Passports

[kitchenSink5]

A wee rant - sorry!

Who else is at their wits end with the passport office? They are talking about opening another office in the North - but to me all they really need to do (apart from actually make an effort to meet their own deadlines) is provide better info on their tracking - "processing application" sounds great initially but when it is four weeks after the estimated issue date and you've made 357 unsuccessful phone call attempts and an infinite number of page refreshes praying for the grey chat function to turn green - a little more info might take some of the pressure off these communications channels.

And. Ow the phone line starts with three seconds of silence before launching into a 30-40 second monologue (in Irish) - to say that they are busy.

Also have had a green chat box twice now. But by the time I enter all the details, no one available - not sure what to do with this. Just impossible.

Urgh. Don’t start me, it’s awful. I sent mine end of February and the “processing application” message has only just gone away. It’s seems like a total disaster.

Maybe if people remembered to keep their documents up to date, instead of renewing them at the very last minute just before a big vacation time, passports could be processed more smoothly.

To clarify I don't mean you OP, but I know people who work in a passport office and the whole "but I need a new passport NOW, I'm travelling in three weeks" coming from people whose passports expired two years ago does get old.

I get that @Marty13 but to be fair - renewals are getting turned around quickly. And there has been a fairly good reason for people putting off renewing for the past two years.

The delays are frustrating. But lack of information/transparency and the blatant lies as regards turnaround times on the website are just utterly unacceptable.

Silver lining - sure if all the passports were issued as per estimated dates - the airports and airlines would probably crumble under the additional pressure. Makes you wonder....is this a little bit convenient??

I know your pain. Applied for my children's 1st irish passports back in April. Dispatch estimated 2nd June still just processing application. I managed to get on chat last week but they were as useful as a chocolate tea pot. Couldn't tell me anything more than the tracker. Did state they would send my query for a more detailed update but obviously nothing has changed.

My ds uk passport is in for renewal so it will be a race to see which comes back 1st. Not holding out much hope for either though

I just about made the six month deadline - I had visions of having to start the whole process again!

Is that a thing? I don't think my nerves could take that!

With one month to go they asked for my UK passport - thankfully I’d renewed it as the Irish one was taking so long - I’m sure my license would have been fine but they said they said something like a passport - so who would take the chance! Anyway it’s worth waiting for my kids can now apply for their’s. Only dh who’ll be the outcast!😂

We received two this month.

My DP needed a new one because his was lost.
The new one was very fast, definitely under the two weeks.

I also received a first time passport for DS. It took just over 5 weeks from the time we submitted the passport to receiving it.