Applications whilst locked down

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/passport-office-suspends-return-to-work-plans/

Interesting article. Looks as if it's accurate. They've now had nearly 6 weeks to prepare the offices to make them appropriate for social distancing, but I doubt they've done anything. I find this idea of "skeleton staff" very flimsy. Given many here are waiting for a renewal or replacement which takes no more than a week when these offices are processing normally, and those processes are now taking 8+ times longer, "2 metres apart" with "2 furlongs apart". Only explanation.

Received my new passport this morning so it’s taken Peterborough 11 weeks for a standard adult renewal. No news on the 3 first passports for the kids yet though..

@BlackpoolNurse - and I see from your earlier post that the date from which it was being processed is 27/3 - and what date was it "approved"? I'm trying to get a fairly accurate picture of processing times for Peterborough, and the "processing to approved" gap is probably the one which matters most for most in the thread. Thanks.

The last activity update I received from Newport was 3rd of April. The office is open but with very limited number of staff. The reasons that applications sent to Newport are processed slower than other offices is, firstly, that Newport is in Wales where the lockdown is still (wisely) enforced; secondly, Newport was hit by the virus worse than other cities with a passport office (some say it's because more test were taken there so the higher number of cases is because of that - but this doesn't change the fact that Newport had that number of infected residents).

@rjo the application changed to processing in 27/03 and was printed and sent on 25/06

Thanks @BlackpoolNurse. Extending this post with regards to success stories: Peterborough office: kc2000’s application timeline: Processing from 30/03/2020 Approved: 18/05/2020; This is exactly 7 weeks from processing to approved. Bb1212’s PETERBOROUGH application timeline: First passport after naturalisation Processing: 24/03/2020 Approved: 14/05/2020 This is 7 1/2 weeks from processing to approved. BlackpoolNurse's PETERBOROUGH application: Standard adult renewal Processing: 27/03/2020 Approved: 25/05/2020 This is 8 1/2 weeks from processing to approved. Note this had an extra bank holiday compared to the previous two. Trend from Peterborough suggesting current length between processing and approved for Peterborough is approx. 8 weeks.

Mine is a renewal with a name change after marriage and documents sent to Peterborough and turned to application processing on the 7th April. That make it 7 weeks and 2 days so maybe if mine goes to approved sometime in the next week or so, it will add support to that expected 8 week timeframe. I will keep you all updated!

Very odd processing time from the Durham office as of this morning (but very impressed!). This is for an adult renewal: Application Approved: 10:49 28 May 2020 Documents Received: 10:49 28 May 2020 Application Received: 15:59 21 May 2020 Application Submitted: 15:59 21 May 2020 The note above it says that the passport is about to be printed. This definitely isn't a usual timeline based on what I've seen on this forum. I have noticed that there was no "processing" step here, and I'm not convinced some overworked civil servant hasn't pressed a wrong button. Interesting because I submitted another application to Durham on 18 May and am now on the "application being processed" step (another adult renewal). For now, I'm going to assume that they've just turned it around really quickly!

I'm finding these inconsistencies completely and utterly bizarre. I feel as if we are owed an explanation for them from the HMPO.

@essex2020 That's crazy quick. I sent my sons children's passport renewal early April. Application history Application being processed 11:44am on 30 April 2020 Documents received 3:12pm on 17 April 2020 Application received 4:41pm on 9 April 2020 Application submitted 4:15pm on 9 April 2020

@gingerling yeah it's completely strange! Annoyingly it's not my own passport! Fingers crossed they'll get it processed soon, what office did you send yours to?

@rjo , I completely agree, the inconsistencies even within the same office are staggering... but their excuse will only be that these are unprecedented times and everything is up in the air in terms of processing times. As I said, I fear there's been a mistake in my case because it just doesn't sit right with me!

I’m finding these inconsistencies completely and utterly bizarre. I feel as if we are owed an explanation for them from the HMPO.

Applications are dumped on arrival into a massive bin > newer applications naturally fall on top of the applications previously dumped into the bin > worker reaches into said bin and grabs one. Mystery solved. Unless someone has a better explanation for why someone applying to Durham would already have their passport application approved when they applied weeks and weeks after me... then I'd say this is a good an explanation as any.

Grantham Traveller - Both were sent to the Glasgow office.

The inconsistencies could probably be found out through a Freedom of Information request... I genuinely feel as if there has been a clerical error in my case though, it just makes no sense whatsoever.

^ Nah, you're just so good-lookin' that they saw your passport and stamped approved.

Hello Guys, Yesterday morning I finally received an email from the Home Office about my application that is now approved. I would like to share my experience with you. I really hope it helps: FIRST PASSPORT APPLICATION after NATURALISATION in February Passport printed and sent 2:38pm on 28 May 2020 Application approved 9:43am on 28 May 2020 Application being processed 11:22am on 27 March 2020 Documents received 8:09am on 26 March 2020 Application received 10:26pm on 18 March 2020 Identity details received 10:26pm on 18 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:48pm on 18 March 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:00pm on 16 March 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:54pm on 15 March 2020 Application submitted 8:54pm on 15 March 2020 Good Luck to all of you

Received another e-mail yesterday from the Passport Office saying do not bother calling us as no info available. Today is my 29th Day in 'process' in the Liverpool Office. Hopefully once the Reds win the league, turnaround times will improve. The inconsistencies are very annoying.

Does anyone have any experience of sending a 1st child passport to Durham? I applied 13th May, Docs received 22nd May Application being processed 28th May I'm wondering how long it should take? We are due to travel on 21st July, I dont think it will be cancelled but I'm frightened the passport wont be ready!

@Luca - which office did you send your documents to? Thanks.

Finally!!! Child renewal sent to Newport Application approved 7:59pm on 28 May 2020 Application being processed 1:20pm on 24 March 2020 Documents received 11:01am on 24 March 2020 Application received 2:10pm on 21 March 2020 Application submitted 2:10pm on 21 March 2020

UPDATE from my Peterborough application: Passport replacement for damaged passport: Processing: 06/04/2020 Approved: 29/05/2020 This is 7 weeks and 5 days from processing to approved Adding to the below post regarding success stories from Peterborough, that is consistent with the 8 weeks from processed to approved. Good luck everyone. Peterborough office: kc2000’s application timeline: Processing from 30/03/2020 Approved: 18/05/2020; This is exactly 7 weeks from processing to approved. Bb1212’s PETERBOROUGH application timeline: First passport after naturalisation Processing: 24/03/2020 Approved: 14/05/2020 This is 7 1/2 weeks from processing to approved. BlackpoolNurse’s PETERBOROUGH application: Standard adult renewal Processing: 27/03/2020 Approved: 25/05/2020 This is 8 1/2 weeks from processing to approved. Note this had an extra bank holiday compared to the previous two. Trend from Peterborough suggesting current length between processing and approved for Peterborough is approx. 8 weeks.

I got an approved email From Peterborough for my child’s renewal today as well. Application submitted online 14th April Documents received 20th April Application processing 5th May Application approved 29th May

Rjo - your application went to processing the day before mine at Peterborough so I will keep everyone updated as to if mine gets approved in the next few days