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Original poster

Passport processing time 2

623 replies

sunshinehopeful · 19/06/2014 08:11

Since the last thread (www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/a2043055-Passport-Processing-Time) is now full I though we could continue our discussions here!

OP posts:
Pintoe · 06/07/2014 12:04

My daughter's flying early on Tuesday morning - still no passport. She's called the passport office countless times, got different stories. No one has ever called her back despite promising they would before five/the next day/within 24 hours. The direct line to the Belfast office - where her passport application is - seems permanently engaged. Have emailed Paul Pugh and our local MP.

It will cost £200 for her and her boyfriend to change their flights, but they wouldn't even know when to change them to. She is a student nurse so can't extend her holiday as she needs to be at her placement.

Is there any faint hope she will get her passport tomorrow? She is in tears.

pind123 · 06/07/2014 12:44

Passport staff are overworked, and now making mistakes!

I feel sorry for the staff, whilst the management carry on letting them suffer...

money.aol.co.uk/2014/07/04/passport-disaster-woman-ends-up-with-wrong-photo/

ShakyTheStork · 06/07/2014 15:22

Ok scrap that - it has just arrived by courier!!

Pintoe · 06/07/2014 17:24

A lovely person from Paul Pugh's office emailed my daughter and said she'd contacted the Belfast office. They rang ten minutes later and said her passport had been processed, would be printed tomorrow and they would try and courier it tomorrow, but couldn't guarantee it until 9am on Tuesday which would be too late. So stressful!

LawnOrnament · 07/07/2014 10:01

Does anyone know how quickly passports are sent out after the confirmation letter from the guarantor is received? Letter should arrive at the passport office today.

Thanks.

Hope your daughter's passport arrives Pintoe. What a nightmare.

lexiferluther · 07/07/2014 10:03

We received our passports yesterday - 2 weeks and 5 days after they were received at Peterborough. Such a relief - will never leave anything less than 12 weeks when renewing again as we applied just as the whole backlog story blew up and it felt like it was possible that even though we still had 5 weeks before we travelled that the passports may not be back in time.

Pintoe I hope your daughter receives her passport in time - I was dreading our passports not arriving this week and having to go through the whole saga of promised callbacks that just don't materialise as so many on this thread have had experience of. Must be horrible when you're watching your holiday date get ever closer and nobody will call you back.

pind123 The situation for people applying from overseas seems awful, you've really been given the short end of the stick - there was a specific passport thread started by overseas applicants: Passport Processing Thread for Overseas Applicants - I don't know if anyone on there can give you any other ideas for how to progress your application?

mummy777 · 07/07/2014 11:56

Been watching this thread and worrying if my passport would arrive in time! I had a text this morning to say that my passport is being printed, 3 weeks to the day since a text came through to let me know that my application had been received. My passport is coming from the Liverpool office.

newrecruit · 07/07/2014 12:10

Does anyone have the direct number for Liverpool please?

theofelix · 07/07/2014 12:40

waiting on DD's renewal - sent via check and send on 11 June, received (text msg confirmation) 16 June. we fly 18 July. really want to see some good news.....

cece · 07/07/2014 14:41

I have not received any text? Should everyone get one?

They took payment on 24th June but didn't realised I should be getting texts.

luckz666 · 07/07/2014 16:11

I sent mine a renewal and my sons his first aged 2 off on 10th june. They received it on 12th. I had had no txts what so ever and called today to find out they are awaiting examination. I am terrified of them not coming in time. We fly 13th august.

newrecruit · 07/07/2014 18:46

I rang Liverpool. Very helpful chap said that if you apply online you don't receive text confirmation.

They received it on 29th June and say I should receive passport by 30th July.

Told if I haven't got it by 2nd August to phone back and they will fast track it. We fly 15th August.

cece · 07/07/2014 22:07

I did not send it as an online application.

