Long time lurker, first time posting, and I think I have to admit defeat now…
Found out about the new EU rule on passport validity and as I am due to travel for work a lot in the coming months, so applied in what I thought was plenty of time with 5 weeks typical processing. I am supposed to be travelling every couple of weeks starting this Friday, so while it wouldn’t have expired until October I thought it was better to apply now.
Submitted application 2 March, passport arrived two days later but took the then-usual 10 days to be linked to my application. Was asked to send written statement to Peterborough about passport damage on 17 March, sent tracked next day and arrived 8am on 18th March.
By 6 April, the progress team admitted the statement was likely lost in their post room as it had been three weeks and not linked to my application. Was advised to send a second written statement while various alerts were placed on my application to try and get someone to go and look for the first.
No idea which statement (if any) was found but I moved into dreaded manual processing on 11 April. No updates on the tracker since. Spoke to two people during the 14-day window to apply for the fast track upgrade but it wasn’t until last Thursday 14th April and third person told me about it and how to apply. However I’ve heard absolutely nothing and I’m due to fly 7am on Friday (22nd)… what are the chances of approval, printing and delivery in the next 48 hours? Hoping for an unlikely miracle.
Everyone I spoke to in numerous phone calls kept advising me there was still enough time, to keep being patient etc. I am starting to feel like I was fobbed off.
Application being processed 3:50pm on 11 April 2022
Documents received 12:13pm on 14 March 2022
Application received 1:18pm on 2 March 2022
Application submitted 1:18pm on 2 March 2022