Applications whilst locked down

I had a call from the passport Office yesterday about my application after I messaged them on Twitter. Standard renewals should be going through with minimal delays now. It’s more complex cases, like my renewal with a surname change due to marriage which requires manual intervention and checks which are still subject to delays. So those with standard renewals, you should be seeing movement. Those like me who have a name change or change in circumstance, it’s likely to be longer. My application has now been escalated with written evidence of a need for work purposes so I can start the new job, but has still not been Approved yet. Mine is over 8 weeks in the being processed stage. All I can do now is just wait and hope again.

Hi all, my application processed 24 March. Sent to Newport office. Since then no update. Its first Adult passport application. Anyone got passport or any news from Newport office? Thanks.

Dear All, I have been posting on this forum almost since it first started. Finally mine and my daughter's has been approved. Timeline below: Application history Application approved 2:37pm on 3 June 2020 Application being processed 8:09am on 23 March 2020 Documents received 3:30pm on 20 March 2020 Application received 6:37am on 15 March 2020 Application submitted 6:37am on 15 March 2020 It will be almost 3 months since I started the process. It would have taken even longer, however thanks to the recommendations from some posts in this forum I used twitter to express my case. When I tried the passport help line by telephone I was treated with complete disdain. As soon as they deduced that my application was from overseas they didn't want to listen to anything. The answer was simply WAIT! The irony is that it is the overseas applicants that on the "whole" (i know each case is different) probably require a quicker and more efficient service. Even prior to the covid guidlines there is no "express" services for applicants from overseas. Visa issues and ID checks all are standard procedures which come with the hassles of living abroad. It seems really unfair. May be the government look at it that citizens living abroad don't contribute as much economically. But if its a money thing just charge. It may feel like extortion to some but the service has to be better and the option must be there. This is actually the second time that the passport office has significantly delayed my application. On the previous occasion (spring/summer 2014) they took almost 4 months to send my sons passport who was newborn. In Dubai (where I live) it is illegal for newborns to not have a valid visa after 120 days from birth. Even then it would have taken longer still but we had to involve the local FCO and seek their guidelines. Its just so stressful when it comes to renewing/getting passports. Other countries even the so called "developing" ones it is a virtually hassle free process (even during this covid crisis). I know this because the company I work for has many employees from all over the world. Im sorry my post has been so long but I owe this forum, because of the relevant information I have been able to extract. I'm sure more better things can come from it and the passport office if they have any sense of self worth must be aware of the trends on social media. This can only be done by sharing as much as possible and creating discussion. Thank you

My application for a child's renewal has finally been approved after being on hold since start of april. Strangely 1 day after I chased on twitter!

I have been keeping an eye on this forum since i submitted my daughters first passport application. Current timeline is below. I had a moan on twitter but that hasn't got me anywhere. Just the standard reply saying that they can't give me a time frame as to when the application will be approved. Application history 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 This is being handled by the Peterborough office. Seems as if child first passports are being placed at the bottom in terms of priority.

My timeline Application approved 2:17pm on 4 June 2020 Documents received 12:54pm on 3 June 2020 Application received 8:40pm on 27 May 2020 Application submitted 8:39pm on 27 May 2020 Now just the excitement of seeing whether I get in burgundy or blue!

Got mine today! Standard replacement. Doc submitted 6.5.20, approved 01.06.20 and delivered today!

My standard renewal application to Peterborough is now completed: Application made: 28 April Old passport received at Peterborough: 29 April Application being processed: 12 May Application approved: 3 June Passport printed and sent: 4 June Obviously I have to wait for it to arrive now, but as far as I can see processing time has reduced to about three weeks. Once approved it seems to be by the next working day that the passport is printed and sent out. It would seem that another 2-3 days elapse before delivery.

Applied for my newborns first passport. Submitted to Peterborough office. Travel booked for early July so hopeful that the passport will be approved by then. Timeline so far: Application being processed 1 May 2020 Documents received. 24 April 2020 Application received. 18 April 2020 Identity details received 18 April 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 18 April 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 18 April 2020 Application submitted 18 April 2020

Well the kids passports were meant to be delivered today by TNT...they've only gone and delivered them elsewhere. TNT customer service don't seem to give a hoot. Been trawling through google street view to try and find the door to the house it was delivered to. Good luck getting a decent service from TNT their reviews are so shockingly poor.

