what are the chances of getting 4 first time passports for dc within the next 4 weeks?

[whojamaflip]

Hi - MIL has just offered us some free Disneyland Paris tickets for the 3rd weekend in August - she is going over for a long weekend and wants me to go with the 4dc.

I have a passport but none of the dcs have - is there any chance they will be back in time? Home office website says 6 weeks

Just wondering if its worth trying or if its a non-starter so don't bother?

It might be if you do it in person. go to your post office and get the forms asap and remember the new rules on photos. get these done and give your main Passport office a call. it will mean a whole day wasted to get them but worth it for the free tickets.

Worth a go by you may end up paying 4 x £96.50.

That is for the one-week Fast Track service. The one day premium service for new such applications is not offered.

Do make a note of each barcode number for each application before sending it off.

you can make an appointment and pick it up the same day - I have found they are extremely effective as have had to do this a few times. I thought would be hanging around ages, but was in an out in less than an hour, and collected the passports later that day.

When I renewed all ours recently (renewal, not new applications, mind but still cost £270!!!!) they arrived back within a week. But that was off-peak. I would suggest they say 6 weeks to cover themselves and they do ask for your expected travel date which implies they'll prioritise imminent travellers. BUT, I wouldn't want to risk it, so it's probably worth paying extra for the Fast Track for peace of mind. Which is what they're banking on!

There is another thread about someone who applied via check and send service on 2nd July and still waiting and can't get hold of passport office to check progress and they are due to go on holiday tommorrow
I think I wouldn't risk doing by post and would make an appointment to go in person.

I got my son's first passport within 2 weeks, we used paspic for the photos and then used the check and send at the post-office. This was in May. Might be busier now.

There have been loads of threads recently where passports have not returned in time.

I would do the day one if you can.

Check and send as a minimum.

We have just got our three weeks after putting them in but if you use check and send at the post office they have said 2 week turn around at the passport office when i called so Worth a try then you could phone week before see where they are in the system and take it from there! Good luck

As Attila says, you can't do the one day thing for new passports, but you can get an appt for the one week service.

If you want to make an appt for the fast-track service (1 week) you need to get on with it, the Newport office don't have any appts before 1st week of August and the wait gets longer by the day.

Go to your nearest passport office and you're guaranteed it the same day. Lots of hanging about but better than worrying they won't arrive in time!

Do not, not chance the normal service. I sent some in for just a renewal on 22nd June and they came back last week. The man in the PO (check and send) said they'd be two weeks at most but clearly not! They must be having problems.

They are having problems, that's why they are going on strike next week aren't they? Or am I getting confused...

You are not guaranteed it in the same day just by turning up at the passport office. You have to phone and make an appointment and at the moment there is a two week wait for appointments.

An article in the paper today said at least 2 weeks for a renewal but allow 6 weeks for a new passport

I sent mine and dds renewal on the 2nd July and got them back today so waiting time is longer than normal atm. If you can , I would go to an office in person for the 1 week option

I phoned and spoke to the passport office and the first appointment they can offer me is in 10 days in GLASGOW! All well and good but I'm in Gloucestershire ffs

Anyway spoke to mil and explained and she says she will pass them onto someone else and maybe look at treating the dcs next year -bless her never thought I would write that about mil!

thanks for all the advice - I'm going to apply for them in September when the reduced price comes in

I applied for DS's in mid-June and got it back in 17 days using the standard service BUT they'd spelt his name wrong and it took me another two weeks to sort it out and get it re-issued.