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Original poster

Passport Processing Time

999 replies

bex12345 · 02/04/2014 13:04

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?!

OP posts:
indie123 · 03/06/2014 08:11

currently on hold to durham its been 7 minsso far. called at 8 on the dot but it got disconnected after 2 mins so had to call back 8.02. hope they don't take long to pick up, got to go work soon

bettyelizabeth14 · 03/06/2014 08:22

I tried Belfast but they said they're closed until 9am. Hope you get through :-)

Vietnammark · 03/06/2014 08:23

One is a renewal and one is a new passport. Suggest you look at my previous posting from last week for details.

indie123 · 03/06/2014 08:25

ffs! ok so it took 15 mins for them to answer (not bad). they guy said the examiner sent a letter yesterday to the countersigner. WHY!? isnt that just great!! more delays now. its her second passport why do they need to contact the countersigner?. the lady who done it is my pharmacist, im going to go there tomorrow to see if she has received it. if she has hopefully she will fill out the letter there and then and hand it to me so I can sent immediately.

bettyelizabeth14 · 03/06/2014 08:27

Oh no. When do you fly?

indie123 · 03/06/2014 08:28

my countersigner also said shes done passports before so im confused as to why they've decided to contact her for a renewal passport? I thought it was only first passports or people who countersign for the first time. i need to travel in 3 weeks!!!

indie123 · 03/06/2014 08:30

they had it over 4 weeks and its just now they decide to send a letter!? not happy at all :(

bettyelizabeth14 · 03/06/2014 08:33

I don't understand how it works, appreciate they may be busy but I know people who sent there's are us and they've got it. Fingers crossed for us all.

thonghangingontheline · 03/06/2014 10:20

Received a phone call on Friday saying they needed a new deedpoll for my son, anew covering letter and my countersign forgot to put her passport number on. Sent everything to be received Monday. Just had a phone call to say it's all been approved and on it's way to be printed!!

OwlCapone · 03/06/2014 12:03

I don't understand how it works, appreciate they may be busy but I know people who sent there's are us and they've got it. Fingers crossed for us all.

I don't get it either. I imagine it must depend on which office your application gets sent to but it doesn't make sense that some are able to get them back in under 3 weeks and some are so overwhelmed it's a disaster.

I wonder which office is managing to keep within the timeframe, and why the workload isn't more evenly spread?

bettyelizabeth14 · 03/06/2014 12:03

So, I rang the Belfast office (and they didn't ask how I got the number) they were very good, empathised and checked the status and said it was currently being examioned. There was a query over my address as I have to put my father-in-laws due to moving house, in which they had apparently sent a letter to my old address asking me to confirm the address I needed it sending to! I explained I didn't live there anymore and she said she'd get the guy who was processing it to call me, and he did, an hour later and happily took my new address over the phone instead of having to return the letter, I had faxed my confirmed address over to him just in case. He said it was being to be processed "printed" and should arrive within 7 days, if not then it's the time to call back. He explained that it probably wasn't best to upgrade as he'd have to pull it out of the system to escalate. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping it'll soon be in my hands. I guess trying to keep calm and getting them to empathise with your situation should help in the long run, after all we do pay for this service ;-). My MP is also on stand by in case it doesnt arrive as he said he can email the passport CEO. Still keeping fingers crossed for us all.

indie123 · 03/06/2014 13:57

Owlcapone that sounds promising. They've sent a letter requesting more info from my countersigner. I'm giving it until tomorrow before I go and see if she's received it. She will get post same time as me as the pharmacy is opposite my house. I just hope she's at work tomorrow because she works part time so hope I don't miss her. I'm hoping that letter gets sent back to them by Friday the very latest. I'm then hoping once they have it we will get passport a few days later

indie123 · 03/06/2014 14:09

Sorry i mean thonghangingontheline that sounds promising. ..

Toomanybuttons · 03/06/2014 14:24

I applied online in May, duly printed off the declaration form and posted it back with my expired passport. I rang 2 weeks later for an update, to be told there was no record of my docs being received, and to await a callback in 48 hours to find out what to do.

I couldn't stand to wait so rang back the next day; the advisor told me to send a new declaration form, plus a lost passport form as my old one was now presumed lost in the post. As I was now applying for a replacement lost passport I had to get my photos countersigned. I posted these special delivery the same day; they were received by the Belfast office the next day according to Royal Mail's tracking.

