Change of name with passport renewal timeline

Hi, I recently submitted an renewal application for a name change. I posted it off on the 3rd March, Royal Mail delivered 4th March, but it didn't get marked as "Document Received" until the 21st. I've also been stuck on that since. It's ridiculous, I just saw today someone on here who got their first child passport approved and timeline looked very similar to yours (definitely submitted later than mine). I'm happy for them of course, it just seems the Peterborough office has no order in which they process the applications.

In my experience two separate “we have received your documents” messages means they have done an internal transfer of your application to another passport office. That is what happened with mine. When I applied the average time was three weeks, today is nine weeks exactly since I applied and I still don’t have my passport - it is due for delivery today.

Hey. The two separate ‘we have received you documents’ means that they have had to send your docs to a different office. After many many calls this week I finally found out that my documents were sent to Liverpool but my application is being processed in Glasgow. I applied on the 14th Feb and it’s still saying ‘in progress’ I was told it is with an examiner but they said it could still take weeks, we are due to go on honeymoon in a few weeks so just feel ill about it all. I was told the weeks start from the day you apply but I don’t really trust what’s been told to me Iv spoken to several different people who have all said different things!

Thanks all for the information. Does anyone know why they would send it to a different passport office? I sent it to the office they told me too (Bootle). It’s so frustrating that there is just zero information on all this. The second “documents received” notification doesn’t appear on the tracking even though I got the text a second time.

Actually I just checked tracking again just now and as of this morning it now says processing (didn’t get a text or email for this update though). I guess that’s something but still frustrating it took almost 5 weeks to get to the “processing” stage! So glad this only needs to be done every 10 years!

@nikki1075 just wondering how you are getting on with your application? I have also just received a 2nd documents received text (2 weeks after the initial one), also for a name change renewal. We are due to fly in 5 weeks so getting nervous that this will mean we've been sent right to the back of the queue.

Application history StatusDate Application being processed 12:21pm on 17 March 2022 Documents received 3:13pm on 15 March 2022 Application received 8:46am on 6 March 2022 Identity details received 8:45am on 6 March 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:24am on 6 March 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:21am on 6 March 2022 Application submitted 8:21am on 6 March 2022 Mine is still processing

I am happy to confirm we received your passport application at our Durham office on 17 March 2022 and it is currently waiting to be checked. All correctly completed applications are being processed within the timescales of the service you applied for, which is approximately 10 weeks for a replacement application. This was a reply to an email I sent asking why it was still in processing nearly a month later….I sent my documents to Glasgow but now in Durham

@diad-em I’m still waiting for approval. It changed to processing on 8th April but hasn’t been approved yet 🙄 it’s been 5.5 weeks now since I submitted the application

@max1978 Did you need someone to confirm your identity because of a name change? I wasn’t asked to do any of that as part of my application but now I’m wondering if I should have!

Mine was also a renewal to replace lost passport on old surname

@nikki1075 did you find out why you got the "Document Received" text twice in the end? I also got a 2nd "Document Received" text a couple of weeks after the 1st one, but after numerous calls they still seem to think my application is with Peterborough.

@nikki1075 hoping it won't be too much longer for you. Mine's gone into the dreaded processing stage today so I am hoping I will be eligible for upgrade 2 weeks before or I won't be going - can't see it being processed and delivered in less than 5 weeks looking at other people's timelines.

@ndl.alex0608 No I never found out. I’m guessing it’s the same reason other people said but I never called to ask what’s going on.

@diad-em That’s some progress! Unfortunately mine is still in the processing stage since 8th April but I guess the bank holidays slowed them down a little. Not sure how long other people had to wait for the processing stage to be completed. It’s so frustrating knowing nothing - especially when they don’t even meet their own 5 week turn around time 🙄 it’s been over 6 weeks for me now. I plan to call them at 10 weeks if I still don’t have it because they say to allow up to 10 weeks.

My 10 weeks from application takes me up until the day before we fly 🙈 but now I've also read it can be 10 weeks from the processing stage. I so wish I had found this forum before I sent my standard application as i would have just gone fast track, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Thank you for your email about your passport application. Our standard passport application is a non guaranteed service, however our estimated 10 week timescale is from when all supporting documents are scanned onto your application. Non guaranteed & 10 weeks when All documents received. I’m assuming that means if any further documents needed it this will restart the 10 weeks

My horrendous timeline... Should I action it somehow? I can't believe it's taking so long... Application being processed: 10:28am on 11 March 2022 Documents received: 11:38am on 1 March 2022 Application received: 8:57am on 17 February 2022 Application Submitted: 8:57am on 17 February 2022

@chelsey Tbh I would call or contact them through their contact form online. I don’t know if it’ll do anything but you might be able to get some kind of update. It’s been 8 weeks since they received your documents! That’s crazy it hasn’t been approved yet! Sorry it’s taking so long. It’s so disheartening when you see other people getting approved that applied after you 😭

@chelsey I would definitely be chasing if i were you. I'm going to try to call over the next couple of days to see where my application is being processed. I want to be ready to send an upgrade request as soon as I possibly can. I have read that people have been asked for further documentation weeks/months down the line which would make it very difficult or even impossible to upgrade if they are phoning 1-2 days before travel. It's a joke!

Hello, @chelsey I would definitely try to chase it - it's worth a call for sure. Some other people on here have had their MPs involved which could be an idea if you can't get through to anyone. I hope everything gets sorted sooner rather than later for you! For reference, this is my timeline for the glasgow office (changing maiden name to married name). Passport printed 5:04pm on 26 April 2022 Application approved 2:57pm on 24 April 2022 Documents received 8:24am on 21 April 2022 Application received 10:05pm on 11 April 2022 Application submitted 10:05pm on 11 April 2022 I read the guides for employees on the HMPO website and found out that the digitally approved ones go through a digital system with more basic checks whereas ones that are more complex cases e.g. need different documents go through manual checking which is the processing stage. Might be worth having a read through the online guides to see if you can find anymore information about how your specific application is being handled?

@max1978 How long did it take them to reply to your email? I sent an online request for information on Thursday and they say they’ll get back to you in 72 hours. It’s been a week now and still nothing 🙄 I can’t even get through to anyone on the phone. They just hang up because all the agents are busy. Doesn’t even give the option to stay on hold 😭

A positive story for name change and renewal if anyone needs one - I just got my passport in just under 3 weeks from online application to delivery. I had to send my documents to the Peterborough office. This was the timeline: Application submitted 10 April Application received 10 April Documents received 20 April Application approved 24 April Delivered 29 April Not sure why I got so lucky when loads of other people are waiting ages for straightforward renewals with no change, but it can happen! Good luck to all of you still waiting.

my partner is same, renewal and name change as getting married 11th June and fly 13th, done online and sent everything off early March (with my 2 year olds new application) was signed for but not put on tracker til early April, son’s passport (and docs sent) received weeks ago so panicking on hers as already 9 weeks since sent and still pending 😳 can do upgrade service at start of jubilee week, if they can match up pd2 form etc!

Just adding my experience, I applied for renewal with name change in March. I travel on 11 June. I just received “application being processed” yesterday which I assume from what I read here means it’s going through manual checks. Every time I call passport office for an update they have no idea and requesting a callback never happens. Apparently I can request a fast track two weeks before travel but based on my current experience I’m not feeling too confident about that one. Application history StatusDate Application being processed 4:47pm on 4 May 2022 Documents received 3:41pm on 4 April 2022 Application received 12:55am on 4 March 2022 Application submitted 12:54am on 4 March 2022