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?!

Sorry Kylecarey. I didn't see you said 0845 number! Really sorry!

Hairbrush123 Those numbers aren't the actual direct number for the passport office. I can't find the London direct number anywhere it must be super top secret haha

Hairbrush good news!

Mine is in Belfast. It's a child's first passport. I rang 028 9078 9464. They answered in about 4 rings! The guy was very nice.

He said they are currently processing applications received on the 24th MAy. Mine was marked as being received on 27th (despite being posted on 10th May). He said it should be processed early to middle of next week. Then it takes a couple of days to go to printing and a couple more to being posted.

I hope if there are no problems it will be Ok. I am going to ring middle of next week to see if it's being dealt with.

I've been trying to ring Durham on the number 08451290044 that has been posted on here but can't get through at all it's saying the number is no longer available! :-( it's been 3 weeks since sending mine and my husbands forms off mine being a renewal with name change and his being his 1st adult passport! I've realised that I've forgot to include my marriage certificate to back up my name change :-( haven't heard anything about either applications as yet! Wud of thought I'd of recieved a letter asking for marriage cert and also requesting my hubby to book an appointment for his interview but no nothing! We need them bk ASAP so we can write our new passport numbers down on our 3 childrens application forms so we can send those off. We going 2nd week of September hopefully but haven't booked yet!! Anyone got any more numbers for Durham??

Kylecarey. Thank you! I'm going to give them a call when I get in if my passport has arrived today! (Used up all my minutes on my phone on 0845 numbers! So I have to wait hours to phone the courier, DX on my landline - grr!) Maybe if you can't find the right number for the London office - why not try a different number for another office? I believe they can redirect you to their office or maybe even give you the correct number for the specific office.
Pickletray, When do you travel? Which office has it gone to?
Caz306 try phoning another office. I think they can redirect you to the correct one or maybe give you the correct number.

Jhutchings18, did you end up driving to Liverpool? Please keep us updated!

Thanks pickletray. I'll ask the Post Office which office it went to, then phone.

DURHAM 0845 NUMBER IS : 08456015175

Thank you kylecarey. I've also rang the 0300 number was on hold for 20mins and then it asked for my number and name and I'd get a call bk that was an hour ago :-(

Got a call this morning - all processed, printed and will posted posted special delivery to get here by 1pm tomorrow! We fly on Tuesday at 6am (so they put Monday on the referral)

Just a list of dates for those of you interested:
6th May - application submitted (first child passport)
14th May - asked for more documentation (my full birth certificate, I had only sent my short one)
15th - posted birth certificate
28th - the date they had the application down as received (even though they obviously had it earlier, as they asked for more documentation)
9th June - I contacted the 0300 number, 48hr callback requested.
11th - I contact 0300 again, no callback. 2nd callback requested.
12th (10am) - I contact Liverpool, using the number I found on here (0845). Application passed on to priority team as it hasn't even been looked at yet.
13th (9am) - I phone 0300 number as 0845 Liverpool isn't working as it was the day before.
13th (10.15am) - phone call from. Liverpool saying passport has been processed, printed and to discuss posting. Posted out on the 13th, special delivery to get here by 1pm Saturday (we fly Tuesday, so I guess Monday would have been ok, but I demanded Saturday)

Hope that helps and gives you some hope. Cutting it fine doesn't even describe it!!

Just called Durham, still haven't looked at my partners first adult that they received on 9th may. She still has to have an interview etc. looks like we wont be going on holiday as we fly 2nd.

Mines all printed etc but hers is still tucked away somewhere.

Not sure what I am going to do if this holiday falls through, what a way to loose £3,000!

Dear sighbynight and Pickletray
I am travelling the same weekend as you with my family of 6. My passport renewal went in check and send on 27 May which was 5 weeks before departure. I've been told that my application is awaiting examination in Durham and have requested a callback and am waiting to hear- I will try and upgrade to the premium service. I know everyone has a story and this is what the politicians don't realise - our holiday was booked after our eldest son was given the all clear after having had treatment and now looks like we might not be able to go. It can't be right that people are being given appointments and will get their passports before us when we applied weeks ago following their advice and they are sitting at the bottom of a pile! Am so stressed out about it and trying not to let on to the children but I could cry. Let's hope things change and they get this sorted soon.