I left it 5 days then rang again for an update (while trying not to panic too much!), to again be told there was no record of anything having been received, and to ring again the next day. By this time I'd resigned myself to no holiday.

The next morning, my new passport arrived in the post, followed by my old passport the day after. Clearly it had not got lost in the post, and there was no need for me to send the 2nd declaration form/photos. The computer system the advisors use seems to have no bearing on what's actually happening.

Toomanybuttons · 03/06/2014 14:32

Meant to say it took exactly 3 weeks from the day I posted the original declaration form back for my new passport to arrive

bettyelizabeth14 · 03/06/2014 15:32

Yeah that's what I have found difficult, speaking to the 0300 number as they are not the office that os dealing with it. I felt much better after speaking to Belfast as they clearly knew what was happening. Fingers crossed the printing won't take long and it will arrive on my doorstep with no problems! Indie123 i'm sure if you can get that letter posted special delivery and then ring them to see if they have got it then hopefully they'll sign it off and it will go for printing.

thonghangingontheline · 03/06/2014 16:10

My passport won't be done in time not even been looked at unless I pay the £60 fee Which I don't have.

Been told they're doing children's as priorities and then adults despite the fact children can't fly unless an adult is there so going to have to cancel my holiday Sad

Lacreon · 03/06/2014 16:16

I've just set up a fast track appointment on the basis of this thread - the woman I spoke to on the helpline said that some people are only waiting a couple of weeks and some potentially more than 6. Not worth the gamble but bloody hell, this passport is getting insanely expensive now, factoring in train tickets to Durham and the additional fee! Cheap flights to visit SIL in France now considerably less of a bargain. Sad

indie123 · 03/06/2014 16:33

Yea I'm really hoping countersigner gets letter by tomorrow so I can get it sent and then call on Friday to see what's going on. My aunt is expecting us in the caribbean, she's so excited and told me to book flight by the weekend. Haven't told her about the passport problem partly because she will probably start stressing too and the fact that I now feel like an idiot for trusting the passport office to get passport back to me within a reasonable time. We still have 3 weeks so hopefully that's enough time to get it sorted

MegMogandOwlToo · 03/06/2014 16:39

I posted mine on the 30th April, it was received on the 4th may. (This was for 1 x adult renewal, 1 x adult change of name to married name and 1 x child first).

I have been calling and calling but no real progress, my husband and I both got text messages today saying they are being printed and will be with us is 3 working days. My husband called to check if this is all 3 load sports, but the system hasn't been updated so they didn't know. She did upgraded sons just incase, so someone is going to call to either take payment for the upgrade, or confirm its on its way.

We travel next Friday, I am hoping they arrive without a glitch.

indie123 · 03/06/2014 17:36

I've just been to pharmacy to see countersigner and she said she hasn't received anything yet. I'm guessing they probably sent it second class though so should be with her tomorrow. No rush is there durham especially as it took you 4 weeks to look at !!! Problem is the postman in this area tends to come really late most days (as late as 2.30) and the pharmacy closes at 1.30 tomorrow. She said she's signed passports before and she's never been contacted before so we're all a bit puzzled especially as it's also a renewal passport not even a first.we told her we need to travel and she said she will get it sorted and sent back as soon as possible. I'm going back on Thursday evening to see if she's received it. So stressful ahhh. What they've done here is so unnecessary and is just creating more work and aggro for everyone

Quarmygrant · 03/06/2014 19:59

Has anybody have the direct line for Liverpool I sent my aplication just at renewal on 15th may then got a text on 19th saying received I travel on the 15th June rang to upgrade but just get told same thing will get a call but not been called now 3 times please help what shall I do

jamtoast12 · 03/06/2014 21:19

Indie

Why did you need to complete counter signatory section for a renewal?

sapperjig · 03/06/2014 23:13

Quarmygrant. PMd you but in addition

Liverpool number

0845 6012058

Good luck !

OwlCapone · 04/06/2014 07:28

Why did you need to complete counter signatory section for a renewal?

Counter signatories are still needed for younger children and if the person can not be recognised from their old passport.

I had DSs countersigned even though he was old enough not to need it as I wasn't sure he could be recognised from his old photo. Didn't bother with mine.