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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:
treennis · 25/07/2014 19:55

hello i am new to mumsnet and need some advice urgently. my story so far.......booked a holiday for the 1st of aug back in april for me and my 3 children. in june when i looked for mt passport could not find it anywhere. applied on the 19th of june for a lost passport through check and send....3 weeks later phoned and was reassured that it would be here in time by one of the advisers on the phone......however by wed just gone thought id phone and check as i was getting a bit worried. was told by one person on that i would have to ring fri and ask for up grade to ring me.....i was not happy with her respons so phoned back and a man sent through a email to request a call back....no call back has been made i have not left my house i have been rining and told different things all the time i just dont know what to do....one adviser said that it could take up till tuesday for someone to get back to me....im flying friday my passport is in Peterborough has any one got a direct number that i could ring myself or any advice for me. thank you so much.

ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 26/07/2014 19:44

Hi,
Ring the 0300 number and ask for an urgent call back. I was supposed to have the 48hr call back yesterday from Peterborough and didn't so rang the 0300 number again and then peterborough rang me today.
They are currently doing the passports of those travelling Monday, and will call me on Monday to do mine. We travel on Wednesday and were told we would need to collect in person on Tuesday from the office.

Good luck

ILiveInAPineappleCoveredInSnow · 26/07/2014 19:45

I think this is the peterborough number though....

0845 501 5549

Seasidemum123 · 30/07/2014 08:34

First child passport, applied on 26 June, check &send.
Still waiting, the tracking info says it's being examined, but it's been saying that for the last 10 days, so that's rubbish, surely it doesn't take that long to look at one form?

Will start ringing today as travelling on 12 Aug. not looking forward to it after reading all the stressful stories. Any tips?
Is there any point in trying to get through to the 0300 line? Seems like a waste of two days?
Thank you:)

suddenlysix · 30/07/2014 22:38

Hi seasidemum, my step childrens passports were sent for examination on 25th of June and when I called this morning I was told they are just about to be sent to print. That's 5 weeks in examination in total! They said that that's longer than their targets and if I don't get a text saying they're being printed by tomorrow they will speed them up for me. I have to say I haven't hassled them as I haven't booked travel yet other than to tell them if I don't get them back soon we won't be able to book something. I've only called the 0300 number and they've been really helpful and put down my "date of travel" as the last week of august (which is when I was hoping to go). Mine are at Peterborough if that helps.

Seasidemum123 · 31/07/2014 00:33

Thanks Suddenlysix! I rang 0300 number and was told they are waiting to complete the security checks - they are sending a letter to our countersignatory, should be all done by next week. If I don't hear from them, I should call again and ask for an upgrade. Sounds okay to me, so I hope it will all work out...
Fingers crossed...

gemandy · 31/07/2014 11:18

to be honest I think were being fobbed off they have had my form for the last 8 plus weeks was on the phone to them yesterday to be told there only looking at forms received 28 of may where other people have said they were looking at June the 2nd I've emailed Paul Pugh on Monday and not heard anything back I'm going to my local mp tomorrow to see if he can do anything im in iIreland BTW.

gemandy · 31/07/2014 11:44

to be honest I think were being fobbed off they have had my form for the last 8 plus weeks was on the phone to them yesterday to be told there only looking at forms received 28 of may where other people have said they were looking at June the 2nd I've emailed Paul Pugh on Monday and not heard anything back I'm going to my local mp tomorrow to see if he can do anything im in iIreland BTW.

Seasidemum123 · 01/08/2014 00:59

Gemandy- what office are yours at? Does it still make any difference? Our one is in Peterborough...
Have you asked for an upgrade? I was told they can upgrade us next week, closer to our travel date...

gemandy · 01/08/2014 08:28

Hi Seaside mine is in Belfast can't get upgrade because Im overseas applicant I'm living in Ireland on the phone again yesterday he was trying to tell me I proberly not have it for the 20 of Aug I've emailed MP's hopefully should here something back today.

gemandy · 01/08/2014 13:21

Result passport office rang me today and said passport is getting sent out today I feel happy and even happier when its in my hand I definitely believe it helps to get an mp on their case good luck to everyone else waiting on passports

Seasidemum123 · 02/08/2014 01:46

Gemandy, that's great! You must be so relieved!

I might try emailing our MP next week if still no luck by Tue...
I had a missed call today with No Caller ID so I just hope it wasn't the Passport Office...

suddenlysix · 02/08/2014 17:53

I don't want to unnecessarily worry anyone but the day after I was told about being sent to print we got a letter saying they need more documents! I'm so angry. The people on that 0300 number are liars. I spoke to someone at general enquiries to see if we do actually need to send in what they're asking for and she was shocked that I was told about being sent to print. I think they're just saying what they need to to get you off the phone. They've asked for my step childrens mothers birth certificate now (even though I've asked every time I've emailed or phoned whether they need anything else and been told no) and as we have no contact with her I've had to order it premium service from the GRO at a cost of £23 and won't be here til Monday. It's left me in a bit of a bad way all of this. I'm so depressed and the letter came on our wedding anniversary so that day was ruined by the cloud of doom sent from the passport office. I've lost all the joy in this. Hope I can't actually be bothered/find something to book by the time they get here.

