Durham

8 weeks is rubbish I had mine escalated after 2 weeks

My saga is finally over, timelines below. Mine was an Adult Renewal from abroad, the USA in my case. I chased a bunch of times but they never thought my desperate pleas to escalate it, with my passport being only proof of legal immigration, was important enough. Passport delivered 18 August 2020 Passport printed and sent 13 August 2020 Application approved 12 August 2020 Application being processed 27 July 2020 Documents received (according to them) 22 July 2020 Documents received (according to courier) 3 July 2020 Application received 30 June 2020 Application submitted 30 June 2020 Good luck everyone!

Seems to be me they dislike then, since everyone else seems to fly through the process 😂 I had no idea my background was so interesting... they just be all looking 😂😂😂 Fingers crossed I get some promising answers by the end of Monday. My mums getting really nervous because we travel soon 😫

@Gemski91 Yes, so weird! I don't know why mine processed so quickly. I was also thought all first timers needed an interview, but I ended up not needing one. Maybe the ones that require an interview are taking longer?

@Irosstrevor I think they’re suspending all interviews because of the virus. It’s strange because as I said previously, I was told if I hadn’t been called for an interview by Monday then to ring back, however on the phones (automated message) and website they all say they aren’t conducting interviews at this time, or that all face time face contact is suspended. We shall soon find out if I get to have my first holiday abroad haha!

final timeline: First Adult passport – no interview *I sent my documents via USPS First Class Mail International from the US (slowest service which I did not realize at the time). I mailed them out on July 15 2020, not sure when they were delivered as there was no tracking, so all I know is that they were acknowledged by the office on 7 August. Passport delivered 20 August 2020 Passport printed and sent 18 August 2020 Application approved 17 August 2020 Application being processed 8 August 2020 Documents received 7 August 2020 Use paper form to confirm identity 6 July 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 6 July 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 6 July 2020 Application submitted 6 July 2020

@Irosstrevor So you’re in the US at the moment? I’m amazed (very pleased for you) that evening international passports are getting through fast than me! I am still processing so it looks like I will have to call Monday. I was so cool through all of this and now I’m starting to worry a little about the passport arriving on time. I’ll be devastated. Especially as I’ve had email confirmation that flights are going ahead as normal. Oh well! Fingers crossed for Monday successes!

@Gemski91 Yes applied from and live in the US! Good luck on Monday!

Thank you! I will update with any news I get once I have spoken with them.

Well, my phone call felt like a bit of a waste of time this morning. To say I am annoyed is an understatement at this point. I was told last week on Thursday that you have to be on the system for 8 weeks, from date of application... Today I am told it's from date of documents received. Because they didn't put my documents on their tracking system until July 3rd, the woman was telling me my 8 weeks isn't until Friday. However, I explained that my documents were in fact received on June 23rd, as I had sent them recorded. Thank God I was able to locate the email because I had paid online!! I can now prove they were signed for and received on 23rd June! which makes my 8 weeks officially 18th August. I apparently just have to await a call back now, when this will be? Who knows... Am I any wiser with the process of my passport? No! I travel in exactly 14 days and to say I am crapping it is also an understatement at this point. Any one out there who had to fast track, could you let me know on the process?

Just had a call! I have an interview on Skype for business at 8:45am tomorrow! I am so pleased!

Woo! I had my interview this morning and 5 minutes after my interview he finished I was approved! Application approved 25 August 2020 Application being processed 10 July 2020 Documents received 3 July 2020 Application received 19 June 2020 Identity details received 19 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 19 June 2020 Application submitted 19 June 2020

Officially had it sent this afternoon! My journey is now complete!

Just started the process of renewing my adult passport from the USA. They've had my documents for a week now but they've still not updated my application on the system, and I got an email this morning to say that I *should* have my passport back in less than 8 weeks...

Taking a while to get my two Child Passports from Durham. Here's the timeline: Application submitted 7:35am on 25 September 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:35am on 25 September 2020 Identity details received 5:26pm on 4 October 2020 Application received 5:27pm on 4 October 2020 Documents received 1:36pm on 14 October 2020 Application being processed 4:07pm on 15 October 2020 Still waiting on 19 November 2020 (5 weeks from documents arriving and processing starting) ... Travelling 3 weeks from now so getting a little nervous.