Pomander try not to worry there working on people travelling in the next 7 days I spoke to them today And them who travel Monday or Tuesday are dealt with today and so on

Jut finally got through to the 0300 number and she said she can assure me there isn't a backlog of applications and everything is running smoothly! Couldn't tell me what was happening with my application as I don't have the barcode number even though she took all my details etc. Told me to send a covering letter explaining I'd forgot to put some documents in with all my details again with my marriage cert and they will get it!?!? Can't see that working to be honest lol. Going to try the Durham direct number now wish me luck

Just got off the phone from the courier (DX) and the woman told me that it's currently on the road and will be delivered to me today! Yay!

Just literally got posted! Yay!

Glad you've recieved yours hairbrush123. If only I cud get bloody through to the main Durham number to find out what's going on about mine and my husbands!!! So frustrating as the 0300 number was a waste of time!!

My passport has just arrived! Yay! Happy isn't the word!

Timescale for those who are wondering:

17th of May: applied online for adult renewal and sent by 1st Guaranteed First Class delivery.
22nd of May: was received at Belfast office (checked via application number barcode)
5th of June: phoned the passport office on the 0300 number as they haven't contacted me/text me personally about my application since I've sent it off and they insisted it was going under examination and will be here in 1-2 weeks
5th of June: went online on threads and forums to behold the horror of the major backlogs and the notorious 0300 number!
6th of June: phoned the 0300 again just in case and was told it would be here in a week and was under a week & contacted my MP.
8th of June: Phoned the Belfast direct number (not 0300) telling me that my passport hadn't even been looked at yet! So the woman nicely put it on alert for urgent examination and asked me to phone back on Friday to check on everything. My MP also got back to me telling me it should be here no later than Monday if everything is OK and it's a straightforward renewal.
11th of June: received a text from HM Passport Office saying that my passport is now being printed and will be here within a few working days.
13th of June: phoned Belfast direct and asked about it and he says it was printed yesterday (12th of June) and was sent to the courier for delivery so will be with me soon. The courier is 'DX' so if you know it's been delivered - do not phone the direct number, phone DX number instead if you want your tracking number to track it.
13th of June: received it at 17:12 by courier.

• made a daily progress reports on the 0845 number at 9AM sharp (I've never had to wait longer than half an hour for an answer. I usually just asked what's the progress of my passport at this stage and kept reminding them of the date of intended travel)

I travel on the 21st (next Saturday). I got it a week and one day before the date of travel. After, I applied almost 4 weeks ago. I don't think this was cutting it finely - in comparison to some who are driving hundreds of miles the day/night before they're due to fly and sometimes driving straight to the airport after they've collected it + had to pay for an upgrade! So I consider myself quite lucky for getting it ahead of time & didn't have to pay for an upgrade! I think if I didn't have intervention from my MP and my daily progress calls on the 0845 - I honestly think it wouldn't be here on time!
Moral of the story, renew it in quieter seasons/9 months before if you've left it late (like me!). Never putting myself under this unnecessary stress and the possibility of not going on holiday, again! This thread has been invaluable to me and without it, I really doubt I would have got my passport back in time! Good luck to everyone who's still waiting and I hope you all get it in time! Thanks everyone for your help!

Caz. I don't think Durham direct office is open on a weekend! So you'll have to phone on Monday! Keep trying! Don't let yourself be forgotten!

As anyone else doing a Lost passport do they take longer

7 weeks after sending, our overseas renewal came back.....there is hope! The lady on the 0300 number on Monday was very helpful!

4.5 hour drive to Liverpool... Hotel for the night... 4.5 hour drive back... Finally have my daughters passport in my hand!!

Word of advice guys/gals.. Apply at least 6 weeks in advance!!

If you haven't.. Ring the office dealing with your application directly!!
They will tell you if you need to upgrade or not!!

I was on hold for up to two hours some days.. Phoned near enough every day!!

Jhutchings18 we've both got our passports now! It's such a great relief knowing it's finally in your hands! You travel to Sunday, don't you? Very pleased to hear that! I've noticed most people on this thread get their passports on time!

Anthy... Be careful if you're completing a new form!

I'd find out the status of your old application first... If it's been rejected and is no longer in progress, then fair enough!
However, if they've asked you for further information to continue your current application, then I wouldn't complete another one!!

Basically, make sure you don't have two applications ongoing at once!
If you do, that may flag up with the examiners and cause you more grief!!

You can't have two applications ongoing for the same person!

Jhutchings did u phone direct everyday they told me call back on Thursday and I go on Tuesday.