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?!

Then why is that not on the passport application site or the advice given by the passport office allmycats? Why should people have to second guess the passport office that far? In my head I tend to double the amount of time required to do anything official. In your head you quadruple it do you?

I left 2 weeks for error (5 weeks instead of the 3 eeeks they say to allow!). Absolutely bizarre that they give the best case scenario instead of the worse.

I've resorted to involving my mp now. No idea if he'll actually do anything but worth a try :(

all mycats im sure you must be the one and only person out of thousands and thousands with any common sense then ...???

Good news my end, I should have it by 9 am Wed morning (we go Fri) They told me I didn't have to pay the upgrade fee as they've had it so long (3 wks today) Not going to rest easy till I have it in my hands though. Good luck everyone.

Have warned my parents to keep checking and chasing their renewals.

They are taking DD to Portugal for a week, mid July. They need to have a certain amount of time left on their passports in order to fly so, although passports in date, not quite enough to cover the required time needed (by about a week or two typically!)

They were sent off 14/15 May. Dad called today and they are apparently just ready to be looked at.

They have been with the PO about 3 weeks. They have 5 weeks before they go. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed.

8 weeks should have been plenty of time to do it.

great chloeboe :) looks like everyones eventually getting sorted :)

allmycats this is a thread for people who are really worried about their passports, we've all been incredibly supportive of each other and will hopefully continue to be so.

I allowed 10 weeks which is 3 times the amount recommended.

No-one likes a smug git btw.

Brilliant news Chloe here's to 9am Wed morning .

Thanks all :) Such a relief, I wonder if having MP involved helped? But I so think they've got in it over the weekend.

I've had some movement with my application as well!

Lovely woman from Durham rang today to say she is working on it and it will be ready in the next couple of days to collect, she'll ring me when she's put it through. Said she wasn't going to call me but could see id rang the office and mp a few times so wanted to put my mind at rest!

No upgrade charge as they've had it so long. I couldn't believe it when my phone rang but true to their word they did call.

Child's first, check & send 2nd may, fly this weekend.

Oh my word Jammy that is close to the wire! Excellent news though.

I rang today and spoke to a lovely guy on the 300 number who is going to chase mine and get back to me within 48 hours.

There definitely seems to be a positive feeling now which is fantastic .

Beyond the 0300 number is an outside company....try ringing the passport office direct......which office is dealing with your application?

Peterborough - he said that he would email them and get them to call me directly.

Am I being hopelessly optimistic !

BeyondBurma - I don't want to stress you out but that is the stock answer from the 0300 team. It's not their fault - they are an outsourced call centre and all they can do is see where your app is and then email the passport office requesting they call you. This is meant to happen in 48 hrs but at the peak of this disaster a few weeks ago, I was advised the teams in the PO were around 8 and they could get Upto a 1000 callback requests a day. Little wonder they don't call.

My advice would be to call 0300 team again, find out where your application is, then get the 0845 no for that office from here (they are all here or somebody will be able to provide - I have the Liverpool ones) and call them being very polite but explaining your concerns. 99.9% of the time I think they are very helpful to be fair.

Don't rely on the 0300 team. As I say not their fault but you need to get onto it direct I am afraid.

#alleycats - do you change your windscreen each winter just in case as well?!

Ok thank you very much sapperjig .

My biggest problem is - and this is entirely my fault - that I neglected to write down the bar codes for the applications. I can't imagine how they will track me down.

Could somebody possible pm me with the Peterborough number? I did my applications on-line and then sent in the required documentation and photos etc.

This thread is invaluable - thank you to everyone who has contributed.

BeyondBurma - I've found this number for you:
0845 601 5549. Not sure if it works but give it a try!

BeyondBurma: if it says something about having a letter then ignore it and continue... They will answer, be prepared to wait up to 1 hour for an answer! They are much more helpful than the 0300 number! Again the number is: 0845 601 5549.
Also get your PM involved and tell them everything including your date of travel.
Good luck

Thank you so much! Will be at my desk ringing from 9am sharp.

Hi all
Thankfully I came across this thread over the last 2 days and have now contacted the Durham office to upgrade my child's first application as we travel next week Saturday. Spoke to someone yesterday and then again to someone today and they seem to have got my details correctly (travel date etc) and so should hopefully get looked at in time, although worried they have little time for any errors or missing information which I am hoping isn't the case for us.
I would have used the 1 week service had I known there would be so many delays but like most of you, went with the check and send as expected to get it within 3 weeks and gave myself an additional 3 week window. So very frustrating and stressful.
As everyone else here, the 0300 number was not very useful and best to call the 0845 number directly.
Good luck all.

Hecticmummy. I too am in the same position as you! I'm worrying my passport will be refused for a mistake cus there will be little to no time to change it before next Saturday! It's going to be dispatched on Friday or Thursday so fingers crossed!

Wow, having sent the form by check and send on May 8th, Belfast only received it for processing on Saturday (June 7th)!!! There's also no sign of the counter signature receiving the form yet . . Trying everything but this is going to be tight . . .

I am in the same situation sent off for a renewal over three weeks ago and now my grandmother is critically ill in hospital and I need to travel asap. I have made countless calls since last thurs and am waiting for a call back. Will try the 0845 number today but does anybody know if it's worth me going to the Peterborough office tomorrow morning just as it opens? I am desperate now:(

Holly I think you can get an emergency travel document if you can provide evidence is such cases like yours.

Emergency travel documents are what British consulates overseas issue if your passport is lost/stolen abroad and they allow you to make a single journey back to UK.

What Holly needs is an emergency compassionate upgrade. I have no idea if actually going to a passport office would secure that. They are usually really strict on not seeing people unless they have an appointment. But if you have proof of urgent compassionate reason, then you might get an individual decision in your favour. The trouble is getting to talk to a person who has the authority to make that call.