Application for replacement passport Passport printed and sent 4 June 2020 Application approved 4 June 2020 Application being processed 29 May 2020 Identity details received 28 May 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 28 May 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 28 May 2020 Application submitted 28 May 2020

This application was fro two adult passport renewals. We visited the post office and paid the extra to have the check and send service, I was advised this would speed things up with the application. My renewal was straight forward, no name changes in the past. My wife also applied at the exact same time for an adult renewal. She has had two or three previous names changes in the past, not sure why this is why hers has only been marked as received? i was also informed that the reason the passports go to various locations, is in fact to do with what type of passport that is being applied for, 1st Passport, Child etc etc My Application history Passport received: 4th June 2020 Passport printed and sent:11:57am on 3 June 2020 Application approved 1:11pm on 2 June 2020 Documents received 1:10pm on 2 June 2020 Application received 2:20pm on 1 June 2020 Application submitted 2:20pm on 1 June 2020 My wifes application (as it stands at 22:45pm 04/06/20) Documents received 12:47 pm 3 June 2020 Application received 2:20 pm 1 June 2020 Application submitted 2:20 pm 1 June 2020

I have read previous posts of people using twitter to make contact with the passport office. Could anyone share the twitter handle that they have used to reach HMP offices? Been waiting since March and ‘processing’ since early May. Thanks in advance

This seems to be a shambles to me where some people are being dealt with within 'days' and others (like myself) have been waiting 3+ months, including 5 weeks in processing. Tried e-mailing HMPO but just received a generic response saying basically 'nothing' of any sense. Why can no one at the top of HMPO come out and just explain these inconsistencies and what is really going on. I am about to lose my Consultancy in Malaysia as cannot renew Employment Pass without valid Passport. May be Overseas Applications (I am living in Austria when not working in Malaysia) are put to the bottom of the pile and all new Applications are piled on top?

wow you must pay the super fast package to make your passport...got it within few days

you can request urgent application if you can provide evidence to HMPO

Hi, Just had my passport approved by Durham last night. Got the text at 9pm. Adult replacement (lost passport). Says they’ll text me when it’s ready to be dispatched. Good luck all. (I applied due to living abroad and having lost my passport - need to get back but currently residing in the U.K.) Application approved 9:00pm on 4 June 2020 Application being processed 2:27pm on 11 May 2020 Documents received 7:59am on 28 April 2020 Application received 5:12pm on 20 April 2020 Application submitted 5:11pm on 20 April 2020

Does anyone know if passports that have been printed and sent can be tracked through a courier? This information isn't apparent anywhere, including the Passport Office email that told me my new passport is on its way. I've found some references to TNT being involved but my application number (PAN) doesn't work on their tracking site. I'm not concerned - I'd just like to know which day it's going to come, and whether I need to be around to receive it. Has anyone else managed to track their delivery?

My application was sent to Durham. Here's my latest update. This is for an Adult renewal. Royal Mail confirmed the old passport was received to their office on 1st June. Documents received 12:41pm on 5 June 2020 Application received 1:31pm on 28 May 2020 Application submitted 1:31pm on 28 May 2020 (There was a Bank Holiday Monday which may have caused a slight delay).

Hi Grantham traveller, seems odd but have you tried using a space in your postcode. That's hie I got mine to show the tracking. The tracking doesn't show much though just when they scanned it into the hub and when the driver picked up then when he delivered. I found my kids passports in a village 5 miles away, good luck with delivery 😂😂

Hi, I have just been informed that my child's passport has been printed and sent. Does anyone know if the courier they use delivers on Saturday? Just wondering if we need to stay home all day tomorrow, or not. Thanks.

So pleased that people are starting to get their passports...gutted we've been waiting since 18th March and still havent heard anything. So incredibly frustrating.

Thanks hottoast but, yes, I put a space into my postcode along with my Passport Application Number. All I get on the TNT site is an error message, saying 'Error. We could not find what you were looking for'. I even emailed TNT and they said they had no record of anything at my postcode or under my PAN number. Which TNT link did you use for tracking? Did you just enter your postcode and the Passport Application Number? I don't know whether to panic or not; this has been stressful enough already. I thought it was all over, but instead I'm now freaking out. I also contacted the Passport Office to ask about tracking. I was asked to send a Twitter direct message which I did, but have had no reply. I tried telephoning but it diverted to their callback service, and no one has called back either.

I used the reference code on the text I received from TNT to track. They included a tracking link aswell. Our passports were printed and collected by TNT on the 2nd and I received a text late morning yesterday with the tracking link and ref number. So seems it takes 2 days for TNT to collect and put it out for delivery (in my case anyway)

It appears that HMPO are moving applications around... I sent my old passport for a renewal application to Durham, have now had a message back from HMPO on Twitter informing me that my application has been transferred to Liverpool (and I'm not hearing such good things about the Liverpool office either). It's interesting because I also sent a renewal application to Durham for my elderly aunt, and her application was approved seconds after they received the old passport. It baffles me why applications aren't just held at one office. It's not particularly urgent for me, I have no travel booked and the renewal was more because my last passport photo was from when I was 16 and I am now 23 and look nothing like that and was questioned on my identity at Australian customs last time I travelled.