Passport application or renewal timelines in one place at a glance -add yours!

[EveSix]

In the light of the hefty current backlog of processing passport applications, I thought it might be informative to start a thread for keeping an eye on other people's timelines for the applications for and renewal of UK passports. Personally, I'm hoping for reassurance at best, or a grim-faced reality check at worst.
I'll start. How about this format:
Type of passport requested: 2x DC UK renewals
Date of application: 18th of April
Method: Check and Send at local post office
Anyone want to add their stats?

Great news for those receiving passports! The order of processing is baffling, but they're getting through them somehow, albeit glacially in some instances. It would save applicants a lot of worry if the processes were more transparent and the advice given less ambiguous.
I did hear there was something odd about the online tracker yesterday on a FB group. I don't have access to online tracking as I'm a paper applicant so didn't pay too much attention, but it has happened to 100s of people and looks like it's a glitch rather than anything actually to do with the progress of their application.

Child's renewal. Online May 6th still waiting for it. He needs it for volunteer at Commonwealth Games.

Oh how weird, @bizzey and what a shame.

I had a missed delivery card for a piece of registered post and my heart soared that it was DS’s passport, but I looked online and nothing has changed. ☹️

Hi all - update on mine with full timeline:

Child's First - Online application - Bootle office

Flying in October so hoping there is plenty of time yet.

Application submitted: 6 May
Identity confirmed: 11 May
Birth Certificate sent 1st class recorded: 13 May
Royal Mail tracking showing as delivered and signed for: 16 May
HMPO tracking marked as docs received: 25 May
HMPO tracking marked as approved: 14 June

Luckily we didn't go into the dreaded processing stage so I assume it was machine approved from what I've read on the passport chaos FB group

Will update when it goes to print etc

Well I have had a lovely time on hold to passport office!

Lady on Sunday said call back would be 1-3 days
Now I am being told 3-5 days !

He said there was a glitch in the system...and on his screen he could see the updated status ,that was missing when I looked.
(Yeah ....right !)

Well I have taken the bull by the horns...cos I am soooopissed off with other posts saying they got theirs back in less than a month
that I have emailed my MP !

GOSH ...sorry ....I am in a real grumpy mood today !

I was very nice and sympathetic to call handler though.
It was not his fault all this is going on .

@bizzey both my DD's applications have said the same! The trackers have changed from 'being processed' or whatever the term was, back to 'identity details received'

I'm hoping it's a good sign that something's happening? One application was made 29th April and the other 3rd May. It is frustrating to see others getting their passports so quickly.

I think it's just a glitch: everyone's status seems to have gone back a stage

Dh's renewal has been at "processing" since 9th May but yesterday reverted to the 8th May status "Documents Received"

Adult renewal with name change. Applied online. Documents sent to Bootle.

16th may application submitted.
8th June new passport received.

I had a call back !

According to his screen it is now with the examiners.

If I don't have any further update I need to ring again at beginning of July.

Someone will call me .
And if I need to collect it...I can appoint someone else to collect it.
(Hello lovely sons !!)

Might take a risk and buy a cabin luggage suitcase ...

Or maybe not !!

Oh...he couldn't find anything wrong with the application

After waiting over 10 weeks and about 30 useless phone calls and call backs over the past 2 weeks - I drove up to Peterborough passport office this morning with no appointment, and they approved an urgent upgrade and issued me the passport we had been waiting for by the end of the day today. I did have to wait around in Peterborough for several hours but worth it. This was because it was more than 10 weeks since we applied, we had less than 48hr until planned travel (tomorrow!!) and I had proof of travel. They were really strict with the proof of travel.

It’s quite clear that they just don’t have enough staff, all the staff I did meet were lovely and very helpful.

There was a BBC news crew outside interviewing people.

There was a real mix of people there - lots like me who had waited over 10 weeks and had imminent travel - others who just hadn’t applied in good time or who don’t have travel until July / August but getting caught up in the panic.

Final post

Passport arrived today June 16th via DHL

So 3 weeks from online application to delivery

Adult renewal from Australia posted 7th June.
Message came though on 16th that its on its way back.

Bloody amazed, though to be fair, both Auspost and the UK end of mailing have lifted their game back to mid-2000s standards, i.e. tip-top.

Has anyone been told over the phone that they can’t upgrade a first time adult passport and turned up to passport office and queued and got it sorted?

Child's renewal: 9 weeks tomorrow.
Have requested upgrade as we fly next Sunday but not expecting to hear anything.
Fully prepared (hotel booked) to queue at Peterborough next Saturday.

Are you on "passport chaos 2022" on Facebook?
I believe I've seen someone has done this on there.

Thank you I’ve just joined!

PP going to Peterborough in person - is that because it's the office nearest to you?

I've no idea which offices one DD's application went to (hers was a lost passport) - the other DD's, I was asked to send her old passport to Belfast.

If it's getting to 10 weeks can I just turn up at Bootle or Liverpool (nearest to me) and they print them?

It is my nearest office but happens to be the one it was sent to too.
You can find out where its being processed by calling/texting/webchat. Bootle is just a sorting hub apparently so you can't go there but Liverpool is a proper office.

From what I've seen on the Facebook group you can go to your nearest office so long as its 6 or more weeks from application and you're travelling in 48 hours or less. They will then have to contact the office dealing with your application and get them to approve it and it will then be sent for printing at the office you have attended. Sometimes people have said that the processing office didn't play ball with sending it to the one you're at so that's the only thing that could be an issue.

On the whole though people are successful going to their nearest office.
I recommend joining the passport chaos 2022 Facebook group if you can as the information on there is so helpful

I am no expert ..and this is just what I have learnt during my lovely passport expirience.

..if you get to 10 weeks ...from their dates ( their dates go by when your documents are put on the system...so upto 3 weeks after you applied) you can apply to upgrade/have it escalated.
They ring you back within in 5 days .
2 weeks before travel..if you can supply travel documents...let them know ....and they will do something.

I have been given a date to ring them for mine .it is noted and on the system,that that is my deadline .
Exactly 2 weeks of my travel date.

I can't upgrade till then 😞

From what I have understood,I can upgrade at that point ,,,and pay extra...which will actually be at my 12 week point anyhow ?

Basicly ...all of us April applicants are ....well you know the word ,!

Thanks. Do they seem to be prioritising more recent applications? It's frustrating as you'd expect applications to be processed more or less in the order they were received.

I applied with 12 weeks before travel, which was a risk. I didn't expect a delay acknowledging the old passport!

Renewed on line on the 28th March
old passport received by office 5th April
application approved 20th April
new passport received 26th April

An actual human from the passport office rang me this morning!!!

But it’s not good news and it’s my mistake and I’m absolutely kicking myself.

DS has an ‘official’ name on his adoption certificate and goes by a shortened version for every day. Think Samuel/Sam, sort of thing.

One of the supporting bits of documentation I sent (letter about school place) is in the shortened version of his name so it doesn’t count 🤯 I have to source and send another document with his full name which is obviously going to create a delay.

I am absolutely kicking myself. I can’t believe I was so stupid.

The passport office man was very nice and rang me at 7.30 this morning so they are working very hard!

Oh Rainallnight how annoying !

Was this a pre - planned call back or did they just ring you to let you know ?