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Original poster

child's first passport - does fast track work with all the delays?

26 replies

Liveinthepresent · 29/07/2014 14:07

We are still hoping to book a week away mid September - does anyone know if I can fast track an application for a passport for my DS or whether everything is in too much of a mess for this to work.
Nothing on website and can't face a lengthy wait to get an answer so am hoping someone on here has knowledge!
Don't want to risk it getting stuck.

Thanks

OP posts:

IceRocket · 29/07/2014 14:22

Hi I don't know but I'll hang around incase anyone does as I'm wondering the same

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 29/07/2014 20:03

Bump - anyone ?

OP posts:

Loftyjen · 29/07/2014 22:20

Don't know either, we're going away on 16th sept, and on 2nd July sent in passport application of DS's first passport.
I enquired via email yesterday & got an email back within 12hrs saying it had been received 4th July & was currently "going through the examination process" unclear if this means in a box file in a meeting room or actually being examined - fingers crossed it's the later

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 30/07/2014 09:56

Was it a fast track application lofty because if so then it sounds unlikely there is any point me trying..
The website still says you can do a fast track in a week.

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 30/07/2014 10:11

you would have to phone for an appointment so it depends how soon the appointment was - the website says the appointment could be up to 3 weeks from the date you call to book it..

You dont post fast track applications, you go into a passport office with the filled in application and documents.

www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

Loftyjen · 30/07/2014 10:46

Liveinthepresent - we didn't fast track, did check & send from PO.

Think if we were applying now for Sept, I'd fast track.

Am keeping fingers crossed as our application is at Peterborough which sounds like it's been one of the better places.

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 30/07/2014 10:56

Is it a first passport or renewal?

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 30/07/2014 10:58

Doh saw its a first passport. I didn't think you could fast track them?

If you use check and send it shortens the time frame so should be adaquate if you get it done now, particularly as they are upgrading to fast track if it's not recieved and it's 7 days before travel.

anchovies · 30/07/2014 11:00

I drove to Glasgow yesterday to fast track passports for 2 of my dcs. They were certain is have it back within 7 days. If I were you I'd get ringing for an appointment while you decide, there are lots of people snapping up cancellations.

anchovies · 30/07/2014 11:02

You can fast track a child's first passport, just not an adults.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/07/2014 11:05

I got dd's renewal back today, 6 days after our fast track appointment.

My mum got her renewal in the post 2 weeks after doing check and send at the PO, so no delay for her either.

TheFallenMadonna · 30/07/2014 11:06

Make an appointment now. We had a 2 week wait for one in Peterborough.

ilovepowerhoop · 30/07/2014 11:07

you can do a fast track 1 week service for a child's first passport. Check and Send does not guarantee that you get it back any quicker than using normal post.

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 30/07/2014 11:13

Ds got his renewal back in 3.5 weeks check and send and that was right during the height of the backlog.

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 30/07/2014 21:12

thanks so much for these replies - am going to phone for an appointment tomorrow.
ilovepowerhoop i had missed the fact it was an appointment - that makes sense.
loftyjen sounds promising - fingers crossed!

OP posts:

ohdearitshappeningtome · 30/07/2014 21:17

I'm in my 5th week of waiting for my baby passport we go away in October! I need his birth certificate! Passport office very unhelpful

anchovies · 31/07/2014 20:53

Quick update - my appointment was at Glasgow on Tuesday and the passports arrived today! Fast track is definitely the way forward!

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 01/08/2014 22:24

Quick update from me - phoned today in the end and was pleasantly surprised to get through to someone very helpful very quickly - and was offered a cancellation appt for Monday afternoon (am in London)
He said if i didnt take that one it would be up to two weeks wait for an appointment.
All being well we will have DS passport by 12 August.

Now I just have to get the photo done and countersigned over the weekend!

thanks for input everyone - feel much happier now i know it will be guaranteed.

OP posts:

LJBanana · 01/08/2014 22:28

Yes it does work. We booked an appointment for child's first, child and adult renewal. Paid the increased amount and go them all back within a week. That was from Liverpool.

rosy71 · 02/08/2014 08:38

We used the premier service (guaranteed in 7 days) for ds 2's renewal & dp's lost passport. The appointment was on the Friday & the passports arrived on the Monday. I couldn't believe it was so quick; this was last month at the height of the back log. I would definitely recommend it - after worrying we'd have to cancel our holiday, we'll now have had the passports for a month before we go. Ring the passport office & ask them.

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 04/08/2014 22:14

had my appointment at Victoria today - it was so stress free I am in shock! Fingers crossed we will have a passport by 12 August.
If i had known how painless it could be I would never have bothered with check and send previously!
will update when it arrives in case anyone in same situation still watching.

OP posts:

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 07/08/2014 12:54

The passport arrived today - just 4 days after my appt!

OP posts:

TinkLilly83 · 08/08/2014 14:03

I'm so pleased to see you have your passport back so soon.

I have an appointment at Victoria tomorrow to replace my partners passport that got lost in the post on the way to the Indian Embassy for a tourist visa.

We are flying on the 29th August and have to get a fast track passport and Visa. Fingers crossed we get it back in 7 days too.

I'm quite nervous about making sure the forms are filled in perfectly. The post office kindly checked them for me and said they were fine but I've heard they are really fussy - did it seem that way?

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 08/08/2014 15:43

TinkLilly I think it is pretty much guaranteed in the 7 working days for fast track. I am sure you will be fine if the post office have checked. To be honest the lady who did mine checked it in about two minutes flat! But I guess errors probably would jump out at you if you looked at these applications all day.
I don't think they would be any more fussy than check and send at post office.
Good luck.

OP posts:

SanityClause · 08/08/2014 16:18

I recently renewed DS's passport. I did the post office checks. I received a text nearly a week later to say it would be three weeks from that date (and not the date I took it to the post office).

Then, the courier didn't deliver, but just posted a card. We were in when they posted the card, so could have signed for it. I had to rearrange a delivery, but luckily they did ring the bell the next day.

So, I would say it took 4 weeks for a renewal, going through the post office.

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