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Original poster

Passport Office Delays - Family Holiday Ruined?

30 replies

afuckinggoat · 11/01/2022 15:48

I sent off for my son's first passport in November. I had to send his BC and my passport as supporting documents.

I am due to go skiing at the end of his month and although my son's passport arrived last week, my passport has still not been returned.

The email says I should receive it within 2 weeks of my son's passport being delivered and thought I'd call the passport office for an update as we're half way through that time frame.

They have told me that there's a further 3-4 week delay on returning supporting docs.

I've been on hold to speak to someone about expediting this for 40 minutes now and I'm feeling hopeless. It's going to be a loss of thousands of pounds if I can't get my passport back.

Has anyone had any success in collecting supporting documents in person from their offices? I need some hope to cling onto.

OP posts:
Hawkins001 · 11/01/2022 16:05

All the best op, although could you have applied sooner than you did ?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/01/2022 16:09

When exactly do you go?

A not cheap option (but cheaper than cancelling) would be getting an express 1 week for 1 day passport for yourself.

minipie · 11/01/2022 16:09

Try Twitter - I tweeted the passport office when my DC passport was delayed in 2020 and it did magically appear after that. Might have been a coincidence but worth a try.

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 12/01/2022 00:03

@Hawkins001

All the best op, although could you have applied sooner than you did ?
I absolutely should have ordered it sooner. Covid had made going abroad feel impossible so I put it off. When we booked the trip in November, I ordered it straight away. Lesson learned the hard way.
OP posts:
Original poster
afuckinggoat · 12/01/2022 00:05

@minipie

Try Twitter - I tweeted the passport office when my DC passport was delayed in 2020 and it did magically appear after that. Might have been a coincidence but worth a try.
I was on the phone to the Passport Office for nearly two hours today (a lot of waiting on hold). Their advice? A signed and dated handwritten letter to Durham begging for my supporting docs to be returned. If that fails, I'll try Twitter. Thank you for the advice!
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Meadowbreeze · 12/01/2022 08:23

This was me in November. I was so scared my Docs were lost and I sent my whole life to the passport office. Multiple passports, naturalisation certificate etc. It took 3.5 week from the day of receiving passport to get my Docs. They came in a crumbled envelope that looked like it had made its way across the floor of multiple sorting offices.
I literally had tears in my eyes when it came, I was already making arrangements to get those Docs back.
Hopefully yours won't take this long but I think it's both passport office and post office that has delays.

Meadowbreeze · 12/01/2022 08:25

Also I called the passport office and the post office but there was nothing they could do. The passport office didn't pick up at all, even after hours of waiting so I requested a call back. They called me back when the docs arrived.... Twitter passport office did reply but it was just a generic sorry there's delays.

Jacaranda75 · 12/01/2022 08:28

I applied online for an emergency passport and it was ready at the passport office in 3 days for me to pick up.

Upupupintheair · 12/01/2022 08:32

Wow that is unlucky, I applied for two passports (one change of name and one for a new baby). I applied for the passports on Christmas Eve, received the new passports first week of January. Received the marriage / birth certificate back yesterday.. hope this helps. Keep calling them!

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 17/01/2022 13:15

@Upupupintheair

Wow that is unlucky, I applied for two passports (one change of name and one for a new baby). I applied for the passports on Christmas Eve, received the new passports first week of January. Received the marriage / birth certificate back yesterday.. hope this helps. Keep calling them!
Thanks @Upupupintheair

Did you pay for the premium delivery for your supporting docs? I am currently on hold to the passport office and the first person I spoke to indicated that this service is the one that is causing the delays.

Did you get an email notification when your supporting docs were despatched?

I'm really losing hope. My husband is going to have to go on a family holiday with our son and my parents without me! Our insurance doesn't cover this circumstance unfortunately.

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orangina01 · 17/01/2022 17:10

Keep trying on the phone. I mean every day. I needed one of the documents I sent for my daughter urgently returned to me and I called them. They kept checking and then all of a sudden it arrived on my doorstep and the new passport the next day - I'm sure it's as I called a lot. O did the letter thing too though. When do you fly?

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 17/01/2022 18:07

@orangina01

Keep trying on the phone. I mean every day. I needed one of the documents I sent for my daughter urgently returned to me and I called them. They kept checking and then all of a sudden it arrived on my doorstep and the new passport the next day - I'm sure it's as I called a lot. O did the letter thing too though. When do you fly?
This gives me a bit of hope. Thank you.

I've written another letter and labelled the envelope "urgent" a dozen times. I've also written "a desperate plea".

I'm going to keep writing letters and keep calling them every day. I just wanted to take my son to the top of the mountains and show him that sight that properly takes my breath away. We're planning a second child soon so this was to be our last ski trip.

