Applications whilst locked down

Well I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence (probably not) but after calling yesterday and still waiting for a callback from complaints, my husband and my adult renewals, and our baby’s first passport have just been approved! This is our progress up to now: Application approved 10:01am on 14 July 2020 (Phone call to ask for complaints callback 13th July) Application being processed 7:44am on 25 June 2020 Documents received 12:35pm on 23 June 2020 (but signed for 16th June) Application received 7:05pm on 12 June 2020 Application submitted 7:05pm on 12 June 2020 Not celebrating until they’re in our hands but thanks to all for your support and advice. Wishing everyone still waiting the best of luck!

Finally got my approval! This was a first adult passport application from overseas (USA) sent to the Durham office. Full timeline below (Added a few additional items): Application approved 8:50am on 14 July 2020 Additional documentation signed for 2 July 2020 Additional documentation posted 30 June 2020 Email requesting additional documentation 26 June 2020 Application being processed 7:35am on 26 May 2020 Documents received 11:12am on 22 May 2020 Documents signed for 18 May 2020 Posted documents 15 May 2020 Application received 7:13pm on 14 May 2020 Identity details received 7:13pm on 14 May 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:33pm on 14 May 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:28pm on 14 May 2020 Application submitted 5:28pm on 14 May 2020 Does anyone know how long it takes to post overseas? They use DHL right? Just worried I won't be in when it gets here as I'll be away from 15-20 July. Also did not need an interview for a first UK passport (never had one before - only a USA one). Pretty happy this only took 2 months given the circumstances - good luck everyone!

My adult renewal, done at Durham, was applied for on 20 June, approved on Thursday 9 July, and was received today (blue). My son's first passport (child) was approved today at Peterborough, so should come in the next week or so. Applied at the same time. Thankfully, we do not go away until mid-August (family wedding), but I had put off applying (when I finally realised it may actually be going ahead) due to the message on the passport office website. I was concerned if left it too late, but actually, things seem much better than they were a few weeks ago. We did the online application with mobile phone photos with no problems.

So an update from last week. (Application submitted and received on Monday 6th July, passport delivered on Tuesday 7th July, nothing heard since) Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th - Sent various tweets and emails (including to my MP) Monday 13th July - Nothing Tuesday 14th July - Nothing Tuesday 14th July - 3pm called the passport advice line (0300 222 0000) and asked to make a complaint. Spoke to a really helpful man who took my details and said that he would follow up my application with Durham. I also had to email him proof that my travel plans had been booked before March (they were booked in January) 2020. Waiting anxiously, but trying to remain hopeful @Mattw11 your experience gives me hope.

I done the same and spoke to a Paul in complaints Friday all 4 passports prossessed and posted since then

Can anyone help me? I applied end of may for 2 child renewals. After lots of chasing and tweets and finally contacting my MP they got changed to passport is on its way on Saturday. The complaints department gave me a call back today(from Tuesday)and told me it’s been sent I explained that I have had no message to give tracking with TNT she then put me on hold and came back with two tracking numbers. I checked them and they are not showing up, the passport office basically then washed their hands of it as she said as far as she could see they had been sent. I then spent nearly two hours trying to get through to TNT with no luck. The numbers are still not tracking and I’m at my wits end as we are due to fly to Spain on wed to see my poorly father in law who has not seen anyone since Spain locked down in March. I really just don’t know where to go from here. Do TNT always send a message/tracking info etc or will they just randomly turn up?

@jennylee I had my daughter’s renewal listed as sent 09/07, received on 13/07 with no tracking given. Hopefully yours will be the same. I’m now going through the same with my son’s adult renewal

I’m waiting on mine posted Saturday should be here tommorow same No tracking info

Ive applied for x2 new children's passports. I posted them at the post office on 6th July & haven't heard anything back yet. Has anyone posted theirs around this date and received confirmation of receipt? Panicking as we are due to go abroad mid August.