I wonder if I should phone or not? Is there a direct number for Peterborough?

cheeseismydownfall · 07/07/2014 22:11

Can anyone advise on this? We submitted applications for DS1 (renewal) and DS2 (first passport) via check and send at the end of June. We received a single text message on 1st July confirming that the application had been received. Does anyone know if this text message covers both applications? Or does it mean one is in the system and one isn't?

Travelling the 9th Aug and feeling rather sick now having read this thread...

theofelix · 08/07/2014 09:24

DH rang up to chase (previous email said average processing time 4 weeks). it's in Belfast apparently. promised a 48 hr callback and if it gets to friday we ring up with flight details and they'll fast track it. we did check and send so it should be fine but I am now terrified there's something wrong as they asked if the guarantor who countersigned the phot/application had heard anything. ugh just feel sick.

Talea · 08/07/2014 09:53

theofelix was it the 0300 number that your DH called? If so, don't worry about them asking if the guarantor has heard anything - I think it's a pretty standard question. They asked me the same question and my dd's passport was back in just under 3 weeks from when they received it.

cece not everyone gets a text. I didn't get one for my application and neither did my friend who did apply online. If you call the 0300 number, they will be able to tell you which office received it and when they received it.

NannyHat · 08/07/2014 10:21

Just to add my passport story;

Sent DDs 1st passport application on 3rd June, received on the 6th June.
Called 0300 number after 3 weeks and all they could tell me that it's being examined. Called again a week later and no further progress. So I contacted my local MP last Thursday who's PA contacted the Durham office where it's being processed. I've had a text today to say it's being printed and will be with us soon. We travel on 28 July.

So relieved and I think the phone call from the MPs office helped move things along, so would urge anyone who hasn't contacted the MP to do so.

theofelix · 08/07/2014 10:38

Talea - thanks and yes it was the 0300 number so that's reassuring. Think the fast track process should save our bacon but I will NEVER renew when we have already booked travel again. kicking myself because I was stressed out applying for new jobs under threat of redundancy and didn't prioritise this. Muppet that I am.

Sunnybank10 · 08/07/2014 16:28

Still waiting! Not very patiently though,started chasing up my passport on the 27th June still no joy , no callbacks as promised. I have now got my local MP involved since last Friday. Money has still not left my bank account for the fee,what is going on ?

theofelix · 08/07/2014 17:02

so they rang back within 3 hours and said they would recommend an upgrade to fast track though that didn't guarantee a passport as it had to go through examination (whihc is of course why we used check and send) and were emailing Belfast to that effect, waiting for a call from Belfast now.......crossing everything. gonna give it till tomorrow and call again. lining up MP's contact details just in case......

Scamp88 · 08/07/2014 17:21

Hi guys, I've been following this thread for a little while now, as I've also been very nervous about getting my passport back in time to go on holiday.

Thought I'd share some positive news about my online adult renewal sent to Peterborough. I applied on June 14th, sent the form I printed off on June 16th and 5 days later the online status finally changed to "recieved".

After checking the online status today, it has changed to "dispatched" so hopefully it'll be on its way very soon! (It's been 2 weeks and 3 days)

Hopefully it'll be this fast for everyone now. :)

pushpins · 08/07/2014 18:54

Hi guys can I please ask what precisely you're providing to your MP last week I was told they'd be printed today, today I'm told they don't know why they've not been looked at yet and to expect a call from the passport office Thursday less than two weeks before we travel. I have now gone into blind panic!!
Are you providing the barcode numbers and everything or just the names and addresses?

Thanks guys

Sunnybank10 · 08/07/2014 20:59

If you have barcodes use them and name and address. I don't have my barcode so maybe that's why it's taken longer. .I hope this helps.

pushpins · 08/07/2014 23:09

It does thank you sunny, fired off an email hope they can help xxx

greyvix · 08/07/2014 23:09

Does travel insurance cover cancellations because of passport issues? This is specifically for a passport that was lost in traumatic circumstances after the holiday was booked?