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?!

lexiferluther if you haven't received a text confirming receipt of your application it is fine to call the 0300 number to ask if it has and find out which office it has gone to. Have your application number / barcode to hand and they can look it up for you.

pomandermummy: can you post when you get that call, please? I've been waiting on L'pool since Tuesday 10th for someone to call and ask for payment. Not too convinced that'll happen as Liverpool lady on phone didn't confirm that I'd been accepted for upgrade, just that I was on the list for 'consideration'!

lexiferluther: yes, just ignore the recorded message and hold til you get a real human being. They can tell you the basics, like if the app has arrived and which office is dealing with it.
Although, this morning the operator I spoke with, his computer crashed 3 times whilst trying to find my details. In the end he wrote it down on some paper! High tec or what!!??

Finally got through to Durham after 40mins on hold to then be cut off to then ring for another 40mins to get through to a man who was quite abrupt! Basically they have had them 3 weeks now and he said there still in a holding bay not even been looked at yet!! I asked him how long until they look at them and he said cud be another 7-10days!!! Regards to sending my childrens applications in told me to write my passport number on there forms which I can't because haven't even had ours bloody back!! What a ball ache!!

Well finally managed to get through and we're not on the system yet. Only advice to start phoning every day from Thursday. It's ridiculous that the call centre system (which is apparently not running very well today - computers keep crashing according to the operator) is not better linked to the passport offices (up to a week behind ), would save a lot of stress on both sides!

Pomandermummy: thank you, a lovely guy Les called me as soon as my countersignature faxed over the reference details to tell me passports are being printed and will be with me tomorrow. Hope everyone gets the good news they deserve!

lexiferluther, we also fly on 18 July and I sent ds' renewal off (glib, not a care in the world) on 12 June! I have always done it last minute in the past and have never had a problem. More than once, we have had a child's passport turn up the day before we fly.

Have since seen news coverage etc and might start panicking. I didn't use check and send and haven't got a barcode!

This is his 4th passport, but first adult one (he is 16). I hope that doesn't delay things.

JamJimJam I hate to tell you this but the passport office advises that first adult passports take 6 weeks as standard, not the 3 weeks they advise for renewals.

If your son had a childs passport before and is now getting an adult passport. Its not the same as 1st adult that is for someone who has never had a passport before.

Does anyone know the best course of action i.e. Who to contact to trace passport applications if you are a moron and didn't note the barcodes please? I still have a week before the 3 wks are up but I'd like to know what to do if I haven't heard by then.

I know this will be of no consolation to those travelling in the very near future, but I think they must be getting to grips with the backlog.

Sent 2 children renewals off by check and send on 27th of May and they were here waiting when I got home today! Fingers crossed for all those waiting

Thanks nais. That does give me some hope, I sent a child renewal and child first passport on 29th. Don't travel until 2nd August but panicking anyway.

jigglypuffmom what a relief for you, glad it sounds like you'll have your passports in the nick of time.

jamjimjam we've never had an issue before even in the summer months - 6 years ago we had the passports back within 2 weeks having sent them in the middle of June (2 adult renewals and a 1st child passport) and I think I didn't manage to comprehend just how bad things were this year until the last few days. I am hoping that the negative publicity will have speeded things up a bit though, 5 weeks has never felt like cutting it really fine before!

It's great to hear stories where passports are getting back in less than 3 weeks nais - I don't suppose you know which passport office yours were sent to?

clarinsgirl you could try contacting your MP with all your details and see if they can help you track your application down along with phoning the passport office?

Does anyone know if you can pay to fast track a child's first passport?

Chocchoc - I've tried to fast track my daughters first pp, I spoke to the Belfast office this morning who told me they are only fast tracking people going in the next seven days. I go a week on sat (28th) so she told me to ring back on Monday to fast track it for free as they've had it over 3 weeks. Might be different for each passport office.

When I rang today the chap said I couldn't do it as it was a first passport. But people have told me I can. OH is going to phone tomorrow and find out.

You definitely can fast track childs first but not adult. Take no notice of the helpline people they seriously are useless

My MP rang today said passport people emailed him to say passports went under examination Saturday and I have them by Friday I rang 0300 number and they said it's still not been examined I'm feeling very hopefull though

As we all wait with hope on getting our passports in time for a much awaited holiday - why not head over to the Downing Street e-petitions website at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/search?q=Passport

Someone has set up a petition for "passport and holiday cancelled REFUNDS".

Whilst the Government will attempt to lobby the insurance industry to compensate for losses the failure is clearly at the top - 10 Downing Street. I'm amazed how disconnected our PM is with the emerging holiday crisis - he loads the bullet in the Commons and you hear no more from him.

If like myself you get the run around from the useless Adviceline because you don't have the application renewal tracking number, but you know that you wrote it down on the back of your bank cheque - as soon as the cheque clears give your bank a call. I'm with Halifax and they will get a copy of the back and front of the cheque to me within 7 days free of charge.

Might help if you are still within the 3 weeks or 6 weeks application period and you forget to take a note of the application number.

P.s. I contacted my MP and he was able to verify my renewal application as being at Belfast - I call and I get know where as I don't have the tracking number.

I think the confusion regarding fast tracking children first passports is due to how you applied. You can apply for a fast track (guaranteed one week) passport for kids for their first passport from the outset. The passport people can "upgrade" (they don't use the term fast track for existing applications from what I've heard?) most postal applications but can't upgrade first time kids ones unless the necessary checks have been done.

Since a lot of the delays are first time kids I'd suggest anyone applying now gets a fast track appointment from the outset as so much easier

My friend collected her kids ones today from liverpool - 4 weeks one day after check and send so not too bad. However they did say to her that no one gets upgraded unless security checks have been completed.

The problem with that petition is that the passport office do clearly state that you should not book travel until you have your passport. The fault for any cancelled holidays lies with the person who booked with no passport.

All would have been fine if I had sent the right birth certificate in the first place so I only have myself to blame. My husband and I had ours back within 3 weeks.
The good thing is the 3 weeks will be up on the 25th so hopefully we can push to get it then.

LIVERPOOL PASSPORT OFFICE (otherwise known as Application Black Hole)
As if it couldn't get any worse!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-27877533

rang liverpool passport office at 8.30 on the dot when they opened this morning and was on hold for 50 minutes. had to go into work with my partner as its his passport we're calling about and they would only speak to him but eventually had to give up after an hour as i had to go to my work as well. so frustrating when you ring first thing to still be on hold for ages but i guess everyone has the same idea. and because of my job and my partners we are not able to sit on hold in our works for this length of time. starting to get really upset about how hopeless i'm feeling. this is my partners first ever passport and we dont have an option to fast track and we fly 2 weeks tomorrow but still need an interview :( has anyone had a similar experience that can glimmer some hope my way? thanks