July 21, 2022

Passport Experiences 21st July 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:
2022-05-27

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Very easy and smooth. Delay of some days was caused by my slowness in providing someone to confirm my identity and in sending the documents as well as the double bank holiday at the time of sending the documents.

Passport received 20 July 2022
Passport printed 20 July 2022
Application approved 18 July 2022
Documents received 8 June 2022
Application received 30 May 2022
Identity details received 30 May 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 30 May 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 27 May 2022
Application submitted 27 May 2022

As a dual national was asked to send my other passport as well. I was not able to do that, but sent a copy of that passport, my identity card and a letter explaining why I cannot send the original passport (travel for work) and the application was approved.

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-12

Date Received:
2022-07-19

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Excellent service.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-05

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Absolute joke!! sent all documents for a renewal passport along with my 2 children’s first time applications at the beginning of may .. received both of there’s back last week but mine is still at documents received, countless phone calls to advice line with promises of calls backs, been lied to over and over again, been told its going to print, its been expedited, its with an examiner i honestly don’t know what to believe anymore , i travel in less than 9 days now and then again in 4 weeks plus due to my job i need have high security clearance and that needs to be renewed in 3 weeks but can only get it with a valid passport, without that i get locked out and will cause me unnecessary problems…. pointless calling the advice line as none of them know what is going on as they can only look at what you can already see, by chance i managed to speak with a lady that could look into my application more than others got info its with the examiner now but that’s all but still no update!! confusing advice of when the 10 weeks start and to expedite was told as its with the examiner its no longer an option, will have to go to my nearest passport office in London next week if nothing has happened and see what can be sorted as my application is in Belfast, that’s not an option to go to as believe it or not!! i need a passport to get there as its my only form of photo ID .
Good luck people you will need it!!!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-15

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Used the online application process and received my new passport in 4 working days. Have nothing to complain about.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-16

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
My passport was due to expire in October. I am going to Germany in August but they require 3 months validity on the passport (why?) so I had to renew it. I needed it for other travel in May so could not apply within the 10 week recommended application time. I decided to use the normal service rather than the fast track as I could see that the average waiting time for a straightforward renewal was around four weeks.
I was worried that I had made the wrong choice; lots of people are posting that they received their passports within days but I was waiting weeks! However, all was well. The online application process is simple and the tracking page and email updates are helpful.
I sympathise with those who have had difficulties and are feeling very stressed; I only had to wait a few weeks but it was definitely stressful wondering if I would receive it in time!

Arrived via TNT today, 20 July 2022

Application history

StatusDate
Passport printed 10:00pm on 19 July 2022
Application approved 9:44am on 18 July 2022
Documents received 10:40am on 22 June 2022
Application received 2:31pm on 16 June 2022
Application submitted 2:30pm on 16 June 2022

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-14

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Paid for tracked next day delivery with my old passport which arrived at HMPO on Monday 17th July. My application was approved, new passport printed and through my letterbox within 48 hours. Did not pay for fast track so great service.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-12

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Submitted application online for an adult renew sent my old passport to Belfast and the rest of the process was very easy was kept up to date by email and text message. DHL delivered passport today.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Extremely stressful. Applied for 2 renewals (child to adult), delivered to Durham on 3rd May (by post, 11 weeks before planned travel).
Repeatedly told that applications were waiting to be examined – even after 10 weeks. I couldn’t travel to Durham within 48 hours of flight to try and get the passports, so decided to cancel our family holiday, losing £1500.
Passports arrived the day after planned travel!
Terrible service that made me feel ill for weeks.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-20

Date Received:
2022-07-16

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
After 10 weeks waiting, I contacted the passport help line but nothing could be done to speed up the process until 2 weeks before travel date. At that point I contacted passport office again. You need to choose option 8 and then 3 to talk to an advisor rather than the automated responses which are not helpful The wait isn’t too long. I was informed my passport was being processed in Durham and awaiting printing. I was given an email address for the Durham upgrade team and I provided travel documents to evidence our travel within 2 weeks. Then waiting for an email back, never happened, and call backs, which did happen but if you miss the call, you can’t get back in touch with them, so have to revert back to the main help line number and request another call back. I found the whole wait stressful but particularly the final week. From printing to receiving the passport was 3 days which was quicker than expected. My application was via check and send at post office, paying extra for the checking, thinking that would make the process quicker. I don’t understand why passports are not processed in date order; I know people applying 4 weeks ago getting theirs sooner than me.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-13

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Very easy and quick.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-08

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Application submitted 8th July 2022 via Max Speilmann apply and go service to save me having to remember to post it
Sent to Bootle
Documents received 18th July 2022
Application approved 18th July 2022
Passport printed 20th July 2022
Delivered by TNT 20th July 2022

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-13

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I received my passport in a week.
I made the application online and for the photos I uploaded a code given by the photo booth.
The process couldn’t have been simpler and I am delighted.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-13

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I had 2 adult and 1 child renewal all submitted the same day 13th July but sent to different offices – Bootle/Hemel Hempstead/Corby. Both adult passports were received today and the child has been printed and is awaiting courier tracking so I expect that will follow shortly.
Surprised how swift following press reports and published waiting times it does appear new applications are being processed whilst older ones are stuck somewhere in the system. Top marks from us on this occasion (assuming child one does appear)!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-06

Date Received:
2022-07-15

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Surprisingly fast.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-06

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I made an application on the 6th July on-line using the Welsh language service and posted my old passport the following day. I received a confirmation email each step of the way and was delighted to receive a message stating that my passport had been printed, it was safely delivered two days later.

