10 weeks wait time exceeded. What next?

No they haven’t received the docs yet. So will ring next week for an update. Hopefully they have it by then.

My passport application journey has been a longgggg one. Applied 21st of April after naturalization Application received 4th of May and that was the last update I received. I called more than 100 times, escalated to the upgrade team, escalated to the expedited service, Also got my MP involved and all my efforts just proved frutile. During this time I cancelled my holiday twice and had to rebook. Did some research and found out I could get my passport if my application has been over 6 weeks and in my case 12 weeks and if I will be flying in the next 48 hours. So I travelled down to the passport office in Liverpool, the journey took 2hrs from where I live. Got there at 7am today 16th of July and I got seen at 10.30. My passport application was approved 11am today and I collected my passport at 12 noon. If you are in the same situation, my advice to you is to travel to your passport office to get your passport. It does not matter where your application is being looked at. 12weeks wait was sorted in 2 hours. Thanks and goodluck to everyone still waiting. Flying out on monday happy days!!!!

Godisgood12 did you just turn up or book?

I just turned up, you dont need an appointment. Just make sure you have your flight details showing you are flying in 48hours or less.

That’s good to know, if it comes to that, I will definitely go down to the office, thank you x

got a reply back from the expedite team, I have forwarded your application details to one of our examination teams to progress as soon as possible. Hopefully have it soon

How do I contact them?

@screamer How long had you been waiting for passport if you don't mind me asking? Did you have to wait long for a response from expedite team - I've not heard anything and I emailed them just over a week ago.

" don’t think your MP can do much as you have only submitted very recently." Agreed, I very much doubt ones MP will get involved until at least the 10 weeks has elasped. Calender days are the *total* number of days since one submitted, therefore 45 days will be circa 5/6 weeks. But, that is an average as pointed out up thread, some passports will be issued quicker than that time frame and some longer. But, if one wants to take some comfort it does appear to be an improving situation, albeit slowly. I venture once the start of the school holidays has been reached in a couple of weeks time I would expect to see a noticable improvement in turn around times aross the board. From the outside looking in, it appears geneaally HMP0 have three strands/teams to applications: 1:- New applications: These are being dealt with quickly to prevent the backlog getting bigger. 2:- A team working through the backlog of applications from the 1st quarter of the year. 3:- A team working on the overseas applications.

"How do I contact them? " By eMail, but until one has hit at least the 6 week mark (most probably 10) with a confirmed travel booking it is unlikely it will be escalated - unless one has exceptional circumstances. But, good luck anyway.

@Foster Twelvetrees this was posted on here by a member a while ago and then they deleted - I had already copied text and sent to my husband - it seems to explain everything about what is going on: “I work in the civil service (not passports!) and when we have work items that exceed our target we know we’ve already failed on those. Our focus then is to stop anymore items from exceeding the target so newer items will be worked as priority and older stuff picked up as and when we can. I assume this is what the passport office is also doing. We also have new staff working brand new items so it has time to be worked and checked before reaching the target. Obviously not helpful for those over 10 weeks but maybe the reason why it’s not being worked in order and some people are getting a quick turnaround.”

@rabia1992 perhaps you should have paid the extra for faster processing.

I fast tracked mine but when I was applying for my kids they were no fast track appointments I was looking everyday all day for two weeks I thought I can’t keep doing this for another week or so il just apply online for the standard one and take it from there. I applied for my fast track last week my appointment is on the 1st of aug

"“I work in the civil service (not passports!) and when we have work items that exceed our target we know we’ve already failed on those. Our focus then is to stop anymore items from exceeding the target so newer items will be worked as priority and older stuff picked up as and when we can. I assume this is what the passport office is also doing. We also have new staff working brand new items so it has time to be worked and checked before reaching the target. Obviously not helpful for those over 10 weeks but maybe the reason why it’s not being worked in order and some people are getting a quick turnaround." I did'nt see that post, but it accords with the observations I posted up thread. It is similiar to what the Royal Mail do when they get a back log, they will let the new mail flow as per thier service level agreement and work on the backlog seperately. But thanks for posting.

I’m in the same boat - it is for my son’s renewal passport - application submitted 27 April - docs signed for on 29 April but logged on system on 4 May so over 10 weeks - flight this morning and so my son and I couldn’t go - my wife and daughter have gone on holiday - I’m flying from Birmingham to Belfast tomorrow as I’ve heard nothing and despite many many calls they didn’t do anything before my flight - I wish I’d known I could go to any office - so stressful with no-one on the advice line giving any practical advice…fingers crossed I can talk to someone tomorrow and I hope they don’t hold the fact that I’ve missed the flight against me as I don’t want to rebook until I have the passport in my hand! Hopefully fly on Tuesday

I got a call from upgrade team saying that they will process the application and I should receive it next week. Should I be excited or as anyone else had a call like this only to still not receive it?? 🤔

Etival, when did you get this call after doing what? How many weeks since application and when are you due to fly out of interest? Thanks.

@Brian27 I emailed the upgrade team last week because I'd hit the 10 week mark and got a call several days later to say it should be with me next week but I could be getting fobbed off. I'm sure I've heard other people being told a similar thing only for them to go back to square one.

Fingers crossed for you. I did the same last week and not heard anything yet. I also got a response from my mp Friday who apparently spoke to the home office and said its in progress and will speak to them again next week. We'll see. I have his email address now so will be bombarding him next week. When are you due to travel? Not due until 9th August but fed up with the shambles. My friend at work sent his off for a renewel last Tuesday. They received it Wednesday and on Friday he got a message saying his was approved and ready to print. So unfair!!

@brian27 Passport applications should have a turn around time of 2-3 weeks this waiting 10 weeks for a passport is a joke. The amount of stress people have to go to to get them, like traveling different parts of the UK to stand out side the office and que up for hours on end. ESP when your traveling in 48hours time. Does anyone know how I can get in contact with my MP? Im based in Manchester

Yep it is rediculous and they are messing with people's lives. I can't believe they are processing new applications before sorting out the queue. If you Google your local Borough and mp it will provide you with the contact details. That's what I did. Its not actually my mp that replied but a senior parliamentary assistant who works at the same office. I'm just glad someone replied. My next step would have been to ring them up.

Can you tell me the email addresses you emailed please? Thanks.

Did anyone receive there's without getting all the text messages to say it had been approved, printed etc.? I've been told I should get it next week but still not got any text messages- is it possible I could receive passport without any notifications or is that mot likely??

@Brian27 I emailed EscalatedService@hmpo.gov.uk and I also had an email address for upgrade team at Durham. What office has yours gone to?

Hi. Mine initially went to Newport but it is now in Durham. My application started 04 May. When I spoke to them last week on probably about my 15th phone call, the reason they gave for the delay is that around May the digital system was overloaded so mines been transferred to a manual application. Probably what has happened to all of the 10 week waiters. I haven't emailed that address so I'll give that a shot. Thanks.