[mikey42]

So after getting some good tips and both reassurance and a little panic at times from here, thought I’d share my case – standard adult renewal:

Application submitted 1st May 2022.
Old passport recieved 16th May. (In Belfast)
Initially application being processed 18th May, however this later rolled back to the recieved stage.

Had a holiday booked for 5th August since May 2021.

After reading here and other sites, at 10 weeks from application submitted, tried my luck with an email to expeditedservice@hmpo.gov.uk – got an automated response straight back, but nothing more.

10 weeks exactly from old 16th May, rang 03002220000 and option 8 then 3. Was answered very quickly and advised to email expedited and include travel confirmation. Didn’t say I’d previously done this, but email sent again. Told someone would be in contact within 48hrs of sending email. Asked what if no one contacts me – told to ring back and request and upgrade.

Nothing recieved, so on 48hrs rang back and explained situation and was requesting an upgrade. Was forwarded to two further call handlers, one of which was after a 45min wait on hold. They said they’d put notes on my application and told me to email escalatedservice@hmpo.gov.uk with my name and reference in the subject and travel confirmation attached. Again said someone would contact me within 48hrs. Didn’t ask what if this time – plan was to ring again on 48hrs and probably go to local passport office 48hrs before travel anyway.

Recieved the same automated reply as before so didn’t hold out much hope. Was feeling even less confident as 48hrs approached, only to get a call from the Belfast office within minutes of that deadline! Said they had just approved my application and were sending it for printing in Glasgow so that it could be posted with next day by 1p.m. delivery! Told me to ignore the updates I’d get saying I’d recieved my new passport within 2 weeks.

Minutes later got text from tracking to confirm the approval and about an hour later another to confirm the printing.

Not counting any chickens, was beginning to lose hope again by almost mid-day today as I’d not recieved any postal tracking information, when right on cue as I was about to ring back, the passport was posted through my letter box!

The whole saga has added so much more unnecessary stress – the thought of losing £5k on a holiday that’s been rebooked twice since early 2020 was really getting to me – particulary with the stories of many others getting theirs back in days or a couple of weeks!

Good luck to those of you still in the system – you have my greatest sympathy and I hope you all have good news soon!

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