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Original poster

Passport appointment - what if I am late

10 replies

Rebecca34 · 02/08/2022 23:00

Hi, I have to pick up a (UK) passport in Belfast booked through the premium service. The appointment is in the morning and I am a bit worried about morning traffic - we are travelling from the Republic. Will I have an issue if we are a few minutes/half an hour late?

OP posts:

CeeceeBloomingdale · 02/08/2022 23:03

I don't think anyone can answer that. Given the current passport crisis I'd make damn sure I wasn't late, even if it meant leaving home at stupid o'clock.

Mumdiva99 · 02/08/2022 23:05

Surely if you are worried about traffic you leave earlier.

If you are early have a coffee in a cafe near by.

Don't risk not getting your passport.

SouthOfFrance · 02/08/2022 23:06

Why take the chance, why can't you just set off earlier?

MomwasCasual · 02/08/2022 23:08

Who can say really but I would be doing my best to make sure I was there early. I don't get the impression that passport office workers are sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting for stuff to do at the moment!

Having said that, it might be that all appointments are running late, so if you arrive late you might get away with it? Not sure I'd risk it though.

NannyR · 02/08/2022 23:10

I agree, don't take the risk of being late, set off much earlier than you need to. It's better to have to kill a bit of time in a cafe because you're early than worry about running late.

PigeonsAndVikings · 02/08/2022 23:10

We arrived at 9.30am for a 10.30am appointment at Liverpool and were waved through the queue anyway - they didn’t ask us the time of our appointment, just if we had one. Go as early as possible I’d suggest and walk past the queues straight up to the door and tell them you have an appointment.

TokyoSushi · 02/08/2022 23:13

Yes agree, go early, don't put yourself in that position!

britneyisfree · 02/08/2022 23:19

lol half hour? I'd reckon so. I went to the London one recently. Waited outside in a massive group for a bit and then alll brought in to queue again but I doubt they'd have let more people in after that

yonce · 02/08/2022 23:25

I had one in Liverpool, weirdly they checked the time and only let me in 15 minutes before my app slot. I think online it says if you're late it can be cancelled - I'd just set off extra early then go get a coffee in the extra time rather than risk being late.

Original poster

Rebecca34 · 03/08/2022 19:55

Thanks all! I got there about 20 minutes early and there was I think one or two other people there. They didn't make me wait until 11. Very empty and quiet. In and out in about 5 minutes with my new passport. (not sure why they said it would take 30 minutes???) Def recommend Belfast passport office if you have a choice. I guess everyone else in NI can get Irish passports so its not that hectic. (not me sadly, unless I go through the long cumbersome and expensive route of getting Irish citizenship...maybe one day!)

OP posts:

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