June 6, 2022

Passport Experiences 6th June 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:
2022-03-06

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Still no passport been waiting over 12 week

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-07

Date Received:
2022-05-12

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Very slow service. Online webform not responded to for over a week and a half (despite stating a response within 72hrs.) Webchat people giving out wrong information and being rude. People are paying a lot of money for a very poor service!

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-06

Date Received:
2022-06-01

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Replacement for damaged passport.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-20

Date Received:
2022-05-07

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Still waiting for partners.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-23

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
It’s been a total nightmare from beginning to (not) end. Submitted application in Mid March to Durham Office. A standard renewal of a passport I have held for over 40 years. My old passport was sent Royal Mail “signed for”, which arrive next day, but nor registered on-line for 3 weeks thereafter. I have called 68 times. Two conversations with human beings. Mostly automated responses from a telephone system that is clearly not fit for purpose. Cut off numerous time; waiting for hours; given hopeless advice including “simply call the helpline” – 2 weeks before travel I got through and was told to submit upgrade application via email. Did this on the promise of a call in 48 hours, which never came. Emailed 8 times; used customer service enquiry line who assured me my application for upgrade was in process; emailed my MP x3 (Rishi Sunak) – also no response; and called another 15 times only to be connected to an automated service repeatedly. After looking at Twitter comments, I managed to get an alternative phone number and call that, which got me through to SMS service, who said I “simply needed to call advice line” but to ignore option 3 “which doesn’t work properly” – Was advised to use random options to get through to a person who told me that I would get an urgent call back within the “next few days” – Too late for me as I need to travel in 4 days. Application will be on 11 weeks when I need to travel. My long awaited holiday is completely f**c*ed costing me ££££ as insurance doesn’t cover this. The last agent I spoke to implied it was my fault as I hadn’t applied early enough after booking my holiday. I explained that I had need to travel in the early part of the year so could not relinquish my passport and had been told by HM Passport Office that I needed to allow 10 weeks, which I did. Here I am, 4 days from my holiday with no prospect of a passport. It’s an utter shambles. The so- called “advice-line” is a smoke screen for incompetence – I feel sorry for them. My holiday is doomed and HM Passport Office get off “Scott-free”
It’s disgraceful and unfair given the stories on this site which show people getting adult renewals in 3-4 weeks. What is going on?

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-03

Date Received:
2022-05-28

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Old passport sent in but lost. Ended up using upgrade process only for them to take incorrect flight date down. Passport obtained 5 hours before my flight. If I could give it 0 I would. Never been so stressed out.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-28

Date Received:
2022-05-25

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Took few attempts to get picture accepted as good by application software, but then then was rejected when checked, so decided to get professional photo done. Took 2 weeks to get system to log old documents received. Also had to have identity confirmed due to change of appearance from 10 to 16 years old. Overall pleased with 27 days. Passport office communication was good from point said received old documents. Thank you to this site for reassurance that we would get passport in time.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-12

Date Received:
2022-06-04

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
After waiting over 10 I called and after waiting on hold for hours got through to somebody. Application was approved that day.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-27

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Still waiting on the passport.

Lost or Stolen Passport Application

Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-08

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Passport was lost during original application in February. We’ve now missed our holiday. We still haven’t received it.

1st Child Passport

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-18

Date Received:
2022-07-07

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
2 child passports still not received after 11 weeks, still in processing. No one can tell me if there are any issues or if they need anything from me. Countless unanswered emails and a call to the MP to try and get things moving. Travel on the 7th July but not feeling hopeful at all. I live on an island so attending passport office will be incredibly difficult! Looks like holiday will be lost.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-20

Date Received:
2022-06-01

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
20.4.22 application submitted
21.4.22 Identity confirmed
22.4.22 Documents submitted (tracked)
25.4.22 Documents received (confirmed via tracking)
10.5.22 Account updated to show documents received
26.5.22 Application approved
30.5.22 Passport printed
1.6.22 text from DHL to confirm passport will arrive that day
Just waiting on the return of the birth certificate now!

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-06

Date Received:
2022-06-04

Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5

Comments:
I haven’t received it!!!! 9 weeks and I travel in 9 days. Disgusting service! So disappointed, my daughters first passport, I paid for the check and send service through the post office so was assured all documents were correct and there are no issues with the application. It’s waiting to be examined and has been since 8th April! I’m appalled by the disservice I’ve received.

If anyone can help me please email me 🙁

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-27

Date Received:
2022-06-04

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Application history
StatusDate
Passport printed 1:25pm on 31 May 2022
Application approved 9:57am on 29 May 2022
Documents received 9:10am on 12 May 2022
Application received 5:09pm on 27 April 2022
Identity details received 5:09pm on 27 April 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:45pm on 27 April 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 2:44pm on 27 April 2022
Application submitted 2:44pm on 27 April 2022

Overall the longest wait was between docs bring received and approved stage. Also they took over a week to confirm birth cert was there even though I knew they had it. Would recommend sending your stuff tracked. Also took a few days longer to receive due to the bank holidays this week.

Child Renewal

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-19

Date Received:
2022-06-01

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Was very pleased. Nothing like the recent media scare stories. Very quick turnaround

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-04

Date Received:
2022-05-27

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Only received the passport on that date after requesting an upgrade to travel plus MP assistance. Collected within 24 hours of departure.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-12

Date Received:
2022-05-31

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Online renewal with electronic photos.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-25

Date Received:
2022-05-31

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Application submitted 24th April 2022 (online)
Email sent to person confirming identity 24th April 2022
Identity details received 25th April 2022
Application received 25th April 2022
Documents received 3rd May (although Royal Mail show these were signed for on 27th April)
Application approved 25th May 2022
Delivered TNT 31st May 2022

Overseas Passport Application

Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)

Submission Date:
2022-04-09

Date Received:
2022-05-23

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Worth knowing that it can take up to 3 weeks to scan in your supporting documents/old passport and if you contact them before this they just suggest you get in touch again after the 3 week period. However once those documents are scanned in it was all very quick. Overall I’m pretty happy and didn’t need to stress

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-04-25

Date Received:
2022-06-03

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Applied from abroad. Very fast.

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