Can take 14 odd days to even acknowledge that they have received them on the system

Not looking hopeful then! What a shambles

Any idea of how long a renewal passport will take. I was given a link from HM Passport Office Via email, due to my situation being urgent. Just wondered if anyone else on here was granted that link? And how long it took for the application to be processed. Thanks

Any idea of how long a renewal passport will take. I was given a link from HM Passport Office Via email, due to my situation being urgent. Just wondered if anyone else on here was granted that link? And how long it took for the application to be processed. Thanks

Hello I just wondered if anyone had changed which passport office their passport went to? I just rang up to chase something and they said the Peterborough office were dealing with it even though I sent it to Durham. This is my current timeline for a child renewal: Application being processed: 15 July Documents received: 11 July Documents signed for: 1 July Application received: 29 June Identity details received: 29 June Email sent to person confirming your identity: 27 June Ask someone to confirm your identity: 27 June Application submitted: 27 June We need the passport back by 5th August for travel to see my parents so I’m just crossing everything in the hope they will be back

Yes all Four of mine did

Thanks James. I was just worried why they would change it. Hopefully Peterborough will be a bit quicker thank Durham!

Our passport has been approved, printed and sent out today! Yay!

Our time line Passport printed and sent 9:57am on 15 July 2020 Application approved 8:32am on 15 July 2020 Application being processed 12:18pm on 13 July 2020 Documents received 5:57pm on 8 July 2020 Application received 12:51pm on 29 June 2020 Application submitted 12:50pm on 29 June 2020

Hi I sent of my passports 2 days ago for 2 child’s renewals and 1 adults lost. I go away on the 16th August what do you think the likeness is that I will be able to go? Also for everyone showing there timeline how do you find this? Thank :)

Submitting our timeline as I was frantically reading these two weeks ago when it suddenly looked like our holiday was going ahead after all and we realised one of the passports had expired. (Travel insurance won't cover if there are no restrictions.) Child renewal Submitted online 2/7/20 18:08 ID confirmed 2/7/20 18:42 Old passport sent overnight delivery 3/7/20, received Durham 6/7/20 (Royal Mail signed) Old passport received according to HMPO 8/7/20 13:08 Application and photo approved 9/7/20 19:48 Passport printed and dispatched 13/7/20 Passport posted through letterbox 15/7/20 Very quick turnaround. We did not chase and there was no urgent option for travel before September option at the time we submitted, so we just put in a normal application. Every text along the way warned of longer than usual processing times, but we did not experience them. I hope everyone else is as lucky!

Has anyone else had a long delay from receiving the printed and sent message to the actual TNT text and receipt? We had two applications in Peterborough, submitted 29th May approved 7th July printed and sent 8th July For the child’s passport we received the TNT text and passport on 10th July, the adult renewal has been radio silence since being printed and sent on 8th. The missing one was actually set to sent/print about 8 hours earlier than the one we’ve received?!

Great experience for a first child passport via the Peterborough office. Go away in a week, so just in time. Best thing that helped was going through Twitter. I told them the date we leave to go away and they put a case note on the application. From then on, we were home and dry. Good luck to all. Application history Received - 15 July 2020 Passport printed and sent 3:04pm on 13 July 2020 Application approved 5:24pm on 10 July 2020 Application being processed 2:03pm on 6 July 2020 Documents received 3:20pm on 30 June 2020 Application received 3:17pm on 20 June 2020 Identity details received 3:16pm on 20 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:07pm on 20 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:35am on 20 June 2020 Application submitted 10:35am on 20 June 2020

@GeorginaSJS my passport was delivered on 7th July and it is still not showing on the HM Passport system, I haven't had any update that from their side that they have it (even though I know it is there). Every time I speak to them via email, phone or twitter they say that it can take 2 - 3 weeks to even get the passport on the system. That means that for 2 - 3 weeks our old passports are sat in their offices doing nothing whilst we are anxiously waiting. I understand the COVID restrictions and social distancing, but I am a secondary teacher still teaching classes of 15 Year 10 students facing risks. I think the least they could do would be to bring in temporary staff to help clear the backlog of passport applications.

@emma123 did you apply on Monday 13th July? I think that you might be alright for 16th August if you're lucky, the average time now for an adult passport renewal is 23 days (not sure about child's). If you're worried and you booked your holiday before 23 March 2020 (and can send proof) you can call complaints and ask them to expedite your application. It might help. You should be receiving emails and/or texts with your timeline. I just typed them out from there.

Yes the 13th July I sent them. I haven’t received any text or email yet. And the holiday was booked last year for may 2020 but we couldn’t go because of coronavirus so we moved the dates to August so if you look at my booking now it looks like i booked it in may as that’s when it got changed.