I’ve just got off the phone to the number posted above 0300 330 0901. We travel first thing next Tuesday.
I was put through to the very helpful upgrade team, who told me to do the following things (after many weeks of going round and round in circles).
1. They will tell you to email the office that is dealing with your request. The online portal might tell you this – phoning the above certainly will. This is in the form of ‘belfastupgradeteam@hmpo.org.uk.
2. Provide the following information:
SUBJECT – Date of Travel [but if you are travelling early in the morning put the previous days date]. Do not put any more information in the subject line.
3. In the body write:
Full name of person applying for passport
PEX number
Your name and contact details(if it is for your child etc – this will only work if you are mentioned on the application)
IMPORTANT NOTE – write a sentence to explain why you have put a different date in the subject line IF you are travelling in the early morning. I wrote – PLEASE NOTE – Date of travel is 12 July 2022 BUT travel is at 7am on that date so passport must be received by 11 July 2022 at the latest.
GOOD LUCK