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?!

Just want to ask again: does anyone call Liverpool Office 08546015107 and got real person to pick up?

Janjan

My mates been ringing liverpool on that number all week and it's never been answered - they've gone down there today.

Just had a call from upgrade team. My passports are ready for print but I don't qualify for free upgrade as my flight isnt until the 22nd & not within 7 days. She said they were really strict.
So I've opted for them to be printed and posted normally. They'll be printed within 48hrs and posted within 48hrs so i should have them by Friday fingers crossed. Hoping I'll get them a bit earlier as I'm finding this so stressful. My hair is actually falling out!

Janjanmama... The direct Liverpool number is 08456012058...

I got an answer every time I rung...

It just rings and rings... There's no automated message or anything.. Just rings!

It was ringing for over an hour on times, but they DO answer!

After 58 minutes on hold to the Liverpool number, I got through. The same automated message about the number only being for people with a letter played for 58 flipping minutes though! This was on Thursday. Now the number just rings and rings...

Good news - we have our passport! (see above for my timescale and experience) Free upgrade, which the lady seemed to want me to thank her for over and over again! Uh no, this was your fault in the first place... She was surprised when I said I already knew about the free upgrade, yes love, I read the news and check the website...

Hoping for a decent nights sleep now, without waking up stressing out!

Just called Belfast on the 028 number asked if we could do the 1 year extension to our existing passports. Also asked him if thiswasnt possible would they process then soon This is taking over my life thank god I found this thread I would not have a clue otherwise

jamtoast, Jhutchings

Thx thx! I'll keep trying to ring. Now that some posts here become hilarious and ease my nerve. This whole passport thing is a total nightmare.

Janjanmama... Just keep ringing.. They will answer!

Not sure about weekends tho!

Just make sure they know what you are willing to do...
If you want to upgrade or not
If you are willing to pay to upgrade or not
If you're willing to collect it or not
And make sure they know the date you are flying...

They should put all of that information on your notes!

Request an urgent callback from the office dealing with your application, and if you don't get a callback within 48hours of requesting it, ring everyday!!

It's ridiculous the lengths we seem to have to go to... However, i haven't seen anyone who has missed their holiday after doing all of this!

They must be getting their act together as got both mine this AM, 10 days after putting it in via check and send. Old passports returned the same day via normal post, new passports via courier.

Hi all i'm joining in with the passport woes.

I sent off mine and my husbands on the 19th May. These were renewals with a name change on mine. Had a text on the 9th June to say it was being printed and I received it the very next day. Husband had a text about his on the 10th June and his arrived on the 11th.

We have heard nothing about our daughters and now i'm beginning to panic. We still have two weeks before we go but am worried we will have to cancel as there is no way we will be leaving her behind.

I stupidly sent the wrong birth certificate but i sent the right one as soon as I got the letter and that was over two weeks ago.
Tried calling the Glasgow office and surprise, surprise i'm waiting for a call back.

Jhutchings , I'm overseas. I'm willing to pay, to upgrade, to collect in person, to whatever might help. But I can't!!! I can make calls but definitely they won't call me back. Whew... do hope my MP is really organizing things for me. It's the 7th week waiting. I'm already so tired with the rubbish reply emails from the enquiry centre.

Thinking about to ask them simply send me back the old passport and refund. It's still valid until Dec. They have no right to keep it so long!

Seems like a lot of people are having the Birth Certificate issue... The guidance notes don't appear to be very clear about it!

It just says Birth Certificate in the notes.

In relation to a child's passport, birth certificate means:

1. the normal birth certicate
2. the form with the patens details on

*parents detail

Which birth certificate is required please, the coloured one with not much info on or the long birth certificate? I sent the long one. Hoping this is ok.

I sent forms for both boys passports 2 wks ago (one first, one renewal). Got txt 2 days later confirming receipt and cheque has been cashed. We travel in 7 wks but I can't believe how stressed I am. Not least because I idiotically forgot to note down the barcodes.

Yes the long one. I never understood why they issue the short one as they aren't much use for anything!

Thanks Jam x

Hey was wondering if anyone can help me.
I know my passport is at the Liverpool office, and I've been told by so many people that my application has been placed urgently. I was promised a call back from the Liverpool office today and I've heard nothing! I'm travelling on the early hours of Friday and I sent my application in over 7 weeks ago.
Any help would be appreciated!

We've been promised 3 call backs and have received none, despite our case being labelled 'urgent'. Applied 5 weeks ago for babies 1st passports, still nothing. Our flights are booked for Tuesday morning. I'm not even bothering to pack, I'm pretty sure we're not gonna make it would've been our first holiday as a family.

You need to ring the passport office dealing with your application. Look back on this thread as they are all on here. They should look after you

clarinsgirl don;t worry you are not the only one who didn't make a note of the barcodes. I beat myself up for quite a while over that.

I've been on the phone constantly with the passport office. They just promise a call back if I'm 'eligible' for a fast track. But they all just repeat the same thing and tell me to be patient!

Thehogopogo - are you calling the 0300 number or a 0845 number. There is a difference. The 0300 number doesn't help at all and just promise call backs although they may tell you which office your application is at - Liverpool, Durham, Belfast etc. Then once you know the office, you call them directly and you should get more help. You have to scroll through this thread to get the number for each office.

Thanks beyondburma. Did they manage to track down your application or haven't you chased? I'm hoping to hear something by the 3 wk mark otherwise I may just go to Peterborough and stay until its sorted.