It's a first world problem but it's a lost chance for quality time with my family after two shit years, a chance to have a break after some quite poor mental health for me and it's a lot of money to lose.

I'm trying to put it out of my mind as it's out of my control, but I'm struggling to sleep.

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Original poster
afuckinggoat · 17/01/2022 18:08

@orangina01

Keep trying on the phone. I mean every day. I needed one of the documents I sent for my daughter urgently returned to me and I called them. They kept checking and then all of a sudden it arrived on my doorstep and the new passport the next day - I'm sure it's as I called a lot. O did the letter thing too though. When do you fly?
Sorry, didn't answer your question. We're due to fly on the 30th Jan.
OP posts:
orangina01 · 17/01/2022 19:19

I know how you feel, it's awful waiting - agony! Definitely just be super nice and call and check often. I found they were really nice and understood my dilemma - we needed the passport back for ID at a very important appointment - and each day I patiently waited on hold and just asked again. Did they tell you where it is in their process yet? Mine was awaiting review on the tracker then suddenly just switched to being posted. Good luck!

orangina01 · 17/01/2022 19:21

Also could you apply for an emergency appointment for yourself to get a new one? I think some in person appointments are available but only in major cities. Might be worth asking them when you call?

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 18/01/2022 15:58

@orangina01

Also could you apply for an emergency appointment for yourself to get a new one? I think some in person appointments are available but only in major cities. Might be worth asking them when you call?
The passport office have confirmed that I am forbidden from having an emergency passport as my actual passport is not lost. Sob. This would have been a good solution.

I called again today for an update. The escalation request has been received by the right team. Apparently I'll have notification on the application page if it gets despatched after midnight. The man on the phone said there were no guarantees and he didn't feel optimistic.

So now I have to stop myself from staying up til midnight to check the damn page every night until next Friday. -breathes deeply and summons self-control and calmness-

I also sent another handwritten letter with a slightly more pleading and desperate tone than my last letter.

Wish me luck!

OP posts:
orangina01 · 20/01/2022 17:35

I'm so sorry you can't go the emergency route -it seems odd that the passport can be processed but they can't send the documents!

Keep trying honestly it's your best hope. Have my fingers crossed for you, you still have a few days left at least.

Esspee · 20/01/2022 17:43

Six weeks before we were due to travel I discovered the country we were going to required your passport be valid for a further six months from entry. In a panic I applied for a renewal online even though my passport was not out of date until 2 months after our return. It was Christmas and omicron was causing staff shortages so I panicked and checked how long they were taking to process to find it was 5-6 weeks.
You can imagine how I felt.
5 days later my shiny new passport arrived. We leave at the end of the month.

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 20/01/2022 17:44

@orangina01

I'm so sorry you can't go the emergency route -it seems odd that the passport can be processed but they can't send the documents!

Keep trying honestly it's your best hope. Have my fingers crossed for you, you still have a few days left at least.

You won't believe this. I was told yesterday that they couldn't find my passport and that I should cancel it and use the fast track route while I still had time. I did this and had my appointment in Newport today. Literally just had a call from Durham to say they'd found my passport and it will be delivered this Saturday. I have so many emotions right now.
OP posts:
orangina01 · 20/01/2022 22:41

Omg so do you have a new passport AND your original now? If so, thrilled for you but also frustrated you had to go through all that when the old one would have been delivered in time!

Regardless, lock yourself at home so you don't get Covid before the 31st 🤣 and enjoy your holiday!! Happy for you!

Original poster
afuckinggoat · 21/01/2022 15:14

@orangina01

Omg so do you have a new passport AND your original now? If so, thrilled for you but also frustrated you had to go through all that when the old one would have been delivered in time!

Regardless, lock yourself at home so you don't get Covid before the 31st 🤣 and enjoy your holiday!! Happy for you!

Thank you so much for your lovely words, but I still do not have a valid passport. The fast track service takes a week and the original passport that was delivered today is now invalid 😩

It's such a mess. There's more certainty and hole than before though so I am resuming my wall sit exercises and will start packing like I'm definitely going skiing next weekend!

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Peanutssuck · 21/01/2022 15:30

Oh op....I really hope you get it back soon. And this is a blatant placemark so I can find out ! Please update us at some pointFlowers

Borracha · 21/01/2022 15:49

So sorry you are dealing with this. I recently applied for my baby’s first passport and when the supporting documents were returned, I received someone else’s birth certificate Shock

orangina01 · 21/01/2022 17:01

Oh no! I thought they gave you the fast track one on three days or something.... I'm sorry!

Please keep us updated but I'm confident you'll get there. Surely the fast track service will come through for you? Surely! 🤞🤞