Having read some of the stories I was somewhat concerned at the wait times but the service from the Newport passport office has been excellent from start to finish.

Lost or Stolen Passport Application

Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-03

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
my mother at her nineties is in India and is very ill with late stage of dementia and has broken her hip after a fall and now bed ridden and needs 24 hour care and support and she was hoping to see me during this difficult time. After waiting for ten weeks on 17-June I requested for my passport on compassionate ground and submitted evidence from my mother’s doctor. Again on 30-June I did made a similar request. I am not a British citizen by birth and came to this country to work and was naturalised 20 years back as a British Citizen. My stress level and desire to see my mother before her death was unbearable during the last one month. I am a mental patient, live alone in my home at Coventry and my illness was so sever that I had to take medical treatment for my mental illness in 2017.
On 30-June I requested my local MP for help.
On 13-July Mayor of West Midlands came to my front door for support for his candidate for a local election. I was not able to hide my emotions and stress and anxiety and need to see my mother urgently. Then the things started moving and today I received my passport.
It 103 days for my replacement of lost passport processing. So I hope my fellow citizen will get a little conform from this that their application will also be processed and is not lost for ever. We certainly deserve better public service delivery and let us hope the people responsible will lead this though to a success story soon.

1st Child Passport

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-06-10

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
A little stressful when I received an email asking for my little girl’s long birth certificate as apparently the one I sent had no parent details. I had actually sent the long one. I phoned and got through easily and was called back two days later to confirm it was the right birth certificate. Everything progressed quickly from there.
Application submitted: 10/06/22
Documents received: 21/06/22
Email about birth certificate: 15/07/22
Phone call back about birth certificate: 17/07/22
Passport approved: 18/07/22
Passport printed: 19/07/22
Passport delivered: 20/07/22

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-06-16

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Everything was very straight forward, we made sure the right documents were included and that the guidelines for the photo we’re followed.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-12-31

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Had to put a forward date of the last day of the year as we haven’t received the passport yet.

Numerous phone calls, with promises of call backs. My Daughter in Law is currently waiting at the Newport Passport Office but doesn’t hold out much hope and we fly next week.
Disgusting, it has been sitting there, with identity approved and documents received for 9 weeks……WHY??

Child Renewal

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-07

Date Received:
2022-06-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Easy, nothing like my daughters that took 3 months in Newport.
This went to Bootle.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-27

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Nightmare from start to finish!
This went to Newport.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-27

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Nightmare from start to finish!

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-11

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Wow – what an amazing service, i’d give 10 stars if i could! Thank you passport office! 🙂

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-09

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Online was all pretty straightforward but took a couple of attempts on the photo. Photo confirmation came through on the Monday, advised printing on Tuesday and new passport was delivered Wednesday. So from photo approval to passport was 48hours.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-11

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5

Comments:
Very quick, new passport arrived 6 days after documents received.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-28

Date Received:
2022-05-07

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
I had an email on the 7th of June to say they received my documents and another received documents email on the 26th JUNE !! I cant chase for 10 weeks which is one week before i go away on holiday on the 14th August.Getting worried now as i have laid out £4 grand for the holiday . I thought 2.5 months would of been long enough !

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-19

Date Received:
2022-05-05

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Passport child renewal uploaded 19th April, docs received 5th May. A few days ago i expedited as stated on the tracker website – States they will get back to you within 48 hours, which they have not! Rang customer service this morning, and they didn’t have a clue, basically told me to sit tight and the expedite team will get back to me! Not what I want to hear when I fly in a week. So at this current time we are not going on our family holiday, because we refuse to leave our 5 year old at home, as it’s a “family” holiday and will now lose thousands! very very poor service all around!

Very stressed and not what you need before a potential holiday.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-15

Date Received:
2022-07-19

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Took repeated calls and emails to get any response. Finally, passport arrived with less than 2 weeks before holiday. Feel sorry for the staff involved – they are clearly massively overworked with a huge backlog

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-23

Date Received:
2022-07-20

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Application remained 9n application received for a long time until I applied for an upgrade due to travelling on the 22nd.

No follow up once applied for upgrade so unsure how/if/when I’d be contacted. Contacted on 19th to collect the passport that day in Glasgow (application being processed in Liverpool). Was unable to take make it to Glasgow that day but made the train journey today and we can finally relax and enjoy our holiday!

Couldn’t fault the lady on the upgrade team. Was very pleasant, patient and helpful.

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