[rachimus23]

Hi, did your passport arrive in time??

I am in the same situation as you. I applied for the upgrade to my daughter’s First Child Passport on Weds 1st June as I had been sat in documents received status since 17th May and had 2 weeks before travel. Friday 3rd June it got approved via the standard service, completely independent of the upgrade team. I fly on Weds 15th. It went to printing status this morning, but haven’t received anything yet from the courier. Whilst it’s amazing that it jumped to approved like that, it’s now taken any of the last resort options out of my hands which also stressful, I’m anxious about the dispatch and delivery happening in time as have read some horror stories about TNT!

Would love to know if you had it in time and are set to travel tomorrow, fingers crossed for you!

For anyone else who is interested in relation to their specific situation: I will hit my 6 weeks from application submitted on the day I travel (15th June), and mine has gone to print, albeit not via the upgrade team. I’m convinced getting the upgrade referral and making a few calls etc helped it get looked at.

I applied on 4th May, first child passport via standard service online. I had tried for 10 days to get a fast track and it was just impossible so had no choice but to risk the standard service. When I applied, it said the average turnaround was 4/5 weeks so hoped it would be ok. It didn’t go to docs received until 17th May and then didn’t budge. Thankfully, it was around this time I then found this incredible forum!

I phoned Newport (01633 745709) the day I hit 14 days until travel, and made sure they referred me for an upgrade on their system. They told me someone would call me and tell me what information they needed and which upgrade team to email it to. I didn’t wait, I straight away emailed every upgrade team email I’d seen on this site, with all the information everyone has been listing in their posts and attached flight evidence. I received the auto acknowledge email back from both London and Peterborough.

I had a couple of voicemails from the passport office just saying ‘this is a callback as requested, please call xxx if you need to discuss your application with us’ sort of generic chat. But every time I phoned back on the number they gave (0300 222 0000, option 8, option 3), the person answering couldn’t see the reason for the person phoning and just said they would get the relevant team to call me again.

However, in between these calls my application moved to approved. I called again yesterday to confirm that now meant I wouldn’t be able to collect in person and she said yes, it would have gone to central print and would be delivered by courier. Now I’m just waiting for dispatch and delivery and praying it comes in time.

Application history

Passport printed 9:35am on 7 June 2022
Application approved 9:35am on 3 June 2022
Documents received 12:12pm on 17 May 2022
Application received 8:28am on 4 May 2022
Identity details received 8:27am on 4 May 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:32am on 4 May 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:21am on 4 May 2022
Application submitted 7:21am on 4 May 2022

[rachimus23]

Hi everyone, this forum has been an absolute godsend. I have a question if anyone can help – I’ve hit my 14 days before travel today (13 days until I need the passport in my hands)

For context – I called 01633 285419 (believe this is the Newport number) on Monday 30th, I got straight through but she said I had to call back today (1st June) as they process the upgrade referral on a system and the referral will be auto rejected if it’s done more than 14 days before travel. She said I would then be told/receive an email telling me the email address for the appropriate upgrade team and what details to send them.

My question – I am now on hold to the same number, as advised, but it’s been 2 hours and I haven’t got through. Can I go ahead and just email every upgrade team email address I’ve seen on here to start the process myself? Or does it HAVE to be preceded by the system referral from an internal team first to actually get in the queue?

Happy to sit on hold, but just wondering if it’s worth sending the email off and banking a few extra hours in the queue!

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

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