Belfast

I'm the same as you. we are currently being processed - date was 11th March, no further updates. We have had to cancel our holiday... we were due to fly on 29th March :-(

Bless you, I'm giving up hope. Tried calling them today but was a waste of time. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Belfast: Passport printed 9:13pm on 18 March 2022 Application approved 12:26pm on 16 March 2022 Application being processed 1:34pm on 14 March 2022 Documents received 11:33am on 24 February 2022 Application received 9:18am on 14 February 2022 Special note: The only reason our application was approved so soon after processing is because I basically begged the urgent and compassionate team at the Belfast office. I got their email address from someone at the passport advice line. I explained our situation. They responded within 2 hours and also said we don’t qualify for being expedited: “Thank you for your e-mail. Sadly this situation does not fall within the urgent and compassionate criteria to have _____’s passport issued urgently. Though as _____’s application is awaiting examination, I will have it lifted and referred to an examiner to process today via the normal service.” It was approved the same day! I do think it’s important to note that our situation was unique. If we didn’t receive my daugther’s passport in time, I was going to be separated from her since I had to leave the UK before the end of my visa. If you have a difficult situation requiring you to travel, it does seem worthwhile to email the urgent and compassionate team to at least get it on their radar.

Anyone got any recent updates or waiting times for Belfast office? This waiting game is horrible.

Bmor84 not sure to be honest. I'm interested too. Mines been in processing since 01/03.....application submitted 26/02. Been waiting for a call back since Monday.

Well our latest update was processing since 24th Feb Approved yesterday. Got a customer service email saying it was also printed 29th however I've not had the official email to say its been printed or passed for delivery. Good to know they are getting through them. I was informed in a call to them that their processing countdown starts when it shows as in processing and that they are meeting their advertised timescales, my daughters renewal approved 2 days prior to the 5 week target. It doesn't account for them receiving documents, waiting for print and delivery etc. They aim to have them all delivered within 10 weeks. My advice unless you want to stress about trips is if you have travel booked consider priority services. Feel like I'm almost there now though, my main concern was being asked to send more documents and having further delays but thankfully once they got to it, it was straight forward. Good luck all

Thanks for the update. Pleased yours is sorted now 😀. Mine is a lost passport renewal so no documents. I reported it lost on 26/02 submitted my application (managed to let me without the reference number) it's been in processing since 01/03 with no movement. I didnt gwt ref no until 15/03. When i called on Monday the lady was gonna pass the ref no to processing and hopefully that should push it along (was a bad line though so not sure she heard properly) as my sons is through the digital route (1st child). Also a call back, which im still waiting for. His has now been approved. We travel on 13th so stressing as a lot have been/are. Its the extra days for print/delivery that concerns me also. Have you received the official email/and or passport yet?

Mine went through digital, daughters didn't, hers was renewal. They had docs from 23/2, processing from 24/2. Got approval email 29/3 still waiting for print and send but presuming about a week from what I've been reading. Will be cutting it fine but there's hope yet. Live about 7 mile from Durham, trust the renewal to be Belfast.

Yeah theres still hope i keep telling myself. Haha I'm the same bit further than 7 miles from Durham but in the North East too. Its a strange system. Fingers crossed it won't be long based on your daughters timeline. Will give them a call later or tomorrow to be sure they have the reference so it can be good to go. Thanks

Been processing since the 10th March, have been told that all the checks was done and completed by 16th (while in the Glasgow office for another passport), and still not been posted. If it's not posted today, it fails to meet the 10 weeks.

Anyone any further updates regarding Belfast office. I have one child renewal there. Hoping it approves quickly.

Current progress.. Slow.. Application history StatusDate Application being processed 1:10pm on 4 April 2022 Documents received 11:26am on 31 March 2022 Application received 10:50am on 29 March 2022 Application submitted 10:49am on 29 March 2022

Has any one had there passport back from Belfast before the ten weeks ? X

Im approaching 9 weeks, due to fly Monday. Promised call back but could be up until 48 hours before flight.

Has anyone had any joy with call backs from upgrade team in final 2 weeks before flight, I have seen a few success stories on twitter but others promised call back and didn't receive and missed flights?

Application history Status Date Application being processed 9:26am on 16 May 2022 Documents received 2:30pm on 13 May 2022 Application received 7:27pm on 2 May 2022 Application submitted 7:26pm on 2 May 2022

they took a week to confirm they received my old passport from when it was signed for.

Hi I’m waiting for my daughter’s renewal passport to come back from Belfast. I sent it on April 26th and it’s still in ‘processing’ stage. My renewal went to Newport and was back in 2 weeks. Why is Belfast so slow?? Does anyone have experience of child renewal from Belfast? Thanks

We're the same xantherob. Child renewal has been processing at Belfast since 5th May yet adult Renewal processed at Durham sent the same day was complete and delivered within 3 weeks.

Hi again, any luck? Just checked and we’re still being processed… bit worrying to see there are some people there saying they’ve been at that stage since early March! I don’t think we’re going to get away in early July at this rate.

My application has went backwords! it's went from this Application history Status Date Application being processed 9:26am on 16 May 2022 Documents received 2:30pm on 13 May 2022 Application received 7:27pm on 2 May 2022 Application submitted 7:26pm on 2 May 2022 To this Application history StatusDate Documents received 2:30pm on 13 May 2022 Application received 7:27pm on 2 May 2022 Application submitted 7:26pm on 2 May 2022 The Application being processed 9:26am on 16 May 2022 now missing

My daughter’s application has also gone backwards! Now saying ‘old passport received’ rather than ‘processing’. Maybe the system has gone down? It doesn’t fill you with confidence, does it???

Anyone got the email address for the Belfast office?

Hi I’ve got the email for the upgrade team. It’s: Belfastupgradeteam@hmpo.gov.uk But they won’t upgrade your application until you’ve been waiting at least 6 weeks and your flight is within 2 weeks or less.

Thank you very much for that.