April 12, 2022

Passport Experiences 12th April 2022

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Passport Application Experiences

Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.

1st Adult Passport

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-11

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Took many requests for new information which delayed my application

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-02-27

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
I do not understand how for 90% of the applications there is a 2 week gap between the Royal mail tracking delivery confirmation and the passport tracking site. It took 2 weeks to be updated as documents received and then another two weeks to be updated as processed. When I submitted the application the estimated timeline was 5 weeks – this is not accurate there needs to be more communication.

Application submitted: 27/02/2022
Application Received: 28/02/2022
Royal mail document delivery: 02/03/2022
Documents received: 17/03/2022
Application being processed: 01/04/2022
Application approved: 05/04/2022
Passport printed: 08/04/2022
Passport received: 11/04/2022
Supporting documents still no sign of them

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-02-02

Date Received:
2022-04-09

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
It was overall a very stressful 10 weeks. After 6 weeks, my application was struck at ‘being processed’ stage based on the tracker. I would call almost everyday and hold the line for 2+ hours only to be told that it hasn’t been 10 weeks yet. Eventually, I was informed that my application was finally being looked at by an examiner after 8 weeks and there is a discrepancy in my application but offered no advice what I need to do to address the issue. After persevering, I managed to arrange a call back from the examiner himself in week 9. Shortly after the call, my application was approved. I paid extra to receive my documents back signed for but HMPO sent them via 2nd class and just dropped in the communal letter box of my complex. I’m just glad that hopefully I won’t have to deal with this mess for another 10 years.

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-12

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Took forever to get any updates on the tracking even though royal mail confirmed delivery the following day.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-06

Date Received:
2022-03-25

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Last update from passport office on 24th March stated my passport had been printed and will be 3 or 4 days awaiting collection by courier to be despatched. Courier will be in touch with a reference for delivery by TNT. No contact from TNT but passport delivered 25th March.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-03

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
I posted my old passport on 4 March. Recorded delivery showed it had arrived on 9 March, but there was no acknowledgement for more than 3 weeks, and only as a result of me phoning the help line. Things did seem to move quite quickly after that so maybe it was lost in the mail room!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-23

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
The constant updates were brilliant – so good to know what was happening.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-16

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Passport renewal process was easy and updated at every stage. After reading bad things online about long waiting times i did start to panic but no need. This website helped me a lot as i could read other peoples issues and hold ups similar to myself, such as when sent my old passport it did take over a week for them to update the website even if i did send it the same day. Good to know it is common to have to wait. Thanks.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-23

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Had to redo my passport picture but very quick apart from that.

1st Child Passport

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-03

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Difficulty tracking as completed the tracking for several times before a response and waiting time when phoning was forever!

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-02-17

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
We had a delay in finding someone to do the ID

Child Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-02-25

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Took a lot longer than the post office (check and send) said. Plus I don’t think I was ever given a tracking number! Which made it quite frustrating and we missed our holiday.

Overseas Application

Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)

Submission Date:
2022-03-06

Date Received:
2022-04-11

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
This was the Durham office. Longest delay is between when your courier company confirms it has delivered it to HMPO until the status on the website says they have actually received your old passport (nearly 3 weeks). Then the process only took another 10 days until I had the passport in hand across the otherwise of the world. It’s stressful if you keep checking but ok if you don’t and allow a full 6 weeks.

Passport received 11 April 2022
Passport printed 11:45am on 7 April 2022
Application approved 3:53pm on 6 April 2022
Documents received (according to HMPO): 1:49pm on 1 April 2022
Documents delivered by FedEx 8:09am on 14 March 2022
Application received 8:24am on 6 March 2022
Application submitted 8:23am on 6 March 2022

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3 Replies to “Passport Experiences 12th April 2022”

  1. foxtrotlady says: April 14, 2022 at 12:23 am

    It seems all inline passport applications are turning round quite quickly whilst those of us who have used the post office check and send application are still sitting waiting to be looked at!! Seems very unfair all applications should be done in date Recieved order to make system fair for all.

    1. Nicky says: April 15, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      That’s not quite right. The processing time depends on other factors too. I applied online to replace a lost passport 9th Feb. It didn’t move to the ‘processing’ stage until 7th March and wasn’t approved until 8th April, and finally received 14th April.

      My husband’s straight forward online renewal on the other hand, took less than two weeks from application to passport reciept.

  2. Ieasha says: April 24, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    My application is an online one. I applied for my passport 31st dec 2021. One of my documents were photocopied but were signed by a solicitor and was told this was all okay. Then receive another call and said I needed a deed poll Finally after receiving my documents. My passport has been being processed since 1st April? Is anyone else’s taking this long to get approved :(???

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