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!

Sissyinthesummertime - I got a text on Friday morning to say that it had been sent for printing. I called them today at lunchtime and they couldn't tell me any more. It has just been delivered this afternoon. I applied a day after you on 13th June and travel this Saturday.

fed up of waiting for these call backs we're supposed to be travelling in nine days, was told that I could pay for the upgrade or wait until friday and get them done for free but there's no guarantee they'll actually be back in seven days.
MP is now also ignoring me, no emails or phonecalls being returned.
Can someone please confirm paul pugh's email address as I want to escalate it to him now x

I'm panicking about passports. We sent away for ds2's first one, received on 3 July at Peterborough. It's in examination apparently, the counter sign person is on holiday. They contacted ds1's counter sign person when we got him a passport

We need to apply for dh's first passport on 25 July. For flying 7 Sept. We can't do it before then as that's when i get paid! There's just over 7 weeks until we fly. He should get his passport in time right? Or should we do fast track right away, can we do that for a first adult passport?

Finally received DS's renewal (overseas) yesterday

Sent 18May so just over 7 weeks. I couldn't get through on any of the Liverpool numbers so got my parents to call their MP who chased it for me and got an upgrade. We travel on Saturday so cutting it fine but thankfully here.

Not sure if it was due to the MP intervention or just the times but it's been a stressful few weeks as without it we are stranded.

Positive outcome today. Passport office rang my countersignatory then rang me to countercheck details of my son. Was losing hope as office hours coming to an end but got the call from the Passport office at 16:43 PM. Will be properly relieved when it is really in my hands. Thank you sunshinehopeful and Mellytots and to those who gave their advice. Emailing your MP and Paul Pugh + asking your passport's status as advised on this thread really worked for me.

Dis post a separate thread but this seems to be the place for passport woes.

Has anyone called the main passport number to be told they couldn't see anything about the application? Did check and send 3 weeks ago but never had a text to say application received so called up today and they couldn't find any record of it, awaiting a call back before officially reporting it as lost just wondering if anyone has had the same happen and if so how did the Post Office handle it as they were meant to send it special delivery.

Hi guys awful to see more and more people joining this thread :(
Sounds good news to me Nicole and no worries I'm glad my advice has helped.
Good news for me I received my passport from DX today!!! I have never felt such relief ever and have practically snogged my passport lol!!
I also received emails today from both Paul Pugh and my local MP offering to help out so anyone who hasn't done this, do it, I didn't have time to wait for them as I'm travelling Friday so for anyone who wants an easy quick read of what I did;
Passport application submitted 25th May for basic name change renewal;
Contacted 0300 2 weeks before travel, pointless they are dealing with people leaving within 7-10 days.
11/7- 1 week before travel and called 0300 again who then emailed Liverpool and said I'd get a call within 48 hours
12/7- received call from Liverpool asking date of travel and advised as it was in 6 days he would suggest I had fast track
14/7- received call from Liverpool Monday to again ask travel date and time. Was told that was very soon so they would issue it that day and would be sent in 48 mail
15/7- passport arrived with DX Services

Not sure if everyone is aware but 0300 is open 7 days a week until 8pm so don't give up cos it's the weekend.
They will not upgrade application to free fast track until you are within 7 days of travel, I would of happily paid if I had to!
There are loads of us really worried our passports aren't going to come but I honestly think keep on their tails and you will get it in time.

I feel so thankful for getting mine and I hope you all do too.

Amillion I would honestly suggest fast tracking if that's possible and if not see if you can't possibly do it earlier for peace of mind as first passports do take up to 6 weeks when things are running smoothly.

Groove jet just seen your post....was it a youngish sounding lad??
I'd been ringing every day for a week and one day this lad answered and said he couldn't find it, I wasn't amused as i had spoken to someone that day, when I asked him to check again he hung up!!!
I called straight back and the next person found it straight away.

Hi, I've been following with interest!
Sent off DS2's renewal on 12th June and got it back today, so it took just under 5 weeks. I think it went to Durham and it was via check & send.
I didn't call to chase it but was planning to if I hadn't received it by the end of the week.
I never received a text off them either to confirm they had the passport application.

I hope that puts some minds at rest. Old passport and new one came together, through the door, no signature required.

Great to hear so many positive stories.

Does anyone know if the upgrade should be free if they've had your application longer than 3 weeks, and you're travelling in less than a week?

Hi Closer

Yep if they have had your passport more than the usual time it takes to process so 3 weeks for renewal and 6 weeks for a new one and you are travelling within 7 days then a fast track upgrade should be free. You have to wait for the passport office to call you as the people on the 0300 can't make that decision.

That sounds promising Melltots thanks, although it was a lady I spoke to. I did try tracking online and had an email response asking for more details and also on a callback so hopefully it may still be stuck in processing.

I don't mind waiting a bit longer to get it, just don't want to have to report it lost and start from scratch as that could be pushing it on time not too mention the added expense.

Hopefully I will finish work early and can get to the PO to see if they keep a record of the special delivery tracking number they used, seems daft to pay the check and send if they don't supply the royal mail info.

Well fingers crossed that the panic is over, had an email saying it has been received and is in Liverpool, have informed them that the 0300 person told me otherwise as obviously something is going wrong when they are checking.

