Child passport renewal times

[Stickystickystick]

I think we've made a huge error. My son had just shy of 6 months left on his passport and we were due to travel to Spain on 22nd October. Having read the government advice it was stated he needed 6 months left on his passport. I sent off the application and old passport last week and have now read horror stories of passports taking at least 5 to 6 weeks. Has anyone renewed recently. I will be gutted if we can't travel. Apparently you can't switch to fast track services now either.

I feel for you. So many disappointed people. I think it does depend who you get through to as to how helpful they are. The lady I spoke with today was so helpful and said my cancellation letter has been recieved this morning and she would make a special note about out travel dates

I’ve been waiting 21 minutes in the queue so far. God knows how much it’s costing from Switzerland!

@NanaRant I am in exactly the same position it is so so stressful!

I submitted online child renewal 18 sept, recurved 24 sept. We fly 17 October, there are 15 passengers my daughter is only one without the passport. It had 2.5 months left but thought best not risk it. The wait times were very different when I applied no mention of 10 weeks!!

I have called 35 times this week and only got to speak to someone twice.

First chap on Thursday morning, they couldn’t tell me where it is in the pile, it’s not been examined, so it’s yet to be printed then it has to be posted. He can’t expedite it, I can’t go collect it, all he can do is put a note on to say the date of travel. If we don’t get a text in next couple of days to say approved, it won’t arrive in time.

I wrote an email to the MP, as there are appts every day next week in Peterborough, they just need to send the passport back to me and let me attend the appt. In short MP no help!

Finally got to speak to someone again on Thursday afternoon, he said I could pay £101 to upgrade, he couldn’t transfer me to the team as they were busy but they would call me back in 24 hours - still waiting!

I’ve no written in their enquiry line too.

The call system is not like I’ve ever experienced before, if we behaved that way in the NHS just cutting people off when volumes aren’t too high it would be all over the media.

I am hoping & praying this gets resolved I feel like the shittest mum in the world 😢 DD been through 18 months of key worker school, just sat her 11+ after 6 months of tutoring & I can’t even get her valid to leave the country 😢🤦‍♀️

I posted DD's to Belfast (from RoI) on 30th Sept. I got an email that it was received on 5th October and got another email to say that the new one has been posted yesterday (8th October). So pretty quick compared to others.

I can't understand how yours is so quick and others are waiting weeks. It's so
Unpredictable

I know, it's very odd. Especially as Polly99 has been waiting for weeks also from the Belfast centre. There was quite a big gap between the online application and me sending it off because just after I did it they opened vaccinations to over 12s so I needed to keep it as photo id which took four weeks for both vaccinations. But I would have assumed that they process them in the order in which they arrive not when they were applied for.

I've just checked back through my emails and it was actually just over 6 weeks ago that I did the online application, so I suppose they must have processed it and it was waiting for the old one to arrive before they could post it.

@NHSgirl, that is really awful. Feeling for you and your poor daughter. Once upon a time in the UK, this kind of stuff would not be allowed to happen. As you say, in any other industry, organisation, NHS, etc this would be all over the media! A govt run one and it is a "nothing to see here" attitude. I am a mixture of fury and upset about it all. I now it is only a holiday and there are worse things, but it is so upsetting that we all entered into this hell completely unassuming and not having a clue about the timescales. It is not good enough, but what can we do? Nothing it would seem. Thank you everybody. I am finding strength from everyone's updates x

I know it’s not going to help anyone on this thread but just to say DIL applied for first passport for their twins. Sent one to Liverpool and one to Belfast on same day as did not want confusion with same details and similar names. Received the Belfast one back 2 weeks before the Liverpool one!

