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!

I just spoke to a lady at Peterborough - and it wasn't great news unfortunately. They are currently working on applications that went into their holding area on 5th June. Mine went into the holding area on 20th June, even though it was received on 13th June, so that's a week already. To give you an idea if you've got similar timelines to me, they won't be looking at applications that went into the holding area on 20th June for 15 working days. So including the strike day, that means my application won't be looked at until at least the 16th July (5 weeks after i sent it via the post office).

As that's only just over two weeks before i go on my honeymoon there's no way I'm risking just crossing my fingers, so I've requested a call back to pay the £55 to upgrade to fast track. An absolute pain because i sent it over 7 weeks before we went, which you'd think would be plenty, especially as it's just a renewal!

Good luck everyone, feeling very deflated so please keep the positive stories coming!

Kutiekathryn I have waited for at least 40mins till someone pick up the phone call, I guess you have to wait long enough tho.

Had a text this morning saying my DS's passport is being printed and should be here in the next few working days. Phew! Although I won't rest until it drops on the mat.

Lookingforadvice123 wow - must say I had a bit (ok a lot) of a panic after reading your post. I gave them a call (1 hour 7 minutes on hold) and the man I spoke to has added a callback to our applications for 7 days before we travel - they aren't processing fast tracking earlier than that according to him? He also seemed to think that with a number of overtime nights/weekends coming up it would be likely that we'd get our passports before then which was reassuring. He was also able to tell me that our counter-signatory wouldn't be contacted so that was nice to know!

Did he say you would have to pay a fee for fast track? I thought (but could be wrong) that the 7 day 'rule' only applies when you're upgrading for free.

Can I ask when you sent your application and when you're travelling? The lady I spoke to has scared me so much, I emailed Paul Pugh and forwarded a copy to my MP, whose office replied straight away in fairness. The delay is ridiculous IMO, not even looking at my application until it's been there 5 weeks?!

Oh and the plot thickens, an hour or so ago I got an automated style reply in response to the online query I submitted last week, saying my passport is at Peterborough and is in the examination process. This implies that it's with the examiner? Which would be great, but I definitely believe the lady I spoke to over the general service!

He didn't mention paying/free just said that the current rule was no fast tracking until 7 days from departure (and I had said I'll pay anything at this point) - I'd be really interested to see whether you're allowed to fast track before then (because I'll be straight back onto them if you are). Our application was submitted 12 June, received 16 June and we travel 18 July - having had all applications (even at peak summer time) in the past back within 2 weeks the current problems completely caught us out!

I must admit I can't imagine them going from 99% of straightforward applications (to which I believe both child and adult renewals belong) completed within 4 weeks to missing that target for 100% of applications! Politically that seems a really bad news story (Paul Pugh and Teresa May will both be doing anything to avoid that sort of story) and the managers would probably be risking both bonuses and jobs.

Argh it is a nightmare! I really hope for both of our sakes that the lady was giving me worst case scenario...I've spoken to so many people and had such conflicting advice that I don't know who to believe any more. She sounded very genuine though, she wasn't having a go just telling it how it was, in her view.

Either way service is diabolical. They received my passport on 13th June but not until a week later was it put in the holding area. So where was it before then? In a post tray somewhere no doubt!

Lookingforadvice123 I had a similar email to you, saying that my application had been received 5 June (by Belfast) and was put before the examiner on 6 June. When I called Belfast yesterday (23 June) they hadn't even looked at my application yet. I would believe what you hear from the Passport Office dealing with your application.

By the way, I had a response to my on-line query about when they calculate the 3 week turnaround from. Time runs from the date that the Passport Office dealing with your application receives it, not from the date you submit it. Seems pretty unfair to those of you who have long gaps between sending the applications off and it actually being recorded as reaching the Passport Office.

So now my 3 weeks are up on 26 June. Planning to call and chase again on that day.

I thought that you could request fast track earlier than 7 days before travel if you are willing to pay as long as it was practicable (e.g. they weren't waiting for documents from you, checking a countersignature etc)

And I was completely caught out too, this is my first adult renewal (my mum would've sorted my last one for me!) so as my husband got his back in less than 3 weeks a few months ago, it didn't even cross my mind that there might be problems in the summer. Wanted to die when I read the news stories!

Oh no when do you travel funambulist ? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

DS's renewal arrived yesterday - posted on May 30th, received 2nd June. Didn't use check and send or anything fancy. As a pp said, if I hadn't seen the threads on here, I wouldn't have thought there was any problem!

Been trying to fast track for over a week and was willing to pay but we can't do anything until our 3 weeks is up which is tomorrow.

My husband doesn't dare mention it to me incase I bite his head off lol.

Just to let you know as some had similar dates to me,
I sent my sons renewal on 2nd June using check and send, Received in Peterborough on 4th. Helpline today said it had been sent for printing today and will have it within a week but most likely a couple of days x

Tracked mine online and it said still in examination and to allow 4 weeks not what I needed to hear :(

Chocchoc when I rang yesterday they said it hadn't even been looked at, yet today it is being printed. I was starting to get a bit panicky as we go next Sunday. Ring them first thing in the morning Hope you get it sorted xx

When I called last week it was in examination, when I called Monday it was still in examination. How long does it take to examine it?

We go this Sunday and have yet to pack, book car parking, get euros my heart just isn't in it.

In some of my random googling around passport timelines (not obsessed at all, oh no), I read a small article (from a year or so ago) about how examination now takes 5 1/2 days compared to a few years ago when it was 1 1/2 because of lots of bureaucratic paperwork. So sadly it looks like it takes longer than you'd think for examination.

I really hope you get your DC's passport in time chocchoc30 am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Thank you lexiferluther :)

I'd be interested to know from those of you that have received your passports through liverpool office, when did you post them? Trying to guess how long I need to wait, they received my application on the 3rd.

Does anyone know which dates Liverpool are looking at? Sent ours off check and send on the 4th received in Liverpool on the 9th.

oh you poor thing, have you contacted your MP I know lots of people have and they got a call within hours, my neighbours did that and it worked. Apparently when they say in examination they don't mean it is being examined they just mean it is in the queue to be examined, once an examiner has looked at it, it only takes a very short while to approve it and send it to print.
I am sure you will get it sorted do you live near enough to pick it up, if they can fast track it you can usually pick it up within a few hours, You must be so stressed and worried big hugs xx

It's in Belfast so no chance of us collecting it. I'm just hoping they will push it through tomorrow when I call them.

Oh no chocca have you called the direct line?

Hello new to site, but terrified of passport delays. Sent renewal for daughter on 8th June to Newport using online service. Today I found out it was in Peterborough. Online status says being examined on 17th June. We fly on 26th July - feeling a bit scared to say the least.