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Original poster

Passport panic ..,help?!

27 replies

Chichiboo · 21/05/2022 11:40

So I separated from dh of 24yrs last year and so have booked a cruise for my dd11 and myself on our own. We go in around 8-9 weeks and I’ve just realised her passport has expired ffs. Tried to book an appointment for a fast track and it says there’s no appointments available. 😠😰😡 what now?

OP posts:
SheAndHerAreWomen · 21/05/2022 11:52

Don't panic! I renewed 3 recently, and it took 3 weeks from applying online to getting the new ones. I know I may have just been lucky but it's not all doom and gloom. Good luck 🤞

jimboandthejetset · 21/05/2022 11:55

My DS's renewal also took less than three weeks when we ordered it in April. Do the online application tnow and you should be fine.

Sswhinesthebest · 21/05/2022 11:58

I just renewed and it was back within a week. I was amazed.

I think a child’s one might take longer but hopefully you’ll be ok. I think they are probably scare mongering a bit so that there isn’t an enormous rush in the summer.

MadeForThis · 21/05/2022 11:59

Have you tried different passport offices? I know Belfast often has appointments.

tribpot · 21/05/2022 12:08

If you have a look at the passport threads on MN you'll see that 3 weeks seems to be about the normal turnaround time, so all hope is not lost. However, you can only pick one route; once you start a regular application you cannot fast track. So in your situation I would try for a couple more days to get a fast track appointment before make a decision. There are some good clues in this thread - worth trying at midnight but if you hit the site at any time and it says 'service unavailable' they are likely to be loading in new appointments.

Good luck - if you go the standard route, I would get the photos done professionally to minimise the risk of them not meeting the requirements.

70kid · 21/05/2022 12:24

Try different offices I went to Newport for mine

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 21/05/2022 12:38

I'm going away shortly and all the passport threads on here have made me so worried that even though I know it's in date I'm paranoid that I've somehow misread the date and will need to renew it 😀

What I've gathered from all the other posters is that you just cant tell how long it will take. No help I know

RogueBorg · 21/05/2022 12:41

OP, I saw the BBC travel guy the other day saying don’t bother with the fast track DEFINITELY do it on line!

we did our 3 passports on line and they were back in 2 weeks! It’s so simple. And get your photo done somewhere like Snappy Snaps. They upload it to the government site and give you a code. So easy.

duvetdrama · 21/05/2022 12:46

Just over 3 weeks here too. You'll be fine if you do it asap

jimboandthejetset · 21/05/2022 13:20

tribpot · 21/05/2022 12:08

If you have a look at the passport threads on MN you'll see that 3 weeks seems to be about the normal turnaround time, so all hope is not lost. However, you can only pick one route; once you start a regular application you cannot fast track. So in your situation I would try for a couple more days to get a fast track appointment before make a decision. There are some good clues in this thread - worth trying at midnight but if you hit the site at any time and it says 'service unavailable' they are likely to be loading in new appointments.

Good luck - if you go the standard route, I would get the photos done professionally to minimise the risk of them not meeting the requirements.

If you do it online you can take the photo with your phone and they tell you instantly if it's ok or you need to redo. All you need is a white wall behind you (I'm sure you could hang a sheet over a door if necessary!)

easyday · 21/05/2022 16:51

I don't think you can take a photo with your phone and upload it with a child. Her appearance will have changed in the last five years so you'll need the back signed by someone outside the family.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 21/05/2022 17:07

easyday · 21/05/2022 16:51

I don't think you can take a photo with your phone and upload it with a child. Her appearance will have changed in the last five years so you'll need the back signed by someone outside the family.

Thats all done online now.

Chocoqueen · 21/05/2022 17:13

easyday · 21/05/2022 16:51

I don't think you can take a photo with your phone and upload it with a child. Her appearance will have changed in the last five years so you'll need the back signed by someone outside the family.

I did DD's first passport online and took a photo using my phone which was accepted. I did need a friend to verify it was her, which was also done online.

dementedpixie · 21/05/2022 20:50

easyday · 21/05/2022 16:51

I don't think you can take a photo with your phone and upload it with a child. Her appearance will have changed in the last five years so you'll need the back signed by someone outside the family.

Yes you can
You have to provide the email address of the person that verifies the child's identity
Its all online now

HSKAT · 21/05/2022 20:52

You have to literally sit on the website and keep refreshing. The odd app does pop up but gone in seconds.

ArnoldBee · 21/05/2022 20:55

Applied for DSs renewal online 3rd May got the email today to say its being printed.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/05/2022 20:58

Renewed three recently, all back within 3 weeks. Apply online, it’s quicker than paper applications.

greatblueheron · 21/05/2022 21:01

Could go either way, I'm afraid. Some have quick turn around time, some don't. We're 3 weeks in and counting waiting for one of our children's ... quite annoying.

Ilovepotato · 21/05/2022 21:04

Appointments for fast track go live at midnight. Took me a few days but I got one eventually that way!

Darbs76 · 22/05/2022 08:22

New appointments are released every morning, so get up early and check. My nephew just got his first one with the fast track appointment. Appointment was 3wks away and he got the passport within 7 days, so 4wks

ZooMount · 22/05/2022 08:30

It's not all doom and gloom, I did 3 and they came back within 4 weeks. You might get unlucky but equally it might be totally fine. You'll just have to see.

JubileeQueen · 22/05/2022 08:33

I would definitely try and get a fast track appointment if you can.

I applied for 2 child passport renewals recently, one came back in 6 weeks, with the other one there's no sign of it after 9 weeks 😩 identical renewals so I'm not sure why they didn't come back in a similar timeframe?

Dontstoprunning · 22/05/2022 08:36

Applied for 2 on April 20th. One was back in 14 days, the other has had no movement.
Both standard child renewals.

Wilma55 · 22/05/2022 08:38

I did mine at the post office, they took the photo and sent it off. It was done in about a week.

sakura06 · 22/05/2022 08:43

I think it's very hit and miss unfortunately. We renewed DDs in February online. March 8th it was showing as printed. Received it May 3rd. DH spent over 4 hours on hold to the helpline. Thankfully she's a dual national so we could travel at Easter on that passport (but at Christmas she was almost denied entry back into the UK travelling on her other passport 😬).