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?!

Have been on hold on the passport phone line dedicated to people who have received a letter for ONE HOUR AND 34 MINUTES since I rang when phone lines opened at 9am today. Tried ringing at 8.30 but was told 'office is closed'.

Is anyone else on hold for this long on the 0845 601 5107 number? anyone got a different number?

brixtonian - i was the same although lines said they opened at half 8 for me? not sure why it said 9 for you? but yeah i had to go to work so i had to hang up after an hour. there is another number of 0845 601 2058 but that one just rings but a lot of people have said you will be on hold for an hour or two but someone will answer so to hold on if you can. absolute nightmare isnt it i feel like crying!!

I'm uploading a youtube film proving I've been on hold for 2 hours 10 minutes under 'Uk passport application nightmare cock up'.

my passport received today (renewal) took 6 weeks and 4 days.

on hold now to durham to find out my partners reference number so she can book an interview.

Flying on the 2nd so fingers crossed for a quick interview

kylecarey - i'm in exactly same situ as you and its my partners first passport as well. just wandering have you received any phone calls or letters to say you can now call to get the ref number for interview or are u just callig them in the hope they have one for you?

After 3 months and 15 days of waiting Liverpool has got back to me with this highly informative email:

"Dear

Thank you for your enquiry with regards to your applications for a British Passports.

I can confirm that your applications are currently undergoing routine security and verification checks in our oversea's office and until these checks are complete, we are not in a position to issue a passport.

Unfortunately we are unable to give a timescale as to when these checks will be complete.

Regards"

KutieKathryn they said yesterday we had to send her mothers birth cert in so we did that and they received it today, they said they will call her today or tomorrow with the reference number as we have requested that. as soon as she gets the reference number she can book an interview. it is worth calling, if they have sent the letter they send it 2nd class but the reference number will be on their screen so you could end up getting it a couple days before it comes to you in the post

okay this sounds reassuring for you. with us it's not just waiting on the passport, it's waiting on having an interview booked first!! how long did it take you to get through to durham today? ours is at liverpool but it seems durham are more reliable and answer the phone faster but i'm wandering if i rang if they'd help me considering our app is at liverpool? will try ring them on thursday as this is my day off. hopefully wont be too late for us both

durham took 20 minutes to answer today x

thats really good. let us know how you get on. fingers crossed for you :)

Vietnammark

This is horrible!! Is it your first passport? Can you apply an emergency travel document in the closest British Embassy?

Quick update OH managed to get through in 5 mins And apparently it's in Belfast waiting to be checked. Asked about fast track and the lady took all our details about flights etc and we should get a call whether we have to pay or not.

Fingers crossed.

Don't lose hope! Sent my application off (child's first passport) on 19th May and it arrived back this morning! We travel in a week and a half. I didn't use check and send and lost the passport application number. We did get our local MP involved as the helpline wouldn't talk to us without the number and he made some enquiries so don't know if that helped or it just came back when it was ready.

Janjanmama

One is a child's renewal and the other is a 1 year old's first passport. Both my kids.

Apologies to Liverpool, as it is only 3 months and 14 days.

I am in talks with the consulate and believe Liverpool only got back to me because they were chased by the consulate yesterday. Tomorrow, will be discussing all options with the consulate.

It does seem to be luck do the draw as to which passport office your applications where sent to. Mine are now coming upto 5 weeks and still in holding at Durham, not travelling till August and they are renewals but still feel a little sick inside and trying to not get in touch with them till July to not slow the process down for those with more urgent needs but it is difficult. Need to stop reading threads but cannot help myself.

Vietnammark Have you tried to contact the local MP (from where you are going to live in UK)? It might work.

Janjanmama

Thank you for the suggestions. I have thought about contacting an MP, but I haven't lived in the UK for over 20 years and will be returning to live in a place that I have no links to, so feel it would be quite strange to contact the MP at the moment. I do hope to exchange on a house there within the next week or two so might consider contacting them after this.

I am, however, expecting that the consulate will sort something out for us.

I am not desperate yet, just exasperated at how poorly and slowly I have been dealt with by Liverpool.

I sent my application off (standard renewal, but with my marriage certificate to change my surname) on Wednesday last week, via post office check and send. I was told I should receive a confirmation text either yesterday or today, and then if I wanted to, I could ring up and try and upgrade to fast track 48 hrs after receiving the text. I don't travel until 2 August (6 weeks Saturday) but I'm still panicking, it's our honeymoon which we have paid £3k for!

I rang yesterday to enquire why I hadn't received a text and the literally useless person I spoke to managed to tell me (after ages being on hold) that the progress team confirmed they received my application on Friday (so two days after sending) but that it hadn't been sent to the examiner, he could even tell me which office my application is at (although the post office staff insisted it would go to Newport, as I'm Cardiff based).

I'm so tempted to call again tonight if I don't receive the text message, but like other posters have said in conscious of taking up staff time when they need to deal with applications urgently. WWYD? Have others not received the text but then received their passports?

just a quick breakdown for anyone interested
April 28th - Sent off application for standard renewal online
May 16th - sent off supporting documents
May 20th - documents received and opened by HMPO
June 9th - contacted them on the phone, promised a call back
June 13th - called up and complained and requested a call back, spent all day on the phone
June 14th - 15th - spent the whole weekend trying to get hold of the Liverpool passport office, received a callback on Saturday 14th saying I'd definitely get a callback, nothing heard all weekend.
June 16th - received a callback, told that the passport is being printed
June 17th - got my passport at 2:45p.m. this afternoon
Have faith guys!

What supporting documents did you need to provide for a renewal?

Thanks rima94 it's very reassuring to hear that people are getting their passports back.

It looks like it was about a month from when the passport office had all the documents for you, which would be fine for me, though as you had to chase quite a lot I think that I'll get on the phone once my son's renewal has been with them for 3 weeks, just in case.

Oh god I'm sitting it, me partner and my child's first passport have been sent off via check and send, about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Very last minute holiday as we suffered a stillbirth baby 3 weeks ago and just need some family time after I have been in and out of hospital for the past 6 months, (8 week long stays in 6 months) sent passports off to Newport. Don't know weather they are there or not?! Did email yesterday but not reply as yet, we fly on the 12th of July, really hoping they are going to come back really can't cope with any more stress. Anyone know what we should do? Should we be chasing them yet?

lookingforadvice123 - because i applied online i had to send the declaration form and two of my passport photos and my old passport to them

funambulist - when is your son travelling? I'm travelling early hours of friday so needed it by Thursday and the woman was really nice about it. Also I had a problem with my addresses because I put a second one down which was my student address so even with sorting that where i had to send special delivery documents and everything to prove my address, I still got it within a week.

vietnammark my dd's passport is pending in Liverpool too, only a simple third renewal, so I think this office must be headed by a stupid CEO. While you are seeking help from the consulate, you can still try to email the MP. Doesn't matter he doesn't know you because you're going to live there and will be a constituent right after you arrive. Don't give up. No harm try. For you and for your kids.