Passport processing time 2

[sunshinehopeful]

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!

Hi All, Just thought I'd share with you my time line for my childrens 2 new passports.

Sent via check and send at post office 2/6/14
Received at Peterborough on 4/6/14
Never got a text message to say they had received them, so chased and got a message 16/6/14 to say they were with examiners.
Received text message on 19/6/14 to say being printed and would be with me in the next few days.
Postman popped them through our letterbox this morning 20/6/14
so it took just over 2 weeks. We did use our friend as a countersignatury who is a civil servant, so this may have helped, may not have.
Sent my husband renewal off on 5/6/14, took money out of our account a few days later and received a text to say they had received it on 9/6/14, but not received it back yet.
We haven't booked anything yet, waiting for husbands passport to come back, then we will.
If it hadn't been in the news, I would never had got so worried!

Good Luck everyone still waiting, looks like they are working really hard to quicken everything up x

feathers were they children's renewals?

That's really reassuring to hear feathers! I am keeping my fingers crossed that my kids passports (renewals, sent 12 June C&S and received 17 June at Peterborough) will be appearing in the first week of July (or sooner so that I don't explode with stress!). We fly 18 July - in theory it should be fine...

Starting to twitch now! Renewal sent to liverpool 27/5 (missed post prior to b holiday) delivered 28/5 text to say received 30/5. So 3 weeks up now. Travelling 15 july arggh.

Loving the positive stories on here!

feathers did they contact your countersignatory?

Peterborough seem to be one of the fastest offices - and always good to hear positive outcomes. Thank goodness all the offices are working 7 days a week. The couriers seems to be delivering withing 24 hours as well as supposed to the usual 2 working days. every little helps!

All the envelopes I've had to send applications off are to go to durham. Can I put them in a blank envelope and send them to a different passport office like Peterborough?? Seeing as there the fastest to get them done? Got to still send my childrens off which will be 3 x first child ones. Panicking abit cause durham have had mine and my husbands 4 weeks now and when I rang them they haven't even been looked at :-( mines a renewal with name change and husbands is a first adult - he's still waiting to hear about an interview also! Soooo frustrating!

Well on a positive note, I sent off renewals for 2DCs on which were received on the 2nd June (text received Mon after sending them Friday before).

I got them both back yesterday so well within the 3 week timeline.

I did not do check and send nor pay any extra for fast track.

DroppingIn what office did they go to? Just out of curiosity seeing as they was processed so quickly compared to everyone else's :-/

That's fab DroppingIn, don't suppose you know which office they went to?

It seems like things are speeding up for those submitting now but those caught in the backlog after submitting in May are still having some issues - really feel for those of you in that position.

Caz306 you probably could send them to any office but I don't know if they would send them back to your local office? Can you book fast track appointments for the kids? It's extra money but would at least be a guaranteed service. Have you been in contact with your MP? They do seem to be able to move some applications along. It must be so very stressful waiting and knowing they haven't even looked at the applications!

My daughters was sent to Glasgow but then moved to Belfast.

I can't send my childrens off yet until my documents or new passport has come as I've got to include my birth cert or there fathers in with there applications. Can't write our passport numbers on the form where it asks either as we haven't had them back! It's a nightmare and feels like it's not going to end any time soon. Glad there are ppl getting there's bk in time hopefully they are slowly shifting the backlog. X

Mine went to Peterborough.

Just to say as well that I did not do countersignatories (DC renewals) as leaflet said as long as the DC were recognizable they were not necessary. Old passports had pictures of them as 7 year olds, they do look quite different as 12 year olds but definitely recognisable to ME!

Shit myself a bit after reading about the backlog thinking if they were sent back and we had to get countersignatories we would have no chance of going away on the 25th July.

I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the service.

Hope all those waiting get them in time x

DroppingIn Peterborough definitely seems to have more good news stories coming out of it than bad which is reassuring! Glad you didn't have any issues with the lack of a countersignatory

Caz306 it sounds like a really difficult situation, I really hope it can be sorted out. Had a look in the previous thread and since you're hoping to travel in September, hopefully they'll have thoroughly pulled their fingers out by July! May be worth an email to Theresa May copied to your MP? Just dumping your applications on a pile is not on .

Caz306 just a thought, could you get duplicate birth certificates to use for the kids' applications? I know it's an additional cost but might give you a chance to get their applications in whilst chasing yours?

mine ( 2 renewals) went to Durham ( nothing gets processed anymore at Newport which is where they used to go from the south west)

i sent it next day signed for delivery on the 25th May.

I contacted them to send me an email when they recieved them, hmm-9th June they say.
I conclude they were in an orange plastic box for two weeks.

fingers crossed they get here soon, need to book flights

Didn't think to get duplicate certificates :-/ will they still accept them? Worth a try I suppose. I'm going to email my mp on Monday if the postman hasn't brought anything. Xx

Another positive experience: I sent my 16 year old's passport renewal (child to adult) on 29 May by Check and Send and received it this morning - it took three weeks and one day from posting to receiving. Good luck everyone still waiting.

Do you know the office Ellesue?

Ours were sent on 4th June and text to say received on 6th. Text said do not contact until after 3 weeks so I am holding tight at the moment as we don't travel until the end of July. Sounds like thing are speeding up a bit.

Sunshinehopeful - it was the Durham office.

We have just got both DD's third renewal back in 4 weeks from Liverpool. We did do check and send though, not sure if this helps?

Sent my straightforward renewal via check & send on the 2nd June, received it back today, 20th June. Not sure which office it went to, my guess would be Peterborough, but back well within the 3 week slot so v pleased.

Obviously the offices are handling the later applications first so that they can meet the 3-weeks time frame. While backlogs are still backlogs.