[Dukee]

Part 2
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–CALLING HMPO: Put the coffee on, charge your phone fully, and get comfortable…there are 2 different phone #s pinned at the top of the group’s FB page – main HMPO # 300 222 0000 and a “back door” one that seems to bypass the main switchboard (I havent tried this one myself)
–Once connected, at the automated menu’s first prompt, select “8” (“for anything else”), then at the next prompt select “3” (“for anything else”). DO NOT choose “3” at the FIRST PROMPT )”to check on the status of an application”) because UNLESS YOUR APP IS OVER 10 WEEKS OLD, it’s just a tech savvy way of telling you to sod off…Now, if your app IS over 10 Weeks old, do use this option
–HOT TIP: It has been said here that if you select “8” then “3” and ask to be connected to the “Progress Team”, they’re the people who hold the keys to the castle…My advice is thus: LIE…tell the operator that you were TOLD to call back and be connected to the Progress Team, make it sound official
–WEBCHAT: https://www.gov.uk/…/contact/hm-passport-office-webchat You’re waiting for the little box to turn blue meaning an advisor is online –SHOWING UP IN PERSON: There have been some terrific success stories posted here about people who have shown up, without appt., after unreasonable delays and have gotten their passport given to them on the spot! (after waiting around the office for a while) This of course presumes that you KNOW which office is handling your application! If so, as the one poster said/did (link included below) BE FIRM, but BE POLITE AND KIND -TO A FAULT…Remember, they have something you want-you need to make them WANT to help you; maybe that’s unfair after what you’ve been through, but that’s the way it is…show up screaming and insisting, and you deserve what you get. https://www.facebook.com/groups/483628376480720/search/?q=lyle%20connolly

[Dukee]

Hello everyone…I’ve spent wayyy too much time reading this page, hence I’m gonna try to provide a summary here of what I’ve learned/my impressions from other’s experiences-but IT IS JUST THAT, a summary of what other’s have learned/done sprinkled with MY OWN take on things; I dont work for HMPO, have no special insight, and even my own First Adult Passport app is in “Processing” purgatory for 6 weeks now. But to save some reading, here goes:
———————————————————————— –ALL TIMELINES are measured from the date that HMPO ACKNOWLEDGES receiving your documents – not the date Royal Mail/Courier Co. says theyre signed for…HMPO will advise that there may be a lapse of up to TWO WEEKS between when they arrive at the mail room vs. when they get scanned it as “Received”
–HMPO HAS POSTED SINCE APRIL 2021 “ALLOW FOR 10 WEEKS TO RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT”…This is NOT new; the fact that they were advertising “average” processing times of 5-6 weeks recently, only to fall back on “Allow up to 10 Weeks sir, I cant help you until then” is sheer rubbish and absolutely misleading, but 10 Weeks HAS been the posted advice for a year now. –“APPLICATION BEING PROCESSED” SHOULD be called “APPLICATON BEING MANUALLY EXAMINED”…It means an application has been marked for/is being PHYSICALLY EXAMINED, as opposed to digitally verified. Imagine it as a “we have reason to question something about your application”. ALL First Adult Passport applicants I’ve seen post here are “being processed”, same for Lost, Damaged, etc,, whereas many/most Renewals can be DIGITALLY verified (I mean, you sent them your current Passport to scan for verification, right?) Needless to say, Passports getting digitally processed (i.e. they never show as “being processed” on your tracker”) come through sooner –VAST MAJORITY of Renewals I’ve seen posted here/on other forums take 3 weeks-ish from “Received” to “Approved”; majority of First Adult Passports take 5-6 weeks. –LONG STORY SHORT: If your First Adult Passport app has status “Being Processed” for longer than 6 weeks since Received, YOU SHOULD CALL HMPO…If your Renewal goes to “Being Processed”, you should call (because YES, it can be “Approved” without ever showing “Being Processed”)
