak to her uni about an emergency bursary payment, I think it's called. I got one when my finance didn't come through but that was years ago.

Itchybush · 21/10/2020 20:04

Sorry its called a hardship fund.

Orangedaisy · 21/10/2020 20:05

Renewal last week took 6 days from application to new passport arriving.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 20:31

She is in touch with the student services people, but they're only communicating online atm. If it gets desperate they "may be able to help" .
We tried every bank with a branch here and none of them would even let us into the building "cos covid" we had to explain in the street at the door!
It's going to be ok! (She says firmly) everything is sorted with student loans co, but they can only pay into an account in her name. No joint, not savings, not a prepay card, has to be current account, British bank, her name only.
It's just a waiting game, and so stressful. Nobody seems to want to even try to help us "cos covid" and it's crap!
Half her suitcase was full of instant bloody noodles ffs! I feel like I am failing her, she worked so hard, then the carry on with the A level results, now this.

RedSoloCup · 21/10/2020 20:39

Renewal for DD15, a week or two? Was fine.

mimbleandlittlemy · 21/10/2020 20:52

Less than 10 days to get mine last month, all online. Now not actually going on the holiday I had to renew it for but there we go. Assume I will get to take the horrible new blue fecker somewhere at some point!!

EmbarrassedUser · 21/10/2020 21:19

[quote PomBearWithoutHerOFRS]@Someonesayroadtrip
We couldn't apply online, it has to be an actual form for a first adult one.
It's a longgggggg story, and the stress is making me ill.
Basically, without a passport, nowhere will give DD a bank account, so they can't/won't pay her student finance.
She is now in London, alone, with about £30 in cash left. We had to borrow her accommodation deposit and rent instalment, her coach fare, and £200 cash to take with her to live on. She travelled alone on the coach with a single case and a backpack. If the damn passport doesn't come soon she's going to have to come home we think. We can't get anymore money, and need hers to arrive so we can pay back what we borrowed. The passport office SAID that they would try and speed it up, twice, after very long twatty phone calls, then ignored us. It's a nightmare.
And there I went ! Sorry.[/quote]
Does it have to be a passport? Can she apply for a driver’s licence even if she doesn’t drive.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 21/10/2020 23:13

Driving licence now is photocard even for provisional, so has to be countersigned just like a passport. Would have cost almost the same and taken the same time according to the website. Whether the DVLA estimate was right we'll never know, passport office wasn't.

Original poster
IcyApril · 22/10/2020 20:17

Just updating this for anyone.

Documents for a first passport by office received yesterday. Passport approved this morning and printed and dispatched this evening.

OP posts:
PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 23/10/2020 18:41

I take it your DD is under 18 @IcyApril? So it's a child passport?
My DD but the bullet and spent over a tenner on the phone and they have said they will "probably get to her next week sometime to arrange the timeslot for the interview" - they are doing them over Skype or similar rather than in the office.
Glad yours has arrived though! some good news for a change Smile

BlueThistles · 23/10/2020 18:51

Sent mines away last Wednesday... my new Blue passport arrived today .. I'd forgotten it would change colour.. it's nice 🌺

BlueThistles · 23/10/2020 18:52

sorry door to door 10 days 🤣

InTheLongGrass · 27/10/2020 15:42

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS if you are no further forward, I've just seen on an expat forum that urgent, none travel related, passport renewals now have a route to be prioritised. I dont know what that means for first passport applications, but it might be worth spending the phonecall money, and getting your daughter to try and progress her application.
Good luck!