Applications whilst locked down

To those asking about the new passports, I can say only this: mine is the new blue one. Its internal design is significantly different from the red one. The old title page has been replaced with a new type bearing the holder's photograph, the number and a 50p-shaped 19-20mm wide hexagonal laminated window that shows your picture on page 3 behind (see below). At the top is a hexagonal outline with the title 'Series 3' in it. Page 2, the back of the title page, has all your details on it with main photograph and machine-readable strip as before. The main photograph is now 34 by 43 mm. In the old red passports it was 32 x 40 mm. The title page with page 2 is much thicker and more rigid than in the old red passport (even more so than the cover). They're covered with heavy laminate and on p. 2 this is embossed with the large letters UK and various parallel elliptical lines, as well as other features designed to resist forgery or alteration. There is also a tiny panel with your photograph once again and your birthdate printed over this little picture. This laminate bothers me. It's so firm I can see it beginning to lift with age or if the edge of the page gets damaged. Keep an eye on that. Page 3 is for official observations as before and is normal paper. It features a smaller colour version of your photograph in much better resolution than in the old ones, and this is the page that you physically sign on receipt (your signature used to appear on p. 2). So I find it hard to believe the Passport Office will be issuing such different types side by side. Surely they'll be only the new ones? The new type is clearly far more secure, or is intended to be.

3 months burnt! Application history Photo rejected 9:40am on 12 June 2020 Application being processed 3:08pm on 18 March 2020 Documents received 11:44am on 18 March 2020 Application received 9:22am on 14 March 2020 Identity details received 9:22am on 14 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:13am on 14 March 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:08am on 14 March 2020 Application submitted 9:08am on 14 March 2020

How can they reject the application because of the picture/photo? Before a picture can be accepted, you upload it and it shows you on the graph/meter whether the image is suitable or not.

is had 'good' and a tick but they have said there upon review the background is grainy... now im panicking the latest photo will take 3 months to review and it'll be rejected again.

Bloody heck, so basically the system in place to verify the quality of the photo is not ideal then if that is what they have told you. I can't remember which level my photo was marked as. I hope they don't turn around and reject the application because of the picture. That would be really disappointing.

First adult passport after naturalisation Application history Passport colour: Burgundy Documents Received: 10:30am on 12 June 2020 (Via TNT through letter box Passport Received: 10:30am on 12 June 2020 (Via TNT through letter box) Passport printed and sent: 10:44am on 10 June 2020 Application approved :10:11 am on 10 June 2020 Evidence sent for proof of urgency: 12:00pm on 8 June 2020 Application being processed: 8:21am on 4 May 2020 Documents received: 10:44am on 27 March 2020 Application received:3:05pm on 25 March 2020 Identity details received: 3:05pm on 25 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity: 2:17pm on 25 March 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity: 1:35pm on 25 March 2020 Application submitted: 1:35pm on 25 March 2020

This was for an adult renewal which went to Peterborough: Application history TNT tried to deliver on 10th June and actually delivered on 12th June (today) Blue passport received Passport printed and sent 3:08pm on 8 June 2020 Application approved 9:14am on 8 June 2020 Documents received 9:58am on 5 June 2020 (I posted the passport on 2nd June and it was signed for on 3rd June) Application received 8:58am on 2 June 2020 Application submitted 8:57am on 2 June 2020 This is for a child renewal which went to Durham: Application history Application being processed 8:52am on 10 June 2020 Documents received 3:11pm on 9 June 2020 (I posted the old passport on 2nd June and it was signed for on 3rd Jne) Application received 9:58am on 2 June 2020 Identity details received 9:58am on 2 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:50am on 2 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:47am on 2 June 2020 Application submitted 9:47am on 2 June 2020

Applied online for an adult renewal on sat 6th June Application acknowledged immediately Posted passport to DURHAM mon 8th june Was signed for 9am on tues 9th Jun Sent recorded delivery not the £6 express delivery. The passport office have not acknowledged receipt yet I'm not concerned as i got plenty of time till Holiday booked in September just wondered if I needed to keep checking online or when reciept gets acknowledged will they update me by text e-mail etc. Also do they update me every time it moves to the next stage or do I have to look. Got to say some of the turnaround times here are a lot quicker than I expected in these awful times It does seem like straightforward renewals get through quicker than the more complicated ones. This is a great site and I started out this morning wondering if my holiday would happen but now I'm fairly sure barring a picture rejection ( which seems rare ) or some other hiccup it shouldn't be the passport that throws a spanner in the works fingers crossed. Will update progress once passport receipts acknowledged by Durham office Thanks for all the info everyone keep safe roger

Liverpool office is the worst for sure looking at this forum. Whilst good to see things age moving, seeing other peoples receiving passports significantly quicker is infuriating... Id love to see the system - I have images in my head of hundreds of passports in a lottery style machine, spinning and spinning until it ejects the one lucky passport for that day... Application being processed 4th May 11.22am 40 Days ago Documents Received 27th March 10.20am 77 Days ago Application Received 20th March 8.02am 84 Days ago Application Submitted 20th March 8.02am 84 Days ago

