July 4, 2022

Passport Experiences 4th 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:
2022-05-05

Date Received:
2022-07-03

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
My wife applied for her first UK passport. She recently naturalised in her married name but has a Russian passport with her maiden name. The UK does not generally allow a UK passport holder to have a foreign passport bearing a different name. Unfortunately, due to very long delays at the Russian embassy, she could not get her name changed on her Russian passport for probably another year. So she submitted an application for a name change and was given a receipt in Russian. We checked the HMPO internal manual on name changes which states that it is possible to submit an application under such circumstances with the receipt. The manual generally is very helpful. The following link is for name changes:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/967252/Names_-_Change_of_name_passport_applications.pdf

We submitted our documents with a covering letter explaining the situation on 29.4.22. The documents were received on 05.05.22. After 4 weeks the status changed to “processing” for 1 week before reverting to “documents received”. She received an e-mail on 03.07.22 stating her application was approved.
Overall, the service worked well although the reversion of “application being processed” to “documents received” was rather confusing.

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-26

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Still has not arrived, no updates on whereabouts of my passport, cannot speak to anyone to help! Shocking service!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-02

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Passport applied for on 2 May with travel to Berlin booked 22 June (post a-level treat for my son). Application shifted from ‘processing’ to ‘old passport received’. Still not receiving fee. Enquiry forms and emails ignored. Had to forgo holiday and sent sons without me. Still waiting..I hope I don’t have to wait much longer – it’s been super stressful and remains so until there’s something me progress!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-18

Date Received:
2022-07-01

Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5

Comments:
Standard adult renewal sent to Liverpool passport office. Phones, couldn’t tell me anything and got different story each time. Called my MP who intervened. His office were superb. Passport office and absolute disgrace.

Child Renewal

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-30

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
-Advice Line staff not properly trained and giving contradicting information
-Application page not updated to reflect process
-call backs rarely returned
-Supporting documents not returned on time for a trip abroad despite prepaid special delivery envelops sent and extra fee paid for Fedex return
-Incomplete address (no flat number) put on envelop, so Fedex unable to deliver
-Not informed until last minute if expedited/upgrade/escalated case processed.
-waiting time on phone extremely long resulting on having to take two days off to deal with escalated case due to imminent travel

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-16

Date Received:
2022-06-30

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Paid £22 to send old passport back for next day delivery by 9:00am but application wasn’t updated for another 4/5 days.

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