Application history Status. Here's my timeline... Passport printed and sent 9:44am on 11 June 2021 Application approved 12:15pm on 10 June 2021 Application being processed 7:12pm on 24 May 2021 Documents received 2:46pm on 24 May 2021 Application received 9:11am on 18 May 2021 Identity details received 9:01am on 18 May 2021 Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:25am on 18 May 2021 Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:17am on 18 May 2021 Application submitted 5:17am on 18 May 2021

This was to replace a lost child passport (so no docs to send)

Application history

6th July 2021: Received passport 5th July 2021: Passport printed and sent 2nd July 2021: Application Approved 23rd June 2021: Application being processed 18th June 2021: Identity Details received 18th June 2021: Email sent to person confirming your identity 18th June 2021: Ask someone to confirm your identity 18th June 2021: Application submitted

Hi. Does anyone have any up to date timelines experienced for Durham for Adult passport renewal sent on line please? Thanks

Hi, We are travelling on Saturday 28th August early am. Realised with the three month rule my husbands passport would not qualify for Spain. I thought you may like to know what can be achieved if you beg, phone and email. Durham office are brilliant and have pulled out all the stops to do this: Passport application received 10:40 Wednesday 18th August Royal Mail delivered old passport 08:00 19th August did not go into system until: Old passport 'received' Tuesday 24th August Passport approved Tuesday 24th August Passport printed and despatched Tuesday 24th August Passport received via TNT 09:30 Wednesday 25th August so less than 7 days start to finish!! I did phone, wait time about an hour to speak to someone, a couple of times and emailed with information.They can only mark on the application the date of travel and when it gets into the processing stage they can see the note on file and try to help.Which they clearly did here. This was a straight forward renewal with a digital upload photo. So delighted, brilliant Durham !

Hi Ive read your message with interest and also envy with the fast processing time you received! I submitted my adult renewal application on 10th Aug 21 and my old passport was received on 16th Aug 21. Since then the status has not changed and its 21 days from submitting my application. I followed your advice and rang the passport call centre on 2 occasions only to be told they couldn't do anything to expedite my application other than specify my travel date, which is this Sunday,5th Sept! I'm getting really worried now as I need my new passport to order covid test kits in time as well as hopefully go on holiday! I'm not sure how the Durham office prioritise applications but whilst its been great for you its very frustrating for me especially when I submitted my application several days before yours? So just wondering from your experience if there's anything else I could do? Thanks

Hi I understand your concern and we also found the process very frustrating. Just to correct you, it didn't work out for us, as we missed our holiday due to my daughter's passport not arriving in time. I would say, based on our experience, if you haven't received an "approved" message by 2nd Sept, then it's unlikely you'll make it. It then takes 2-3 days for the passport to be printed and couriered - TNT are the couriers and I've read different reports about them from being fast to being slow. I did a lot of Tweeting and rang at least 10 times- just be a nuisance. Also I was told by the PO that chid renewals (our case) don't take as long as adult renewals, so perhaps that's it? Good luck.

Hi Thanks for your message and sorry to read that you missed your holiday. I think you're correct regarding me needing approval by tomorrow, I was probably thinking the same. I did register with Twitter yesterday and then sent the PO some messages, I received a reply today and basically and maybe not surprisingly, nothing they can do to help...same as the call centre!

Kjfto did you get the passport in the end ?

Hi I did at the 11th hour! Passport approved Thursday afternoon Email Friday morning from PO stating passport on its way Unfortunately TNT then had it delivery Monday and I needed it Saturday! Spent probably 6 hours trying to contact TNT help centre, eventually got through this morning only to be told nothing could be done as PO had requested 48 hour delivery. Anyway pleaded with TNT advisor who went the extra mile and phoned me back 4 hours later to inform me that I could collect passport from a depot near Durham and stressed this is an exception due to my situation. Totally appreciate what this guy did otherwise would have lost my holiday!

That’s amazing! How long was it from start to finish ? Thanks