May 24, 2022

Passport Experiences 24th May 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 With Interview

Submission Date:
2022-02-13

Date Received:
2022-05-19

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
I had to jump through so many hoops and I really thought I wasn’t going to get it because I only received the passport which ended up being 1 week before the deadline I needed to show it to my organisation so I could carry out my learning abroad. I am glad I received it but the wait was too long when I applied in good faith that it would only take 6 – 10 weeks.

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Overall a good experience. Kept informed throughout the process via the automated messages. I would of received my passport 4 days earlier than I did if the courier had delivered it. Overall, 20 days.

The code from the photo booth didn’t work either.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-01

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
My photo was refused so went to snappy snaps. Once accepted only took another day.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-22

Date Received:
2022-03-23

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
It has been over 10 weeks since I applied and my application is still being processed. Uselessness of the privatised ‘helpline’ not helping our frustrations one bit. Travelling in a couple of weeks and nothing to do but sit, wait and hope.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-30

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Submitted via PO check & send on a bank holiday weekend (went to Durham). Longest wait was for old passport to show as received. Confirmation that passport was sent to delivery supplier received on Fri 20/5 & that they’d be in touch. Read on here that could input PEX reference on TNT Passport Delivery website, did so on Sat 21/5 & found was due for delivery on the Monday 23/5 Luckily a day I was in. TNT sent SMS Mon 23/5 8:13am saying delivery today. Posted through door with no knocking or signing for. This site prevented any worry as gave a good idea of length of wait. Post Office said average 5 weeks so, impressed as only 3.
Application history
Passport received 23-05-2022
Passport printed 1:11pm on 20 May 2022
Application approved 7:12pm on 18 May 2022
Documents received 4:17pm on 16 May 2022
Application received 2:57pm on 30 April 2022
Application submitted 2:56pm on 30 April 2022

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Royal Mail never recorded old one as delivered even tho PO did!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Durham processing office

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Slow showing receipt of old passport even though Royal Mail delivered within 24 hours.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-10

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I must be one of the lucky ones. 13 day turnaround from submitting online application.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-22

Date Received:
2022-05-22

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
No consistency told different information on every phone call .very stressful some call operators very rude and unhelpful.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-19

Date Received:
2022-05-21

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
A bit stressful due to the hype but actually fine!

Passport printed 1:43pm on 19 May 2022
Application approved 7:04pm on 17 May 2022
New photo received 4:10pm on 6 May 2022
Photo rejected 3:59pm on 6 May 2022
Documents received 6:59pm on 4 May 2022
Application received 9:30pm on 19 April 2022
Application submitted 9:30pm on 19 April 2022

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-14

Date Received:
2022-05-11

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Passport with name change returned very quickly – however I am still waiting for my marriage certificate to be returned and have not received any acknowledgement of my children’s first passports submitted at the same time.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-14

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
I was not aware of any possible delays when submitting, my passport had damage so could not trust using it. We are away in July so believed plenty of time to get the passport returned but then started to read horror stories and 10 week passport turnaround. Overall the process was smooth and I was kept up to date via text and email. My advice is if a new passport is needed to get it sent in sooner rather than later, avoid the stress some people are dealing with.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-29

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Used the digital post office check and send service.
29/05 application sent and rcvd and passport sent special delivery.
14/05 reminder to send passport email rcvd
15/5 passport acknowledgement rcvd email
18/5 passport approved
19/5 passport printed
23/5 rcvd text from DHL saying will be delivered today and need to sign for it
23/5 passport rcvd
My sons child renewal to adult and hubby’s adult renewal following similar timeframe (applied 1 and 2 weeks after mine); however, my youngest sons, which was sent 19/4 is stuck in processing stage with no updates since 8/5, I am told via online chat that it is waiting for examiner. Not travelling till August so hopefully will be processed soon.
My application took just over 3 weeks and that includes the bank holidays.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-04

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I had 6 weeks until my honeymoon (I didn’t realise that you needed 6 months on a passport to travel) and I was trying frantically to get the fast track service. The service wasn’t available and I had to weigh up the option of either continuing to try and get a fast track passport or to apply via the Normal process and just see what happens. I sent my old passport off the same day and paid extra to get Next day delivery but then it took about 2 weeks for my application to be updated (looked at). After that it all went pretty quickly and within that week my passport was delivered. I am so glad I decided to apply the normal way because I wonder if I would still be waiting for an appointment, plus I saved a bit of money too!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-15

Date Received:
2022-05-17

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I found the Passport renewal process easy and straightforward. The wait was just over a month but was actually less than a month from the time I sent off my old passport so I thought it quite efficient. The passport waiting time forum was also relatively helpful to find out how long it might be expected to take so thanks.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-04

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Still waiting for my supporting documents (other country’s passport)

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
It took 13 days for them to receive my old passport and then 7 days for me to receive my new one.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-06

Date Received:
2022-05-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Well Happy

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-16

Date Received:
2022-05-11

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Everything was straight forward, we used the post office check and send service.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
It took them 12 calendar days from receiving my passport (tracked & signed) to updating the status on the online portal to “Documents Received”. In that time, I thought my passport was stolen.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-01

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Sent passport off and including may bank holiday, it was received within 3 weeks and 1 day.

