Passport Processing Time

[bex12345]

Anyone have any idea on processing time of First Passports at the moment? We sent our daughters application via check and send almost 2 weeks ago and no idea on when to expect it back. Hopefully someone can shed some light?!

Lacreon - Check and send doesn't get it there quicker you still pay the £6.40 special delivery they just go over your application it has no effect on the time it takes

I sent mine and DSs straightforward renewals via check and send on 13th May. I had a text to say they'd arrived on the 16th, one to say they were printed on 30th and DSs arrived on Saturday and mine has just arrived.

I have no idea which centre they went to.

I would say that, with 6 weeks, you are probably fine but I would use check and send. At least you can then be reasonably sure there are no glaring errors.

Thank you both - I'll use check and send then and hope for the best! Really hoping 6 weeks will cover it...

I'd go for fastrack Lacreon. Six weeks cutting it fine

Six weeks cutting it fine

Mine were back in under three weeks.

Finally daughters passport (renew) just arrived after 5 weeks :)

Does anyone know if preliminary checks are carried out when a passport application is received or do they just sit in a pile?

I sent my renewal off two weeks ago. I got the text to say that they have received it. I wonder if I am kidding myself that no news is good news. I had the check and send service but the agent just seemed to give it a very quick glance. I would hate to think that potentially there may be a problem that I do not know about. On the other hand I think it is too soon to start calling the advice line.

I am due to travel in a few weeks time. I thought my application was posted in April. I am kicking myself for not checking earlier. If you want something doing, do it yourself.

We've been waiting 4.5 weeks and it hasn't even been looked at yet. It's for a renewal

I have done an online passport application apparently its status is in the "examination process", I was originally told they'd received it on 10th May and now they are saying 14th. We are supposed to fly on 17th June. I'm on my fourth time of waiting for a call back from the 'upgrade' dept within 48 hours, I'm hoping they are not calling me back because they think it's too early. Really hoping it will be ok as so many people receive theirs back in time. The email told me standard renewals are between three and four weeks at the moment! I wish i'd gone with my original plan of fast tracking but the advice line said I didn't need to.

Do you get a text if you just sent it yourself after doing the on-line application?

Still worried despite being reassured by kind posters .

I've been really worried but trying to keep positive and trust the universe!

I got an email after my online application and I've been calling the 0300 number. Just hoping I get a call back this time! 48 hours takes me up till Wednesday.

im starting to lose patience with them. 3 week turnaround? yeah right. nearly been 5 weeks since i sent it and they haven't even looked at it. all im being told is its waiting examination which means since 5th may its been untouched gathering dust somewhere for a month! i plan to travel on 24th june so i have 3 weeks 1 day. i dred to think that when they do finally look at it that theres a problem and then things get pushed back even more! trying not to call durham direct as they take on average an hour to pick up the phone and that is not good seeing as its an 0845 number especially as i also don't know how long i'll be speaking to them once i get through. will have to call sometime this week though grrr :( . seeing as its been over 3 weeks im hoping i get a free upgrade!!!

Yeah I'd give them a ring. Unfortunately I don't think you'll get a free upgrade, as they say three weeks is not guaranteed! I'm will to pay, drive to the office, do anything as really don't want to miss this holiday, just desperately want them to phone! My friend sent hers the same time and it came back in 2 weeks.

Call the 0845 number 8am on the dot I waited only 2 minutes when I called that time iv also called in the afternoon and waited up to 15 minutes only once I called around 2pm and waited for 45 mins 0845 calls are free for my landline so didn't mind waiting

What's the rest of the number please?

0845 601 5175 Goodluck x

Thank you. Apparently mines at Belfast!

Mine was at Durham

Ah right I'll scroll back and find the Belfast number then :-). Did they moan at you for ringing? I'm a wimp I don't like doing what you're not supposed to lol but then again I'm desperate and will do anything to make sure it comes back in time!

Yes they asked me how I got the number I told them I didn't have a barcode and there was no way of finding any information I found the number online she didn't say nothing after that

Ok thank you :-)

No problem x

Phoned them yet again on Monday as yet again no one had got back to me as promised. This time I was transferred to Bristol, got the name of the person who I spoke to and they escalated my case and once again said someone would get back to me in 72 hours.

During my two previous calls I asked for this to be escalated, but they said that it couldn't be escalated, all they could do was email Liverpool. Once again I am waiting, but maybe naively I am more hopeful this week (today being exactly 3 months since they received my applications)

3 months???!!!! Are they all new passports?

That's awful. It's so stressful, I've hardly slept and I'm just hoping I'll be ok but we're supposed to be on a plane two weeks today :-(