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@Sussexplum. If you have provided proof of travel the office should call me 72 hours before latest (Upgrade team). Worst case go 48 hours before travel to any passport office. You can take the risk to come earlier, but a lady in the queue this morning was denied entry in the London office twice. She got lucky today. This being said I heard someone only leaving coming Wednesday and he was allowed entry…So if travel less than 48 hours it is a little of a gamble. I think you don’t need to account for a Sunday. So if travelling on Monday 48 hours would probably be Friday…. Hope this helps.
Hi all, this will be my last post (hopefully). I went to the passport office today. Arrived 6:20 about 10 people ahead of me. Seen at 8am (given a number and a paper to fill in with application details). While waiting I got just after 9am a call from the Belfast office that my application has been approved and I could pick it up at 1:30pm.
So I could have avoided the way to the office, but honestly I could not take the risk to leave it to the last minute. One lady had plane same day and was dealt with immediately, but the office asked her why didn’t she come the day prior (24 hours before travel).
Though my upgrade request had been acknowledged on July 2nd I did a few calls yesterday (not progress but management team) and the last one in the evening was maybe one too much as she hand up saying she can she it is our 3rd call today…
FYI: I am now 13 weeks since documents received (PEX353); child renewal and imminent travel.@sussesplum Honestly is still luck if the Upgrade processes it. The priority for the passport office is the statistics to say that over 98% of applications are dealt within 10 weeks. Reducing the backlog is not a priority. By principle you could hear from them 72 before your flight. But not the case for so many. I am going to the nearest passport office in person tomorrow. They receive you if flight within 12, 24 or 48 hours. A few offices will allow for others if applications is over 10 weeks as last priority, but some offices turn you down. Maybe it depends on how busy they are on the day.
Honestly is still luck if the Upgrade processes it. The priority for the passport office is the statistics to say that over 98% of applications are dealt within 10 weeks. Reducing the backlog is not a priority. By principle you could hear from them 72 before your flight. But not the case for so many. I am going to the nearest passport office in person tomorrow. They receive you if flight within 12, 24 or 48 hours. A few offices will allow for others if applications is over 10 weeks as last priority, but some offices turn you down. Maybe it depends on how busy they are on the day.
@estival. I agree and why do so many get their passports approved in a matter of days (with our expedite service) and not travelling. When I applied in March little that we know that processing times are 10 weeks. Disappointingly it takes so much longer for so many. I am almost 13 weeks and read some got their application cancelled as they reached the 90 days.
@colandjo73 not to be a bummer but you won’t hear most likely just 2 or 3 days before your flight. I was in the same situation as your (now I am almost 13 week) flying on Monday, proof provided. They acknowledged my application is expedited but today we are 4 days prior travel abs I have not heard of them. Phone calls and email so far In vain. Hope you are more lucky !!
@biswajitmitra I received a message on my status (when checking online) saying I have to right to ask for expedited service given it has been more then 10 weeks. They instruct how to write, basically putting in the subject line the application reference and name of applicant and in the text the proof of travel within 14 days. If you write and have travel less then 14 days they wont acknowledge.
Just read on other forums that the expedited service usually calls back 3-4 days prior travel (in our case tomorrow) and in worst case people go to the passport office where people are seen w/o appointments if travel is in 24 or 48 hours. They prioritize the ones with 24 hours travel and later 48 hours travel to be seen.
Worst come worst I have to go in person and prepared for a day at the passport office on Saturday to catch my 6am flight on Monday.We got a response from the expedited service July 3rd. Then on July 6th the Belfast Upgrade team sent an email. Until then we had not solicited them per phone or other emails. On July 7th and identical email to the one of July 6th from the Belfast Upgrade team has been sent.
We are calling since Monday, as my application could not be found when I typed in the application number over the phone and he various agents over the phone who propose to make a progress check can’t find the application either. This is when one agent said that this is likely because it is with the Upgrade team.
We are Wednesday today and hoping for a miracle.
Did anyone write to the Upgrade team despite their email saying not to write them as this could delay the application?
Anyone experience with the Belfast office ?I submitted the application March 14th and documents were acknowledged April 18th. The status has not changed since and we are past the 12 weeks mark since April 18th. I emailed the expedited service on June 30th with prove of travel in two weeks. An automated message says the status would be update within 48 hours, which is does not. On July 7th though I received a reply from the Belfast upgrade team:
“We have received your upgrade request and noted you need your passport by 18/07/2022
Upgrade requests are prioritized by this date – we will be in touch as soon as we can. Please do not email us again or call the Passport Adviceline as we cannot process your application any quicker.
Please do not send more emails as this may delay your upgrade request.”
Since then numerous calls to the passport advise line which are unable to track the application. They confirmed though that the status often is updated later as they prioritize printing the passports.
I also contacted the MP today…
We are a few days of travel away. Flight is Monday at 6:40am !! so need passport by Saturday – in 4 days.
