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?!

I just got mine, had to make a million phone calls and drive 100 miles to Peterborough to get it. Hope everyone else gets there's in time. My advice is keep on calling the 0845 number.

Hairbrush123 - don't worry. I think I will be ok. I am listed for an upgrade and do get the feeling I will get looked at on time. I spoke to 2 people at Durham already and they were both consistent. Also contacted my local mp on Monday and they have chased for me. And spoke to the mp's office today just to get a sense of whether they thought people were getting documents on time and it seems 9 out of 10 times, people are. Fingers crossed for everyone.

What annoys me is that I saw on tv today while I was at the gym, that they are atill advising check and send service which I think is so wrong given the current chaos.

Update: for the fifth time I had not received a call back within 72 hours as promised, so I phoned again today. I got through to Bangor again and they said that as I already had two outstanding escalations it was pointless to make another one and I should just sit and wait.

I told the lady that I wouldn't make another escalation even though I have been waiting 3 months and 8 days so far.

I will be contacting to British consulate here in Vietnam to try and help sort this out.

Just popping on to let you all know hope is not lost.
Applied for DDs first passport via post 5 weeks ago, got it delivered on Monday and documents back today.

Wishing you all lots of luck and speedy deliveries!

funambulist- You wouldn't be beibng unreasonable to ring and find out if your application has been received if you have not had a text. I have a theory they are lying about the dates they receive documents to massage their statistics.

I posted on on 10th may and it wasnt logged as received until 27th May.

Thanks pickletray, I think you might be right. It can't possibly have taken your application 17 days to reach the passport office.

Hecticmummy, I hope you get your passport on time. How long has it been now? Are you due to travel soon? I hope they phone you back. I waited for the infamous 48hr callback and I'm still waiting for it(!)
And I saw that on Daily Mail about how they were supposed to be going on strike! That really frightened me and I hope they really don't. Just make sure you phone everyday - don't make yourself forgotten! I'm just waiting for my passport to come! Not gonna be 100% relaxed until it comes!

Just got off the phone. Another escalation about a non-call back.
He put me on hold while he spoke to the progress team.

The bit that pissed me off was:

They said that it is still within the FOUR WEEKS since receiving document......

Hold on a moment!...four weeks! So why the fuck does it say on the website it takes 3 weeks for a child's first passport if they don't actually even consider it delayed until four weeks!!

No wonder they are claiming to have 97% done within the timescale.

Four weeks since they claim to have received it takes me the 24th June, about 10 days until I travel. Cutting it very very fine.

No callback by end of tommorrow and i will call the Belfast number. No callback my Monday and I'm told it will be further escalated through management.

Thank you to everyone for your updates to this thread.
As a result I took the bull by the horns and prepared to call 0300 to establish where my son's 2nd renewal was.
Yesterday I called the 0300 number with a Kitkat and a cup of tea and expected to be there for the afternoon - call was answered within 20 seconds of ringing (after initially faffing about with the "select 1 etc." options.
Lovely Scottish chap confirmed that the application was in Liverpool (despite me posting it to Newport?) and was in the examination stage - whatever that means?
I asked if I could upgrade and was told that "upgrades are only available at the discretion of Her Majesty's Passport Office after the submitted application has been fully examined" - so if they're in a generous mood they'll let you pay £60.50!
Ten minutes after the phone call I was emailed requesting application number, son's name & DOB, my name & DOB etc etc.
At 11am this morning a lady from Liverpool called to say that I am on the list for 'consideration' and I can expect a call back in 1 week to take payment and not to call or email again.
So, after this initial flurry of activity following my 1st phone call, I'm a bit more positive but wonder if I'll ruin my chances by ringing again before 1 week is up to chase?

Funambulist I agree with pickletray that I would call the 0300 number and check they have the forms.

I didn't get a text to say they had received them but have got one to say they are being printed.

PP has said the 0300 number is an external call center, so I would ring them and don't feel guilty as they are not taking time away from processing applications etc.

Purplepaws, I don't want to worry you but I got the exact same message when I phoned the 0300 number. They insisted it was under the examination process and will be here within a week. Phoned the Belfast direct number, to find out it hadn't even been looked at! The 0300 aren't very consistent or helpful as they are able to give basic, very vague information to you. Your best bet would be the direct number.

It good to hear that more and more people get their passports. Hmm.. not optimistic on the overseas side. As from the Guardian photos, most of the backlogs are overseas applications. Can we also contact the MP from overseas?

I've been lurking in here for a while - just thought i'd post to say I've just received DSs first child passport, exactly 4 weeks after sending via check and send.

It went to Liverpool, and I emailed after 3 weeks as I hadn't heard anything - they came back to me after a few days to say they had it and it was being processed within usual timescales.

Hi @ irishtown my passport renewel is at Belfast too last week it said waiting on documents even though I sent them 2 weeks ago this week when I checked it says being processed I to am flying to usa in August so hoping to receive passport in time.

I have sent my passport of on the 18th may the 0300 number is really no help at all and i travel in 2 weeks they said they would call me back to upgrade and they aint my application is currently at liverpool what can i do im really shitting it

Hi irishtown I've sent you a message further on down the page hope I can be some help

Gowan1990. Where has your passport been sent to?

Does anybody know if I iive in X constituency but my dd studies in Y constituency, will the MP in Y help dd's passport issue? Please somebody help.

does anyone no the number for liverpool passport office?

hairbrush - its been sent to liverpool

Hiya everyone.
Sick of calling the 0300 idiots, still awaiting x3 callbacks. Has anyone got a recent number for the Belfast office... I have tried the 9550 and 2660 but they are invalid.

Thanks xx

when do you go on holiday Thailasmummy

Hi gemandy, the status on our applications havent changed. Im ringing the 028 Belfast numberin the morning im worried because ours are Overseas applications and I know they take longer. Are you Overseas too?

Belfast number-028 9078 9464. A previous post said they answer straight away

Dont believe it just checked and the status says declaration received and being processed. Im not getting carried away but happy to see some progress.