–CALLING HMPO: Put the coffee on, charge your phone fully, and get comfortable…there are 2 different phone #s pinned at the top of the group’s FB page – main HMPO # 300 222 0000 and a “back door” one that seems to bypass the main switchboard (I havent tried this one myself)
–Once connected, at the automated menu’s first prompt, select “8” (“for anything else”), then at the next prompt select “3” (“for anything else”). DO NOT choose “3” at the FIRST PROMPT )”to check on the status of an application”) because UNLESS YOUR APP IS OVER 10 WEEKS OLD, it’s just a tech savvy way of telling you to sod off…Now, if your app IS over 10 Weeks old, do use this option
–HOT TIP: It has been said here that if you select “8” then “3” and ask to be connected to the “Progress Team”, they’re the people who hold the keys to the castle…My advice is thus: LIE…tell the operator that you were TOLD to call back and be connected to the Progress Team, make it sound official
–WEBCHAT: https://www.gov.uk/…/contact/hm-passport-office-webchat You’re waiting for the little box to turn blue meaning an advisor is online –SHOWING UP IN PERSON: There have been some terrific success stories posted here about people who have shown up, without appt., after unreasonable delays and have gotten their passport given to them on the spot! (after waiting around the office for a while) This of course presumes that you KNOW which office is handling your application! If so, as the one poster said/did (link included below) BE FIRM, but BE POLITE AND KIND -TO A FAULT…Remember, they have something you want-you need to make them WANT to help you; maybe that’s unfair after what you’ve been through, but that’s the way it is…show up screaming and insisting, and you deserve what you get. https://www.facebook.com/groups/483628376480720/search/?q=lyle%20connolly –UPGRADE/FAST TRACK: A complete riddle still from what I’ve heard. You need to be 1) Travelling within 2 weeks (and can provide proof) 2) Applying for a Renewal only – FIRST ADULT PASSPORTS are not eligible for this service…If you DO go this route after already having submitted a regular application, expect it to be a few days (at least) before you hear back from the “Upgrade Team”, and then a message about 48 hrs before your flight telling you that you can pick up your passport tomorrow (assuming no hiccups with your app) Yes, it will be that last-minute it appears.
–PASSPORT APPROVED…the magic words…but it will still take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to get to you, and tracking #s/updates are not always timely in getting to you –RETURN OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED: 1-4 weeks, usually arriving AFTER your new passport i.e. if you currently hold another passport that is still valid that you need to submit with your application, AND were planning on traveling in, say, the next 2-3 months? APPLY WHEN YOU GET BACK, not now ————————————————————————–Boy, I’ve wasted alot of time here the last few days 🙂 I would like to close with 2 points: –“THAT’S NOT TRUE!…Ive been waiting 9 weeks for…” Absolutely possible, I dont doubt it – all I’m trying to do is summarize a bunch of posts so people dont have to devote a weekend trying to find 1 “typically…” answer. –HMPO SERVICE LEVELS: I personally have alot of sympathy for the front-line staffers there: Imagine that you’re used to having your widowed Auntie over for dinner every Sunday, alone, when this week you open the door and she’s got a football team behind her and oh you dont mind if they stay the night do you? I get the impression that, right now, if you work for HMPO, you show up at 9am, grab a stack of papers, and – head down – work your way through them until 5pm. No, it doesnt excuse the rude bastards, and has highlighted who the truly useless ones are, yes – but like any workplace, there ARE a collection of people there genuinely doing their best in a situation that is MANAGEMENT’S FAULT. Because, some people are paid to design processes and maintain performance when everything goes to shit, and clearly they’ve failed. Good Luck ALL!