sharonb70 · 03/08/2014 18:49

Don't give up!! You have to phone the 0300 number, it's part of the process. If you don't get a ringback from the office holding your application and you probably won't GET INTOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL MP. Once you MP knows that you've gone down the correct route and waited for ringback and been lied to he/she will step in!! Tell them that you've emailed Paul Pugh (passport exec) Teresa May and Home Office to complain (infact actually make the complaints) Only takes a minute to email them. Once I told my MP id followed the above he contacted the office. Within an hour Liverpool phoned me to say they'd pulled out my application and forwarded it to the priority team. Two hrs later a lady from Liverpool phoned again to say passport was ready to either collect or send out :) I had all but given up my holiday!! By the way I lied about departure date; I said I was flying the wednesday when in actual fact it's the 13th. The man at call centre told me not to lie as they had flight data and would find out but...obviously they don't!!!!!!!!! Good luck everybody xx

suddenlysix · 03/08/2014 21:10

I've emailed Paul Pugh and my MP and heard nothing. Maybe it's because I have to send in the document so they can't do anything til I have. I'll email again once I've sent it in. I'm just so fed up. I'm trying to put it out of my mind until they're here then I can book something. It's just upsetting because my children are wondering what's going on. I've told them we're just going on a UK holiday, never told them we were applying for the passports in case this very thing happened. Then it's just my dreams that'll get crushed! I'm hoping that once they get here and we find something I'll be able to get all excited again. I will be complaining about all the rubbish I've been fed though. Especially as a different lady on that 0300 number told me to book something 2 weeks ago! I was shocked that she would say that. She told me there were no issues with the applications, no documents needed, I'd have them soon and just book something cos they can easily fast track it for me if necessary. Have I just been unlucky enough to end up talking to loonies who want the sack for giving out hideously inaccurate info?!

sharonb70 · 03/08/2014 21:33

I don't think the operators have got a clue what they're talking about and they all tell you different things unfortunately. Email your MP again and ask him to phone you or respond to your messages to actually let you know what he is doing on your behalf.That's what I did and his secretary phoned me straight away. It's their job to act on our behalf. I know that without the help of my MP I wouldn't have my passport now!! When you get the documents maybe you could take them direct to the passport office dealing with your application to speed things up. I know they say you can't go without an appointment but when I went to Liverpool yesterday there were people there queuing up to see the receptionist. Good luck

suddenlysix · 03/08/2014 22:23

Thank you. I know we still have time. We want to go away 24th onwards but lots of deals are a lot cheaper from the 27th and our 3 oldest (at secondary) don't go back til the 8th. I just love the lead up to it all, it's a big part of the holiday for me and at the moment it's just putting a dampener on everything. Hope it's not giving the kids a rubbish summer holidays - they keep asking when we're booking our caravan in Cornwall and can't understand why we haven't. I was going to put all the passports in envelopes and hand them out with a print out of wherever we book. They'll all be do excited to find out they're going on a plane. Hopefully I'll be one of the people on here saying My passports are finally here! soon.

Seasidemum123 · 04/08/2014 01:11

Hi, I'm just wondering... When you get a call back, can you see the number on your phone? I had a no caller id on my ohone on Fri, worried it was the Passport office...
Thanks

Tripp44UK · 04/08/2014 11:56

The Post office always make things worse as they often have untrained staff that don't know anything about how the passport application process works and are telling people not to worry and that they will have their passport in 2-3 weeks, when in fact even before the backlog it was 4-5 and now looks more like 7-8 weeks which tends to fuels the complaints even more. The passport office website might help for finding a contact for a local passport office if your application is still in progress.

Good luck guys on getting yours sooner rather than later. :)

sharonb70 · 04/08/2014 15:18

No seasidemum you can't see the number when you get callback and they won't try again, you need to phone the 0300 number again!!

Irishtown · 04/08/2014 17:36

Why would you ring the 0300 unhelpful line they are l

sharonb70 · 04/08/2014 17:54

Because you've got no chance of a ringback from passport office holding your application without them emailing them first unless you have got a direct line and you are lucky enough for them to actually answer the phone!!!! In my opinion the only way to get your pp is through your MP but it helps if you can tell them that you've followed the correct procedure and got no joy!!!!!!!!!!!!

suddenlysix · 04/08/2014 20:06

Ok so lets not jinx this but I see some light at the end of the tunnel! My MP (or more accurately his PA) emailed me today to say that he has been in touch and we do need the birth certificate. My husband's would have been enough but only if he had been married to their mother, which he wasn't, and he would have had to send a marriage certificate in too so I did need to order her birth certificate. As annoying as it is to have had to spend out on it and wait for it at least I know now they definitely need it. He's advised me to just chuck my husband's birth certificate in the envelope too, send it recorded and let him know when they receive it. He says he will call them again at that point to make sure they are processing it urgently as he has told them to make it a priority case. Please, please let the certificate come tomorrow then I can send it off and maybe have them in my hands by the end of the week. I feel so much pressure off now that I have someone else involved and helping me. Someone who can actually get through to speak to the people who know whats going on! Its helped my case that I never got my call back today and I've told him how much false information I've been given. He's told me to email him if I have any concerns and he'll chase it up immediately. I won't relax, or book anything, until I actually have the passports here but I can start to believe this holiday will happen now!

Straightforwarda · 04/08/2014 21:21

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sharonb70 · 04/08/2014 21:44

Straightforwarda I applied for my daughters pp three months prior to departure by check and send!! I was told by the post office it was a 3wk turnaround for renewal. I waited and waited and was LIED to everytime I phoned up the call centre. I have NOT jumped infront of anyone, I should've had my daughters pp back a long time ago. I was not prepared to lose my holiday due to the fault of the government. What an absolutely ridiculous statement to make!! If you want to blame somebody you're blaming the wrong person, I am merely trying to advise people who are obviously going through the same hell i've just been through!!!