How long did your check and send application take to come back?

[BigBirthdayGloom]

Have been rather stupid and taken the advice given about an application that had three weeks until travel when submitted. My gut said fast track it, I took advice. So just wondered how long yours took? Don't be afraid to tell me if it was longer than three weeks. I can handle it...just want to work out my chances!

Is it a new passport or renewal? I just did a child renewal with check and send and it was back within a week.

It's a renewal. That is hopeful, thanks. What time of year did you send it in?

We send it just before Easter. It went to Liverpool.

Just got mine back - less than 2 weeks.

This is better than I feared. Mine was at the Newport office on May 1st. I checked today and it is printing. I will feel cautiously optimistic now.

Sent mine off 2.5 weeks ago and haven't had it back yet

Depend what passport office ..if it's at Durham the wait is currently approx 4 weeks at least

Where did yours go, littlefrogs?

Does anyone know what the wait is like at Belfast? I'm waiting for a first child's passport, we're travelling on Sunday... Not looking good.

Renewals are generally much quicker than a first adult or child pp.

Newport, just over three weeks in March this year.

my insider info says passports from liverpool are taking ages at the moment and to allow yourself plenty of time

I know it won't make much difference but the passport office say it was there on may 1st and the post office stamp says they sent it on the 29th. And they go guaranteed next day. Bit frustrated.

I am not sure TBH BigBirthdayGloom. I live in North London - I assume there is a passport office in London? I never thought to ask.

There's an office in London but applications in London are known to be sent to other offices around the UK such as Durham and Peterborough. I live in South London and last time the application went to Peterborough and this time I'm not sure but it's almost be a 3 week wait..going to ask which office it's at when I call for a progress update on Thursday

Aaaaargh £&@""*%## That's better. I feel like a complete fool, mostly for not going with my gut that said "fast track it, fast track it!!" The person I spoke to today said it had gone to be printed. Is it naive to imagine that if its being printed on Monday, it's hopeful it will arrive by Friday? Do they let you collect them in person to save the day it spends in the post? Please ignore me if needs be!

And breathe...passport dropped through letterbox, I assume by courier, five mins ago. Thanks for your comments. So the timings were, just in case anyone reading this with similar panic, check and send sent off 29th April, arrived passport office 1st may, they sent text to say it was printing on the 19th may and it arrived 21st. The guy I spoke to yesterday was do much more helpful. He still couldn't really do anything but he sent a priority email saying we were travelling Sunday and that I would collect if necessary. Phew.

What a relief! Enjoy your holiday

BigBirthdayGloom when you say you got advice I am wondering if you got the same incorrect advice I did. I am 2.5 weeks in and travel on the 31st. I was told by the passport office when I called to make a fasttrack appointment that I did not need one. I asked what would happen if it got nearer to the travel date and no passport. The advisor told me that I could 'upgrade' my application to fast track and come in for an appointment. I applied on-line so when I check my status yesterday (just says recieved/being processed) I thought I better give them a ring and upgrade. The advisor in a very curt and straight forward manner told me that there is no option to upgrade and that now my passport is being processed it cannot be changed. I basically have to wait and hope. She pretty much said she didnt believe me when I told her what I had previously been advised! I feel very stupid as my gut also said fast track and had it not been for the original advisor that is exactly what I was doing. I am interested that you found someone helpful who was willing to flag your travel date as the lady yesterday was basically just telling me tough shit. The fact that I applied using the new online service rather than my usual check and send also appears to be an issue as there are only three status - not received, recieved and processing and despatched. I am not getting any texts, etc.

Mine is at Peterborough by the way, I sent it registered post but they didnt acknowledge reciept for 5 working days on the system :-(

Oh, you poor thing Sherbertpips. It's horrible, isn't it? I think perhaps they don't advise fast track be a use they fear they'd be overloaded but I was so frustrated by that. Keeping everything crossed.

I think it seems to help to ring often as three different people were at three different levels of helpfulness. They clearly can send an email to flag it up and it might be that different managers tell their staff to do different things or individuals are more or less empathetic. I had decided to be a polite nuisance as I couldn't see how it would hinder, but limit myself to one call a day.

For what it's worth, I think the 31st is very hopeful.

So they called me back today to say that yesterday's advice was only half right. I can indeed apply for fast track but it may not be approved. I will know within 48 hours if Peterborough will be happy to accept it. So as you say different days different people - fingers crossed x

Any news, Sherbertpips?