@NHSgirl I really feel for you too. For most people there really isn’t any other option than making a standard application and it really wasn’t being made clear how long this could potentially take. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing, keep hounding them and I so hope it comes in time for you

Thanks all, i managed to speak to them this afternoon on 0300 123 1973 which interesting doesn’t have the option to end the call or ask to give your number for call back. However it was pretty hopeless, just kept reciting it’s an average of 5 weeks been on the website for months! I told her that was not helpful and to understand how far down the queue I was so I can make an informed decision on cancelling the holiday would be of more help. To which she just recited the average of 5 weeks again! At one point she wanted to end the call as she felt we were going round in circles! Yes I agree, I’ve been going around this circle all week!

Also interestingly you could upgrade mid process pre covid for £101 but that service has stopped as the resource is being used to be manage the work load of expedited passports for compassionate reasons, I’m thinking that 18 months into covid they my wish to review this given the pressure has been moved elsewhere!

So in short once it’s in the process your stuck. They can’t tell you where you are in the queue,
Once examined it takes up to 48 hours to print and 48 hours to send.

Jet 2 will amend my booking up to 48 hours before for £150 per person.

I did see that someone whose documents have been received on 17th was approved yesterday at Bootle.

We are travelling as 15 person party, granted for a holiday but one of the families it’s the anniversary of their sons death who tragically died just 19 last October. So it’s just crap basically.

I know we should believe in the power of hope but tbh I’m all out of it and have resided myself to the fact that next Friday I will be cancelling the holiday 😢

@NHSgirl, that is absolutely awful. I am so sorry :-( xx

The printing process isn’t necessarily that long, we were approved 6pm and passport posted 11am the next day. Fingers crossed it should come on Monday but obviously would have been quicker if it wasn’t a weekend

@NHSgirl I feel for you. It's so shitty

I now it is only a holiday and there are worse things

It’s not only a holiday for us. It’s not a holiday at all. It’s the first time in two years that we get to see my parents, siblings, family & friends, due to the pandemic. And it’s now looking like it won’t happen as the passport won’t be done in time. I am so upset, I need to get home.

@FloconDeNeige I am praying it comes good for your and your family. Sending you much love xx

@FloconDeNeige. Hoping it comes through for you xx

Thanks for your kind wishes. I’m preparing myself to not go and pinning my hopes on Christmas🎄

@FloconDeNeige I have everything crossed for you. When they finally look at them it does seem to be a quick process, appreciate yours will be sent further to you but don’t give up hope yet! Really hope it works out and you can spend time with your loved ones x

Ten weeks here. Mine and two children. Posted off in July 24th. Arrived here in two batches last week in Sept. My driving licence renewal was even longer. I got that back yesterday with same post out date.

Little update - I spoke to the passport office today who looked into my application (2 child renewals) and said it was in the queue to be examined (which is the bit before approval apparently).

He said there wasn't any other info he could give me and said the average time was 5 weeks.
I submitted my application on the 19th Sept and docs were received on the 23rd.

My cut-off is tomorrow and I am coming to terms with the fact I am going to have to cancel my holiday. I am really gutted, but I know there is nothing more I can do. I can rearrange (will have to be next year now) for a booking fee of £300, but will lose monies on my Premier Inn's, etc.
My main annoyance comes from the fact I did not appreciate the time a renewal would take and I am annoyed at myself for not having the foresight to fast track, but it said only to do that if travelling in the next 3 weeks (still saying the same thing on HMPO).
I will update when it comes to give a jist of timescales (mine went to Durham, but not sure it makes any difference).
Wishing others the best of luck.

@nanarant
I am so sorry. It is upsetting and just like you I am so annoyed with myself. I can see myself being in the same boat as you next week and having to cancel, I have fully prepared myself for this.
We were going away with friends and I feel so bad!
Do keep us updated x

Thank you @tyson2007. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. I will definitely update x

@NanaRant @tyson2007 I am so sorry for you and your families.
Our cut off is Friday my DD 11 year is anxiously waiting and praying as are all we.
Apparently pre covid you could pay £101 to upgrade mid process. But this service was paused to allow examiners to provide resource for those requiring urgent passports to visit critically in relatives. I think they need to review this.

The whole system needs a review I have never anything so stressful.