[Dukee]

hi all…I’m going to post a comment I made in the Facebook group “Passport Chaos 2022” that is essentially a summary of other people’s posts + what I’ve learned personally…I hope it helps
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello everyone…I’ve spent wayyy too much time reading this page, hence I’m gonna try to provide a summary here of what I’ve learned/my impressions from other’s experiences-but IT IS JUST THAT, a summary of what other’s have learned/done sprinkled with MY OWN take on things; I dont work for HMPO, have no special insight, and even my own First Adult Passport app is in “Processing” purgatory for 6 weeks now. But to save some reading, here goes:
———————————————————————— –ALL TIMELINES are measured from the date that HMPO ACKNOWLEDGES receiving your documents – not the date Royal Mail/Courier Co. says theyre signed for…HMPO will advise that there may be a lapse of up to TWO WEEKS between when they arrive at the mail room vs. when they get scanned it as “Received”
–HMPO HAS POSTED SINCE APRIL 2021 “ALLOW FOR 10 WEEKS TO RECEIVE YOUR PASSPORT”…This is NOT new; the fact that they were advertising “average” processing times of 5-6 weeks recently, only to fall back on “Allow up to 10 Weeks sir, I cant help you until then” is sheer rubbish and absolutely misleading, but 10 Weeks HAS been the posted advice for a year now. –“APPLICATION BEING PROCESSED” SHOULD be called “APPLICATON BEING MANUALLY EXAMINED”…It means an application has been marked for/is being PHYSICALLY EXAMINED, as opposed to digitally verified. Imagine it as a “we have reason to question something about your application”. ALL First Adult Passport applicants I’ve seen post here are “being processed”, same for Lost, Damaged, etc,, whereas many/most Renewals can be DIGITALLY verified (I mean, you sent them your current Passport to scan for verification, right?) Needless to say, Passports getting digitally processed (i.e. they never show as “being processed” on your tracker”) come through sooner –VAST MAJORITY of Renewals I’ve seen posted here/on other forums take 3 weeks-ish from “Received” to “Approved”; majority of First Adult Passports take 5-6 weeks. –LONG STORY SHORT: If your First Adult Passport app has status “Being Processed” for longer than 6 weeks since Received, YOU SHOULD CALL HMPO…If your Renewal goes to “Being Processed”, you should call (because YES, it can be “Approved” without ever showing “Being Processed”)
–CALLING HMPO: Put the coffee on, charge your phone fully, and get comfortable…there are 2 different phone #s pinned at the top of the group’s FB page – main HMPO # 300 222 0000 and a “back door” one that seems to bypass the main switchboard (I havent tried this one myself)
–Once connected, at the automated menu’s first prompt, select “8” (“for anything else”), then at the next prompt select “3” (“for anything else”). DO NOT choose “3” at the FIRST PROMPT )”to check on the status of an application”) because UNLESS YOUR APP IS OVER 10 WEEKS OLD, it’s just a tech savvy way of telling you to sod off…Now, if your app IS over 10 Weeks old, do use this option
–HOT TIP: It has been said here that if you select “8” then “3” and ask to be connected to the “Progress Team”, they’re the people who hold the keys to the castle…My advice is thus: LIE…tell the operator that you were TOLD to call back and be connected to the Progress Team, make it sound official
–WEBCHAT: https://www.gov.uk/…/contact/hm-passport-office-webchat You’re waiting for the little box to turn blue meaning an advisor is online –SHOWING UP IN PERSON: There have been some terrific success stories posted here about people who have shown up, without appt., after unreasonable delays and have gotten their passport given to them on the spot! (after waiting around the office for a while) This of course presumes that you KNOW which office is handling your application! If so, as the one poster said/did (link included below) BE FIRM, but BE POLITE AND KIND -TO A FAULT…Remember, they have something you want-you need to make them WANT to help you; maybe that’s unfair after what you’ve been through, but that’s the way it is…show up screaming and insisting, and you deserve what you get. https://www.facebook.com/groups/483628376480720/search/?q=lyle%20connolly –UPGRADE/FAST TRACK: A complete riddle still from what I’ve heard. You need to be 1) Travelling within 2 weeks (and can provide proof) 2) Applying for a Renewal only – FIRST ADULT PASSPORTS are not eligible for this service…If you DO go this route after already having submitted a regular application, expect it to be a few days (at least) before you hear back from the “Upgrade Team”, and then a message about 48 hrs before your flight telling you that you can pick up your passport tomorrow (assuming no hiccups with your app) Yes, it will be that last-minute it appears.
–PASSPORT APPROVED…the magic words…but it will still take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to get to you, and tracking #s/updates are not always timely in getting to you –RETURN OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED: 1-4 weeks, usually arriving AFTER your new passport i.e. if you currently hold another passport that is still valid that you need to submit with your application, AND were planning on traveling in, say, the next 2-3 months? APPLY WHEN YOU GET BACK, not now ————————————————————————–Boy, I’ve wasted alot of time here the last few days 🙂 I would like to close with 2 points: –“THAT’S NOT TRUE!…Ive been waiting 9 weeks for…” Absolutely possible, I dont doubt it – all I’m trying to do is summarize a bunch of posts so people dont have to devote a weekend trying to find 1 “typically…” answer. –HMPO SERVICE LEVELS: I personally have alot of sympathy for the front-line staffers there: Imagine that you’re used to having your widowed Auntie over for dinner every Sunday, alone, when this week you open the door and she’s got a football team behind her and oh you dont mind if they stay the night do you? I get the impression that, right now, if you work for HMPO, you show up at 9am, grab a stack of papers, and – head down – work your way through them until 5pm. No, it doesnt excuse the rude bastards, and has highlighted who the truly useless ones are, yes – but like any workplace, there ARE a collection of people there genuinely doing their best in a situation that is MANAGEMENT’S FAULT. Because, some people are paid to design processes and maintain performance when everything goes to shit, and clearly they’ve failed. Good Luck ALL! —

[Dukee]

@Mama–I have seen exactly 2 Child’s First Passport applications get approved in 3 weeks or less here or on other forums – it appears it CAN happen, but isnt common
–To my understanding First Passport applications are NOT eligible for Fast Track/Upgrade
–CALLING HMPO: Put the coffee on, charge your phone fully, and get comfortable – main HMPO # 300 222 0000
–Once connected, at the automated menu’s first prompt, select “8” (“for anything else”), then at the next prompt select “3” (“for anything else”). DO NOT choose “3” at the FIRST PROMPT )”to check on the status of an application”) because UNLESS YOUR APP IS OVER 10 WEEKS OLD, it’s just a tech savvy way of telling you to sod off…Now, if your app IS over 10 Weeks old, do use this option
–HOT TIP: It has been said here that if you select “8” then “3” and ask to be connected to the “Progress Team”, they’re the people who hold the keys to the castle…My advice is thus: LIE…tell the operator that you were TOLD to call back and be connected to the Progress Team

if that doesnt work, someone posted this here previously:

Use the number 01633 285419
It worked for me and she was really helpful

That # is apparently the Newport, Wales office – if you’re asked where you found that #, lie and say “Google”, apparently its an internal # lol – but the person there CAN help you

Best of Luck!

