10 weeks wait time exceeded. What next?

I have to move countries and accomodation for work. I cannot wait 10 weeks from 'documents received' which took then 3.5 weeks to do after the documents actually were signed for at HMPO. I e-mailed the expedited service on Thursday and of course have still heard nothing.

@vegele is that from the upgrade team or the expedite team? they are different teams...We had similar date of documents acknowledged and emailed the expedite team (being overseas and also first passport were not eligible for upgrade). Only response from them was the automated message and then on Monday we got notification our applications had been approved. This was automated message we got from expedited service (ExpeditedService@hmpo.gov.uk): We have received your email. Please do not send any more emails as this may cause delays. We can only consider expediting an application if you submitted your application at least 10 weeks ago If this does not apply to you, you will not receive a response from this mailbox. You cannot expedite your application face-to-face at a passport office – please do not visit us. We are unable to reply to general email enquiries. You can track your application at: www.gov.uk/track-passport-application To get passport information or to find out how to contact us, please visit: www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

We got a response from the expedited service July 3rd. Then on July 6th the Belfast Upgrade team sent an email. Until then we had not solicited them per phone or other emails. On July 7th and identical email to the one of July 6th from the Belfast Upgrade team has been sent. We are calling since Monday, as my application could not be found when I typed in the application number over the phone and he various agents over the phone who propose to make a progress check can't find the application either. This is when one agent said that this is likely because it is with the Upgrade team. We are Wednesday today and hoping for a miracle. Did anyone write to the Upgrade team despite their email saying not to write them as this could delay the application? Anyone experience with the Belfast office ?

Just read on other forums that the expedited service usually calls back 3-4 days prior travel (in our case tomorrow) and in worst case people go to the passport office where people are seen w/o appointments if travel is in 24 or 48 hours. They prioritize the ones with 24 hours travel and later 48 hours travel to be seen. Worst come worst I have to go in person and prepared for a day at the passport office on Saturday to catch my 6am flight on Monday.

Expedited team did not call us, they just got our application moving.

I have applied for replacement of my lost passport on 3-Apr and waiting. After 10 weeks I requested for urgent processing on compassionate ground for my mother's illness to travel to India. Still I am waiting and have to travel to Paris for work. I just telephoned the HMPO today to request again for my travel to Paris. And they have arranged a call-back. I am now waiting for the call. Was very stressed until I found this forum yesterday. I saw people applied for replacement are also waiting as I am doing. So that relives the worries a little. Please help and suggest what can I do now other that waiting for the call. Many thanks to all that shared their experience.

Hi @vegele, you said you send the urgent request at ExpeditedService@hmpo.gov.uk. Can I also send the request to this mail address or did the HMPO staff suggested you to send the request. And what info did you include in that mail please?

@biswajitmitra I received a message on my status (when checking online) saying I have to right to ask for expedited service given it has been more then 10 weeks. They instruct how to write, basically putting in the subject line the application reference and name of applicant and in the text the proof of travel within 14 days. If you write and have travel less then 14 days they wont acknowledge.

I emailed the expedite team at the address ExpeditedService@hmpo.gov.uk and put the passport ref and all other details in the subject line. There was no message from HMPO saying we were eligible - it was another member here who suggested I email them. In the body of the email I outlined all the dealings we had already had with HMPO and the dates when things were sent and received. Our travel is not for 3 weeks and I did mention at the end that we were worried it would not arrive in time. I didn't have to supply any proof of travel - pretty sure that is not required when you are over 10 weeks. I did not get a response but the passport applications were approved, printed and despatched very quickly, and we are now just waiting for them to arrive. It does say they won't do anything unless it is 10 weeks - and I believe they count this from when your documents were received, not application submitted.

Is there a difference between EscalatedService@hmpo.gov.uk and ExpeditedService@hmpo.gov.uk or do they end up at the same place? Thanks

I believe they are different but someone else might know more.

how long did it take you to get a response? Tomorrow will put me at 11 weeks and the unhelpful call operator I spoke to today said they won't do anything until 13 weeks for overseas applications. I need to have had my passport for a visa application by the end, so if it is only approved in 2 weeks that is far too late. Useless people.

Nawa is that 11 weeks from when your documents were received? I emailed the Expedite team on Saturday and got an automated response which said they will do nothing if it is less than 10 weeks. Then on Monday at about midday UK time we got an email that the applications were approved. Two hours later another email that they were printed, and a few hours later a text message that they had been despatched. We had stopped calling as the operators couldn't really tell us anything and seemed to be pretty useless.

I'm in need of a little advise I have exceeded the 10 week turn around time however upon chasing this has been expedited, I emailed all the suggested email addresses to which i received an email saying they couldn't find my application in the system. Has anybody else experienced this?

Flippo2605, Did you do your application online?

My 10 weeks finally passed yesterday and the online tracker page changed to say that as my 10 weeks had passed I can now email the expedite team with full details along with travel documents if I am travelling in the next two weeks (which I am). They say they will check the application and come back to me in 48 hours. Also spoke to someone yesterday on a callback. She told me they are getting through applications at the moment based on travel dates and are currently operating at about 4 days away from the travel date. Squeaky bum time!!

@colandjo73 not to be a bummer but you won’t hear most likely just 2 or 3 days before your flight. I was in the same situation as your (now I am almost 13 week) flying on Monday, proof provided. They acknowledged my application is expedited but today we are 4 days prior travel abs I have not heard of them. Phone calls and email so far In vain. Hope you are more lucky !!

Vegele, I hope I am too! The one good thing is that I am only 5 miles away from Glasgow office so not a major issue to queue up once the deadline reaches 48 hours before travel. Good luck too, let me know when you hear from them. Hope its today.

Where do you fit in if you have no travel booked? Seems unfair they're asking for proof of travel - just because we have nothing booked doesn't mean we don't have plans to travel. Just waiting for passports before booking anything. So do I not get prioritised at all now? 😔

Estival, good question! And one that does not appear to have an answer I'm afraid. Presumably you would have to take the risk and book something in the hope that the backlog is cleared by then or else knowing that you will have to do the two week chase!

@estival. I agree and why do so many get their passports approved in a matter of days (with our expedite service) and not travelling. When I applied in March little that we know that processing times are 10 weeks. Disappointingly it takes so much longer for so many. I am almost 13 weeks and read some got their application cancelled as they reached the 90 days.

@vegele Yes I agree. It's so maddening when you hear lots of stories of people only applying in June and even this month and they've already got them back!! It's so frustrating they're processing the newer ones and the older ones are just left forgotten about. I didn't realise people's applications were getting cancelled at 90 days- is that standard for everyone?? Hope that doesn't happen 😕

@Estival - I thought we were getting somewhere and ive spoke to someone this morning who advised its been checked and waiting to be printed, but they were arranging an emergency call back wondered why so used webchat and they've told me its still waiting to be examined so 12 weeks in and still no further forward

and i missed the call back

@ks18 have had the exact same thing. Monday was told it's approved and awaiting printing, but more recently they're saying it's awaiting checks before printing. Glimmer of hope when told it was awaiting printing as you're into final few days of waiting then but they took that hope away again. Emailed expedited on Monday as we fly on 26th but still not heard, also on at least two call back lists from the upgrades team. Might as well bang my head against the wall.