Passport application delay - what worked for us

[Bunnymummy82]

Just returned from holiday and received our baby's passport only a few days before we were due to fly - all v stressful - so thought I would share what worked for us in case it's helpful.

• Call the identity and passport service helpline number (the only publicly available number) to find out that your application is at least in the system and find out what stage it's at.
• Tell them when you're travelling
• Tell them again
• Tell them again
• Remember they are only a call centre with no ability to speak to any of the passport offices and it's not the fault of the person on the phone so try not to shout at them!
• Find out where your application has been sent - Durham, Liverpool etc - it won't bear any correlation to where you live - then start googling like crazy to find the number of the passport office. The IPS people can't tell you the number of the passport office, they just say they'll ask for someone to call you.
• Don't believe them when they say they wi call you back (the IPS that is) or that they have asked for your application to be expedited - keep calling them until you find out where your application is and have found the number for that particular passport office
• Phone the passport office. Don't be surprised if you have to stay on hold for an hour; it's worth it
• don't be surprised if when you get through they haven't received a request to expedite or if try have no idea when you're travelling
• tell them again when you're travelling, beg, cry etc
• contact your MP and ask them to intervene - tell them where your application is as this makes it much easier

I'm not sure whether it was my MP's intervention or just my repeated calls to Durham that got ours through the hold up but we got a call 3 days before our flight saying it was in the post and it arrived the next day.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Jan im just up and was going to private message you and I seen they are dispatched. Im sure your as happy as me. What country are you in? I

Irishtown - I'm in Hong Kong. So sad to know that there are plenty of phere can't get their passports on time. They have to apply a one-off emergency passport instead which costs £95 or so. Some have been waiting for 3 to 4 months already for their straightforward renewals! Unbelievable. Where are you in?

• plenty of people ( my iPhone is so sensitive )

Hi jan I'm in Republic of Ireland. Im wondering when ill get the passports delivered. I live in a rural location and I don't think a courier will find me.

I think as long as your address is correct, they definitely will find you. No worries. Some people in another thread have told me that it usually takes 48 hours to deliver after printing. Counting the days it maybe on Tue or Wed for your case.

Glad people have had results mailing Paul Pugh, scarily I have had 2 emails from passport office helpline and the Home office saying they cant find my applications, if the passports were not sitting in my kitchen I would be losing my mind with worry.
When I mailed Mr Pugh, it was in a begging distressed tone, not complaining if that makes any difference to anyone and also this experience makes me realise that the helpline phones and email (0300) is just manned by call centre staff, so if you are told your application cant be found it does not mean it is lost and you wont get your passport.
The call centre staff are adding to peoples worry and anger.

What info do you need to check your passports status online?
Is this just for check and send people?

Irishtown, I am overseas too.

Could you pm me with Paul Pugh's email address? What did you say to him?

How long did you wait before emailing? I sent my application 5 weeks ago, when I sent it the website said it would take at least 4 weeks but now it is saying at least 6 weeks.

We have a month until we travel, but I'm getting nervous that the overseas applications are really screwed up.

Honestly Grumpy that just sums up the whole situation.I saw your post on thursday eveevening and thought I'll have a bit of that, mine was of the begging/pleading kind too. I got a reply at 7.10 the next morning to say passports processed printed and ready for dispatch. Well impressed and I nearly fell off my chair delighted just waiting fordeluvery, they said on the helpline that it could be up to 10 days and will come to me in ireland by DHL I asked for the tracking number only to be told he couldn't tell me what it was. If they think im taking this crap again they are very mistaken this girl doesnt like liars honestly its like the bloody secret service. I live in a rural place, no street name, no house number, I thought it would make life easier all round to contact the courier to tell him where the house is. Honestly these idiots make my blood boil

The email address is [email protected] I sent my 3 applications 28th may but was told by Belfast they could not guarantee delivery in time 23rd august to usa. I am not a patient person and after a week I started ringi g them. I didnt write anything special just my story

Thanks Irishtown will email him on Monday, fingers crossed it will help.

I do feel for the passport office people. I needed a passport at very short notice to fly to a funeral overseas. The people on the phone were pretty efficient and the people in the office in Newport were lovely. I was able to get on the last possible flight out to gey there in time. Frankly I wanted to hug the lady in the newport office!

Wish do it now dont wait loads of people are doing it....get in early

I did yes but im sure if you put your name and address they should be able to trace you. Overseas applications do the application bit online so we always have access to it. You neec to keep at them everyday. Good luck

Are you overseas or in UK. I started with 12 weeks before holiday and was told by Belfast they couldn't guarantee delivery.......thats when I started ringing, emailing and getting as much information as I could. I paid good money for my holiday and wouldn't let the bunch of idiots stop me going you have to fight your corner.

9am on a Sunday morning, thud on doormat, looked out window and bloke in an unmarked white car just leaving.

It turns out to be my middle sons passport from the Liverpool office. Two new passports plus one renewal and my passport as evidence of nationality were sent mid May.

Still middle son and husband can now go on our first family holiday - its progress.

Oddly the online progress checker still says declaration received on all three even the one we now have.

Have you had a tracking number from the passport office. I dont think they will deliver here on a Sunday. I just want them now

Two more passports on doormat this morning whilst I was on school run. Just mine to go.

I've just checked the calendar and its been five weeks since I sent them off to Liverpool. One was a renewal plus name change, one a first passport different name to birth certificate and one a first passport with both parents names changed. So overall thats not too awful.

Good luck everyone else, I can't believe how much relief I feel having now got them.

Just checked the online system and even though I now have them all in my 'important docs' file, it still says declaration received being processed. So maybe the tracking system isn't something to get too concerned about.

My 3 have arrived woohoooo nightmare well and truly over........Florida here we come I am tne happiest woman alive good luck to everyone still waiting email [email protected]

Some people in these threads say they have checked status online and it says dispatched etc. how can you do that . When I go to track passport I filled in a form and wait for someone to contact me. They did to ask for more information but heard nothing since and that was on weds. Can you see the status straightaway online ?
Thanks getting a bit stressed now Paul Pughs assistant has asked Durham to look into applications .