Very easy, updated by passport office through process.

It takes about 1/2 weeks to update the tracker from sending old passport to them receiving.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-13

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
In the end, all worked well but very anxious wait reading press articles. Frustrating bit from 13-28 April when I knew old passport had been delivered but website wasn’t updated so ‘lost’ 2 weeks.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-24

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Very easy online submission.
Glasgow office
Application history
StatusDate
Passport printed 4:56pm on 19 May 2022
Application approved 9:30pm on 17 May 2022
Documents received 1:40pm on 29 April 2022
Application received 3:38pm on 24 April 2022

1st Child Passport

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-16

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Straight forward experience just triple check all the documents you send we used post office check and send and although the updates weren’t very regular but everything went through without issue.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-13

Date Received:
2022-05-17

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Thought I would have to apply for upgrade as travelling abroad next week but passport came back in exactly 5 weeks. From approval to arrival was 3 working days.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-13

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
More updates would be helpful.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-01

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Found the experience very stressful but was more due to posts on social media. Had to send an additional document and still was just over 7 weeks from start to delivery.

Child Renewal

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-02-19

Date Received:
2022-05-20

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Applied online. Passport ended up at Liverpool. Fiasco with our countersignature (no id used by HMPO) and then failed to provide suitable method of checking they were HMPO. 7 weeks after C-S being told checks had been passed he received a letter asking for key info.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-13

Date Received:
2022-05-14

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Make sure you provide full contact details. They had to ring me to confirm my son’s sex as by accident I put him down as a female on the application ( my fault!). Got the call on a Saturday, within a week of application approved I received the passport. Although they advised did say it could take up to 10 day to print and deliver. Overall a good experience….. guess they have rectified the delay problem. Thanks

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-01

Date Received:
2022-05-12

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I was worried about receiving my daughters passport in time for our summer holidays given the estimated 10 week wait time. I was pleasantly surprised when the passport arrived less than two weeks later. Easy online form and very efficient service.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-02-28

Date Received:
2022-05-20

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
28.2.22 application submitted to peterborough
13.4.22 rescanned through system and sent to liverpool
11.5.22 entitled to immediate upgrade
12.5.22 progress team call to request documents to prove travel on 25.5.22, 48hours later should receive a call from upgrades to take payment
No call ever received
Numerous unanswered calls emails made. Local MP involved.
19.5:22 Liverpool call application approved and passport sent for printing.
20.5.22 passport collected

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-15

Date Received:
2022-05-17

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Excellent service

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-29

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Had to send in parent birth certificate – thought might delay but thankfully not!

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-08

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Submitted online using photos and online code generated via the Photo identity app. sent to and processed by the Liverpool centre. All processed in a reasonable time, no complaints here and can’t help but feel recent negative press coverage is based on a few edge cases and a ‘wfh bashing’ agenda, instead of the vast majority that are processed in good time.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-26

Date Received:
2022-05-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
No issues with my renewal.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-11

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Passport office was great to send a number of emails advising me of exactly what stage of the process I was at. They told me when the old passport was received, when they started to review it, when it was approved, when new passport was being printed, and then when it was being shipped out. It was an amazingly good customer service experience.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-17

Date Received:
2022-03-18

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Around 140 calls with average waiting times of 2:30 hours. MP Steve Brine involved to support. 10 weeks and South African passport lost in the process

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-28

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
I have been waiting for their email as I submit application on 28 April 2022 and send documents on 30 April 2022, they have delivered document on 6th May 2022 and still no update wether they received the documents and today is already 23rd May 2022.

Overseas Passport Application

Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)

Submission Date:
2022-04-05

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Application from Czech Republic. Old passport arrived and was signed for about 3 weeks before it was acknowledged on the tracking page.

2 Replies to “Passport Experiences 24th May 2022”

  1. Kerry says: May 24, 2022 at 9:41 pm

    Sent 18 feb now 14 weeks and still waiting @ Liverpool office called 8 times, customer service poor promised call backs never received
    Child’s passport renewal – do stressful

  2. Frustrated84 says: May 25, 2022 at 8:19 am

    So frustrating all these May applications being approved so quickly while March ones are in limbo, awaiting 2 first child passport stuck in processing since 29th April, applied with 15 weeks to spare before travel and now I’m finding it unlikely we will get them in time!

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