Children passport renewal: Documents received 4:30pm on 10 June 2020 Documents sent 1:30 on 5 June 2020 Application received 4:14pm on 4 June 2020 Identity details received 4:14pm on 4 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:07pm on 4 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:01pm on 4 June 2020 Application submitted 4:01pm on 4 June 2020

Finally received mine and daughter's passport after exactly 3 months since applying around mid March. Just simple renewals. Its crazy the seasons have changed to get the passport. After all that the color is Burgundy (Was hoping it would be blue) A few issues with DHL but was resolved very easily. Once the application is "approved," things just proceed as you imagine it would, quite smoothly. Until then though the uncertainty is unbearable!! It should not be like that even amidst the covid crisis. If your going to take 2/3/4/5 months for a passport you should make it more transparent. I didn't mind waiting provided it was for a finite period of time. The uncertainty I just couldn't take it. Old passports should be on their way by middle of coming week (god willing). Which will bring this saga to an end.

Glasgow office Child renewal Lets see how long it takes to print and send out. Any thoughts? Application approved9:06pm on 12 June 2020 Application being processed12:46pm on 22 May 2020 Documents received10:24am on 22 May 2020 Application received10:48am on 19 May 2020 Identity details received10:48am on 19 May 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity10:43am on 19 May 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity10:38am on 19 May 2020 Application submitted10:38am on 19 May 2020

Are the staff returning to work tomorrow? Since everything is reopening. Also has anyone who applied by post received their passports?

I just found this website. It details the reopening of certain Visa Application Centres in the UK and overseas. The next key date seems to be 22 June. This will be of interest especially go people who have applied for UK passports overseas and whose applications were suspended in March (like for example my baby grandson in Vietnanm, whose application has been on ice since March along with all his identity documents stuck in Durham): https://www.withersworldwide.com/en-gb/insight/the-phased-re-opening-of-uk-visa-application-centres-what-you-need-to-know

Check this out! Standard adult renewal: Application history: Passport printed and sent 12:00pm on 15 June 2020 Application approved 1:48pm on 12 June 2020 Documents received 12:39pm on 11 June 2020 Application received 10:57pm on 7 June 2020 Application submitted 10:56pm on 7 June 2020 I live in Herts, but this was processed through the Glasgow office. They are clearly well organised in this office...

Adult renewal at Durham Application approved 3:19pm on 15 June 2020 Documents received 8:59am on 15 June 2020 Application received 3:30pm on 5 June 2020 Application submitted 3:30pm on 5 June 2020 I sent the old passport on 5 June. Confirmed delivery by royal mail on 8 june. Took them a week to link the passport to the application!

@JaMoUsE 3 months burnt! Application history Photo rejected 9:40am on 12 June 2020 Application being processed 3:08pm on 18 March 2020 Documents received 11:44am on 18 March 2020 Application received 9:22am on 14 March 2020 Identity details received 9:22am on 14 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:13am on 14 March 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:08am on 14 March 2020 Application submitted 9:08am on 14 March 2020

Your application won't go to the back of the queue. Source: https://twitter.com/HM_Passport/status/1272503269387108356?s=19

It looks like the applications are being dealt with quicker, fingers crossed we see loads of successful applications this month!

Cheers. Haven't heard back since I uploaded the new image on Saturday but hopefully hear back soon.

They really need to sort that AI image checker when you upload it, telling you that it is not fine there will save a load of stress and make life much simpler! The Home Office - where they never do anything the easy way.

2nd child renewal with name change just been approved. Had an email yesterday requesting a scan copy of her birth certificate which was not originally requested but provided email address to send. Dealt with by Durham: Application history Application approved 9:38am on 16 June 2020 Application being processed 12:25pm on 14 May 2020 Documents received 3:10pm on 13 May 2020 Application received 1:48pm on 6 May 2020 Application submitted 1:48pm on 6 May 2020

Hurray! Just got the e-mail to say application approved. Peterborough Passport Office. Child renewal. Digital application and own photo following guidelines submitted online. Application history Application approved 11:45am on 16 June 2020 Application being processed 11:43am on 28 May 2020 Documents received 9:34am on 22 May 2020 Application received 10:18pm on 14 May 2020 Identity details received 10:18pm on 14 May 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:02pm on 14 May 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:55pm on 14 May 2020 Application submitted 5:55pm on 14 May 2020

Finally had my daughters first child passport approved this morning by the Peterborough office. Application history Application approved 10:32am on 16 June 2020 Application being processed 11:22am on 8 April 2020 Documents received 8:01am on 8 April 2020 Application received 9:46pm on 23 March 2020 Identity details received 9:46pm on 23 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:03pm on 21 March 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:13am on 21 March 2020 Application submitted 11:13am on 21 March 2020

Passport was posted on 10th June, still not received. I have had my old passport posted back. I've DM'd them on Twitter. Just when I thought I was going very quickly.....

Passport printed and sent 10:12am on 17 June 2020 Application approved 3:19pm on 15 June 2020 Documents received 8:59am on 15 June 2020 Application received 3:30pm on 5 June 2020 Application submitted 3:30pm on 5 June 2020 Adult renewal at Durham. Just waiting to receive new and old passports now!