Apparently in the examination process so hopefully it is in safe hands.

Don't think I would do check and send again though, may as well send it special delivery myself so I can check myself that it has been sent by Royal Mail.

phew! MP office contacted me today - they said although the passports are still in examination (which they have been since 9th June apparently) they are now in what is called 'active examination' which means someone is physically checking over them now. I will be eligible for the upgrade on Friday and until then have to sit tight. MP PA who is a really lovely woman made me promise not to panic, she's told them to look now and double check that photos, and supporting documents are all present and correct so that on Friday the ball can start rolling. She said on Friday she will also ring to double check the update is being processed, and from that point on ring them twice daily on my behalf, as I think I shall from that point. I should be excited about our holiday next week, as it stands I am still forcing myself to not get too excited, as I'm convinced I'm not going to be able to go. Roll on Friday!!!!

HUGE congrats to those getting their passports now - enjoy them!

Just wanted to share to offer hope and thank everyone for this thread!

Passport applied for online, posted documents 14th June - Child renewal
Rang after 5 days to ensure documents were received as I only sent them 1st class post - docs received and checked in 18th June.
Rang 0300 number after 3 weeks - 9th July to give travel date of 2nd August and mobile phone number. Told to wait another week and then check progress, couldn't fast track until 26th July.
Received first and only text on Monday 14th July to say passport was being printed.
Received passport in post on Wednesday 16th July - exactly 4 weeks.

So so relieved with just over 2 weeks left until we travel, but can't fault the service. My advice, provide your travel dates and keep checking on progress. As posted previously Belfast seem to be processing according to travel dates as well as application date, to avoid the 1 week fast track. Good luck to all!

Don't think I've ever been so frustrated!

I did get a call back from Peterborough, but I was teaching so I missed it. No message left - I tried calling the number I have for Peterborough but was told their systems were down do they couldn't check anything.

Called advice line AGAIN so they could request yet another callback from Peterborough, and asked if they could call between certain hours so I didn't miss it again. Stroppy sounding person on the phone said he would ask for this to happen, but 'it's up to them'

Got off the phone feeling I was getting absolutely nowhere, so emailed Paul Pugh, and rang my MP, who was lovely and said she'd call on my behalf tomorrow.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

I have emailed Paul Pugh, but had no response. Does anyone have a reliable email? Thanks.

I used [email protected] and did get a call back. Only to say that my passport is with the priority team and they would call today. Still waiting ...

hopefully you hear more soon closer, I'm disgusted at the attitude of some of them, two of them so far I'm sending complaints about when I finally get my passports back.
Seems wrong that they are causing so much hassle then have the audacity to be rude to us!

Thanks for the email. I did use that contact, and will try again now.

I know pushpins - I do get that they're struggling, but I don't think there's any excuse for rudeness. I've really tried to keep calm with them. They've got too much power!!

I've another day of waiting ahead of me. My situation now is that I know my passport if with the priority team but no more than that. I travel at 6am on Wednesday so need it by Tuesday latest. Am I mad to hope it might still appear??

Going to ask my mp to chase again today, and hopefully get to speak to someone.

Spoke to advice line today to request my free upgrade, mine was apparently sent for printing yesterday daughters however is still 'in examination'. As such he's sent an email I should get a phone all back in the next 24 hours which apparently means Monday. Seems odd they work around the clock but don't return calls at weekends?

omg... where do I start. So I recieved an email from the MP's office saying they're trying to contact me urgently there's been an issue and they're asking for daughter's passport number, which she doesn't have, since it's an application for a first new one, and allegidly they'd sent me a letter on the 15th about it.
So I rush home to get my passport application numbers, find the letter on the doormat, apparently daughter's application has been declined as her countersignature doesn't have a current UK passport. As such all documents sent to them become their property so I have to fill in a whole new application for her, and as such there is no way they will fast track, not even for a fee.
So today I've had to ring work to advise them I'd be late (was due in at 4pm) had to fill in the whole application form again, get a brand new countersignature and new photos, send it all via first class recorded guaranteed delivery (£11).
Was warned that even if they recieve the documents there's no guarantee nor is there any chance they will prioritise it so I just have to hope for the best. Had to have a serious talk with daughter to let her know we're going to have to probably cancel altogether now, she's heartbroken.
Sent the applications 5th June via check and send (which I'm informed is non refundable as it's a countersignature issue) they wrote to me 15th July to tell me the passport application has been declined, and sent it via 2nd class buisness post.
Doesn't bode well for travelling Friday...

My son's passport still isn't back despite being sent 6th June via check and send and has been with Liverpool since June 10th
None of my call back have happened despite escalations. It's with Liverpool. We travel next week. It's a first child passport.
I have emailed Paul Pugh 4 times
I have emailed my MP 3 times and spoken with his office
I have called the 0300 number every day.
I have emailed Theresa May 3 times
I've been advised we are eligible for free fast track but nobody from Liverpool is calling me to sort this.
I am actually losing the plot. Please, please, help me.
Is there anything else I can do?

potnoodle I pray you're not in the same boat as me! fingers crossed you hear something soon, my passport is apparently on it's way, been sent a tracking number but don't know where I'm supposed to be tracking it? I despair I really do