[Dukee]

@NervousWreck ok I’ve responded to your post 3 times and this forum for some reason doesnt want to show it – even though it lists it as posted – just daft.

But I would like to help you…here is the link a post I created on a FB group, based upon other’s experiences here and elsewhere as well as my own conclusions from dealing with HMPO, I hope it helps. Best of Luck!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/483628376480720/?multi_permalinks=490843642425860&notif_id=1650762274341938&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by Dukee.

[Dukee]

@AJ “Passport Chaos 2022”

[Dukee]

–Prior to 1983, children born outside of the UK of British MOTHERS ONLY did not inherit citizenship automatically- only those with British FATHERS…they changed the British Nationality Act in 1981 so that if you were born before 1983 outside of the UK and your mother was British, you had to “Register” as a citizen with UKVI, and go through EXACTLY the same process as one does applying for a passport LOL…only after completing that process could one apply for their passport. Whole process would take 9 months-ish
–10 Weeks: As of 04/21, HMPO has advised that applicants should allow for up to 10 weeks “to receive their passport” – its right on their homepage.
–16 weeks? probably not, but when you call HMPO, their automated menu politely tells you that if it hasnt been 10 weeks SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF YOUR DOCUNMENTS – NOT since the date of Application, NOT since the date that Royal Mail says it was signed for – you should sod off and call back when it has been over 10 weeks.
–I have seen lots of applicants on this board and others who got their Frist Adult passport in 5-6 weeks…I have seen enough others who have been waiting longer than me – 6 weeks since it moved to status “Application in Process” – some since January! My own conclusion is that HMPO is sooo swamped right now, you just show up for work, grab a stack of papers, and work through as much as you can before 5pm, there is no logic or “procedure” right now they are soo busy. Hence, if you HAVE a passport you can travel on in June, I would NOT be sending it to HMPO right now. Just my opinion.

Good Luck!

[Dukee]

just my opinion here: Dont start this process before you go.

As of right now, you are looking at a minimum of 6 weeks time for a First Adult Passport…and until it passes 10 weeks processing time, HMPO wont consider it unreasonable

No, your documents DO NOT get returned until after your passport is issued – typically 2 weeks after according to HMPO

Also, if you are inheriting citizenship through your mother, it is very much dependent on whether you were born before 1983, or after…if its before 1983, I might be able to shine some light on this for you…

But before that, IMO, if you have a valid US Passport for travel right now, use it – then apply when you return, or from the US, when youre not in a rush…things just seem so hairy at HMPO right now, call them 3 different tines and you’ll get 4 different answers.

Good Luck!

[Dukee]

@sj from what I’ve determined here and elsewhere, you may be out of luck as far as expediting the process – I do not BELIEVE you can fast-track a 1sst Adult Passport application, only a renewal, you should probably look for & read any posts here about “Fast Track” or “Upgraded” service for more details, or more exactly, call the main HMPO phone #, and at the first prompt, select “8” for “Anything Else”, and at the next prompt also select “anything else” – my experience is that this is the fastest way to get to somebody who may be able to help. Anything else you see here is for all of us largely second-hand/speculation.

Good Luck!

[Dukee]

Max FWIW, I’m seeing all over this board that – especially for an Overseas First Adult application – my timelines dont seem so crazy yet, and that I might wanna just hunker down and accept that it may be the whole 10 Weeks (May 20ish) before I have it in my hands. What I have learned here – and thus want to find out ASAP that its not the case for me – is that the stupidly unreasonable processing times seem to occur when there is a perceived problem with one’s application, or in other words, the more it has to be “looked at”, the longer it takes

[Dukee]

thank you Max! As it seems all of us here just have to try and cobble together enough evidence to explain our situation, that information is helpful – as I forgot to mention my app is a First Adult Passport, hence it going to Manual Processing makes sense!

[Dukee]

Good Morning from Canada…”Documents Received” 10/3/22, “Application in Process” also 10/3/22, and then…nothing since – 6 weeks today of no update. Trying to ascertain what’s next – is next update “APPROVED/Rejected”? Could they STILL come back asking for more supporting docs, or does the fact that it got into “Processing” mean that we’re past that stage now? Soooo many questions, any enlightenment anyone can offer – or stories from other overseas applicants especially – would be much appreciated.

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