Passport Application Hell

[thebeachismyhappyplace2]

Hi there

just wondering if others are having a nightmare getting their passports back and/or if there are any tips to help speed things up

i applied for my son’s passport renewal 12 weeks ago and we are travelling in 8 days time!!

I spent all last week chasing it, I was told I could expedite it (as we are travelling in less than 2 weeks time) and was given an email address which I sent my proof of travelling dates to. I just phoned passport office again to chase it only to be told that I was in fact given the wrong email address last week!!!
Absolutely useless people and diabolical system!! So I now almost a week on (and one week til holiday) had to send a new email to a different email address!!

Apparently it’s sitting in the Durham office “awaiting examination”

please share your experiences and any helpful info would be much appreciated!!

t

Me again, So no passport to date. Fly Monday. You reckon I should chance it at Liverpool office tomorrow?
Technically it is within 48hrs if the last day I can get a passport is Saturday? What do you think?

So sorry to hear people are going through this. It must be so stressful. I renewed both my DDs online and had them back in 2 weeks. I know it doesn’t help you OP (sorry) but for anyone reading this who is about to apply and is worried I’d encourage them to use the online service which was really straightforward and quick. They even emailed me within a day to say one of the initial photos wasn’t accepted so I uploaded another one straight away and had the new passport a week later!

This wasn’t my experience. Yes I had to send the old passports in to renew but they still turned the online application round in 2 weeks. Perhaps I was just lucky. This was a few weeks ago by the way

Honestly join the passport chaos group on FB, you'll get lots of advice on there.

Rule no1 take absolutely no notice of anything that you're told by the call handlers - they're outsourced, don't work for HMPO and to be frank, are shite!

You don't need to go to the office the application is at. If you fall within the rules set by them then you can go as close to 24/48 hours before you travel and have it printed the same day - they will contact the office the application is at to get it transferred.
My personal story - Applied 1/05/22 online for a renewal with a name change and a new photo. My application sat at docs received since 10/05.
I waited until I hit 10 weeks exactly and emailed expeditedservice.hmpo.gov.uk
Stating that they'd now breached their own Service level agreement (10 weeks) and that I was going to involve my MP if necessary. (I did email complaining about the passport office and informing her I'd be copying her into further correspondence. She didn't respond because she's useless but never mind)
So that was a Sunday.....Thursday I got a call from an officer in Glasgow office where mine was being processed, She asked a few questions then authorised it immediately. It was printed on Friday and delivered Monday.
I wasn't close to travelling so I was lucky. I'd just wanted to see if there was any issues with my foreign marriage certificate or if I'd need my photo certifying - I didn't but should have tbh as I look totally different.
DH applied exactly the same time as me and his was done and back in his hands within 3 weeks!

It's an absolute shit show and someone needs held accountable - people have lost thousands. People who live abroad have been forced to leave their country of residence because they can't complete visa's to stay because their passports have been stuck for so long.
Families have been split up while awaiting passports to either go home or return to UK.
There was a lady about a month ago who was so thankful she received her DC's passports finally, hadn't realised until she got on holiday that the PO had messed up the kids photo's with their names/details and was sat worrying on holiday how the hell to get them back home with passports the UK customs failed to spot were each for the wrong child.
There's been people receiving passports for others through the post then in some cases successfully locating them on FB groups to send it on to them rather than send back to PO

You couldn't make it up

I agree that you should absolutely not listen to anything they say on the phone. We had a nightmare and after 11 weeks did not have a passport. We applied online (people who apply now by any means should get it quick, it's the older ones that are stuck).

We had an issue that they didn't link the documents for both my children so my son's was fine, daughter's was not. Was told 5 times on the phone they'd sent an email to do it, when I called back there was never any evidence of any emails.

The only thing that worked for us was my husband went to Peterborough and spent the day. He got there at 7.30am and at 6pm was given a passport. It wasn't where it was being processed but we read online that Peterborough and Durham were the most helpful so we gave it a shot.

It's a huge shit show. Highly stressful and so many people are missing out.

We applied online. Did exactly as you did and my daughter's took 11 weeks. It's due to when you apply. There were a load from about April to June that got stuck in the system. That's the issue- not the method of applying.

Just wanted to update you guys.

I took the risk on my son's 19week application that was stuck in Durham and chanced it at Liverpool Office. Arrived at 7.30 and left with passport by 2pm. I'm so grateful to them for their help

Enquiry desk emailed urgent request direct to Durham managers that it had to be done that day and I was waiting at the Liverpool office for it. Took a few hours but received 'that call' from the private number and the Durham office said it was approved and would be printed within the hour at Liverpool. Nightmare over. He had no explanation on the delay.

My experience was excellent at Liverpool. If you have an application at least 6 weeks old and are travelling within 48hours then you get in, seen and leave with a passport. Saw it with my own eyes. With exceptional circumstances like mine taking so long, you'll get sorted as well

Don't believe the Advice Line, they are a waste of time. Get in a Passport office and wait for the magic.