Passport panic

[limeandcola]

Application submitted 2nd May and documents received 10th May - although they were posted the same day as application!

We've had no movement whatsoever since then and we fly in 2 weeks. Is there any way we can speed this up?

It’s only been 7 weeks since they revived your documents so I don’t think you can do anything yet.

They are saying 10 weeks at the minute so until that has past there isn’t much you can do.

Even then I think the only option is to cancel the application, wait to receive your documents back and then try to book a fast track appointment.

Nope, not unless you can get a fast track appointment near you, which are rare! The website says 10wks, which will take you up to next week, but everything is delayed so you may not get lucky. Do you have a plan b?

I think you can call to get an urgent fast track, but only when it’s closer to your flight date.

@MolliciousIntent I'm still going on holiday but my other half will have to stay at home. It's his passport that's the issue, not mine!

My DH had his back in about 3 weeks for a renewal so hold tight

If you fly in 2 weeks then ring them. Was it a postal application rather than online? Was it a first passport or a renewal? Do you have the application reference number?

@Gottoomuchgoingon it's been a lot more than 3 weeks, we've held tight enough impatient!!

Look at the Passport Chaos page on Facebook.
Lots of horror stories but lots of good advice as well

@dementedpixie online, we've got a PEX tracking number. We rang a couple days ago and was on hold for 2 hours, told we would be referred for a fast track appointment but it's been 3 days and nothing

I have been on the phone for 2 hours today, I have the same issue as you, however i just hit the 10 weeks so they will try to expedite my application.
as you are travelling in 2 weeks, call them and hopefully they can do the same.

lets hope i get it back in 2 weeks as thats when i leave. its two of my boys passports that Im waiting for.

This is the advice @sunglassesonthetable posted on my thread. On Tuesday-

If your holiday is within two weeks and you’ve not got your passport, you need to email the upgrade team as this is the ONLY way to actually contact them. You need to put URGENT and your travel date in the subject. In the email you need to put your name, address, PEX number, contact number for them to call you and attach proof of travel to the email (flight booking). This means they wont have to contact you trying to chase up what they need and delaying the process further. No matter what office your documents are at, it’s worth emailing them all because they are all working through them in travel date order and it’ll just be whichever office gets to your application quicker that’ll call you.

The emails are -

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

If you haven’t heard back from the upgrade team within 2 days of emailing, email them again. The upgrade team are the ONLY ones that can help you get it quickly. When they do call you it can be NO CALLER ID, so make sure you pick up any call incase it’s them. They will usually approve your application there and then on the phone and they’ll print it at your local office so you can go and collect it from the closest one.

I emailed everyone on the list and my MPs office - got my DDs passport this morning.
We had applied in March though so slightly different. But good luck - it's so stressful.

Hi OP, mine was shown as received on 27 April and marked as approved/ready to despatch today so hopefully a similar timeframe for you.

Still waiting