Durham

Ros1e called TNT they have not received passport said lists of calls about passports dispatched the 10th Said their tracking should update after 4pm Rang Durham passport office and told me was dispatched on the 8th !! Low and behold got a tracking number on the TNT website delivery this Friday

Krazie1978 - My tracking has appeared on TNT too, but no scans showing yet. I've also attempted to change the delivery date to tomorrow...not sure it will work but worth a shot!

I’d do a nice little white lie and say it’s urgent only from of identification. I managed to get one person who actually helped me called “Julie” she was so empathetic and helpful. Marked everything as urgent then and only then processing team called within 20 minutes. Gave me a tracking number. Just keep pushing them. I was telling her how I’ve called everyday for different information and I’m not happy.

Hi AnnieS, mine has also been processing for 3 weeks and still no update.. whenever I call they just keep telling me its with the examiner and that I have to wait. How frustrating some get approved straight away and some have to be checked by an examiner! I just keep getting told to call back in a few days if nothing. They just try and get me off the phone if I'm honest they don't want to help. Hope we both get an update soon.

Hi, I made such a mistake and went ahead with a standard passport renewal online as the website was showing as 4 weeks renewal time. Since sending it off was then brought to my attention that it can actually take up to 10 weeks and now all I’ve seen is bad news regarding passports. I called right away and asked to withdraw the standard application and to fast track and I have my sisters wedding to attend in April. I’m due to fly out on Sunday the 10th April and I am absolutely ill with stress as having phoned 3 times they have told me there is nothing they can do. I even offered to drive 4 hours to Durham to pick up my passport which they said is not an option. My documents were updated as received yesterday. Standard adult renewal. How long does it roughly take to go from docs received to approved? Should I call back now they have received my old passport? Thanks

Hi, Does anyone know where you send supporting documents into Durham please? My old passport was initially sent to Peterborough (at their request) but when I spoke to someone on the phone last night he requested I send a letter into Durham. I’ve got an address but it’s for a PO Box, not the actual passport office. Does everyone send their documents to this PO box? Thanks!

Hi I think it just depends on how lucky you are! Mines been processing for 3 weeks since they received the documents, my friend sent hers off the same time as me and hers went straight from documents recieved to approved within the week and she has hers in her hand now. Same passport office, hers took around 2 half weeks from applying im on week 4 at the moment. I think it's taking a lot quicker if your passport skips the processing stage and goes straight to approved. Not sure why some automatically get approved straight away and some has to go to an examiner. Hope you recieve it soon x

I had posted yesterday that my husband's passport was waiting for exam from 23rd Feb. Finally today he had a text saying 'your passport should arrive in a few days.' This is encouraging. No news on the children's passports yet but theirs were with his and 'waiting for exam' from 23rd Feb. So, I am hoping that we will have news of them soon. So, husband's passport check and send at post office was sent in on 15th February. Waiting for exam from 23rd Feb and no more news until 17th March when we had a text saying 'you should receive your new passport within a few working days. We'll send your supporting documents separately." So, 30 days days from sending the passport off until receiving a text saying we should receive the new one within the next few days. I hope that this helps others. My learning is I will always do fast track from now on though as this process was very stressful with not much information on the stage of the process.

Type: First adult passport - Automatic British citizen by UK birth (pre 1983) Method: Online (overseas application, USA) Passport Office: HMPO Durham Online application submitted: 6:42pm on 6 January 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity: 6:42pm on 6 January 2022 Email sent for identity verification: 6:44pm on 6 January 2022 Identity verified: 9:19pm on 7 January 2022 Application received: 9:19pm on 7 January 2022 Documents sent: 1:59pm on 8 January 2022 Documents delivered: 9:07am on 11 January 2022 Documents confirmed received by HMPO: 7:49am on 12 January 2022 Application being processed 3:34pm on 12 January 2022 Application approved: 2:57pm on 1 March 2022 Passport printed and sent: 6:24pm on 2 March 2022 Tracking information received via text from DHL: 7:10am on 4 March 2022 Passport received: 7:40pm on 8 March 2022 Tracking information received via email from DHL: 5:05pm on 14 March 2022 Documents received: 6:12pm on 16 March 2022 This was a long, stressful journey, but I really appreciated the data points posted on this board and a couple other places I monitored to help me through it. Additionally, I found the following information for DHL specifically for HMPO passport shipments: https://www.dhl.com/gb-en/home/our-divisions/global-forwarding/help-and-support/hmpo-delivery-services.html. If you go to the "How do I track my items?" section it will give you info about tracking via your application number. Both my waybill numbers eventually showed up here, but it was a touch slower than when I received the info directly from DHL. It's a good option if you never receive info from DHL though. Also, you can email liverpool@hmpo.gov.uk (regardless of where your passport was processed) to request your tracking information. You need to include your application number, name, date of birth, and address.

I think we should lobby our MP for a more compassionate system. I think that people would be prepared to pay more to have their passports expediated in exceptional circumstances(not just death of a relative). What do others think?

AnnieS thats fab news! Hoping mine is just behind yours then!! I applied 14th Feb at the post office and mines been processing since 24th Feb so keeping my fingers crossed! Hopefully your others will follow soon x

I’ve been checking this forum regularly so just wanted to update with my experience. Sent two applications for child renewals one went to Durham (our closest office) and one went to Glasgow ….both passports arrived a day apart. Durham office: Submitted online application: 23rd Feb Old PP sent/counter signatory completed: 24th Feb Royal Mail tracking signed for: 25th Feb Old PP officially received: 9th March Application approved: 12th March Sent: 16th March Passport arrived: 17th March - I wasn’t in and it was posted through the door. 3 weeks 1 day - start to finish Durham office 3weeks 0 days - start to finish Glasgow office. I was sent both an email and text at each of these stages so there really is no need to check the progress of the application unless you’ve not put your contact details.

Krazie - what number did you use for Durham passport office. Need to travel second week April and mine was only approved today

Hi Londoner I called 0300 222 0000 Spoke to a lovely gentleman called Tom

Just called to check on ETA for printed passport following approval yesterday - freaking out as on the operators' system it is showing that the passport is still in examination. Assume this is because there system hasn't updated yet/it hasnt been actually sent to print - did anyone else have this issue?

viksnid. I called and called and trying to get tracking no for Dhl .ONE GUY SAID I SHOULD GET NEXT FEW HOURS BUT ONE DAY HAS PASSED SINCE STILL NO TRACKING NO FROM DHL.I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT RATHER THAN WAIT.IT has been now 7 days since passport was printed and send according to HMPO website .very stressed

viksnid.did you got tracking no from Dhl in email or txt message ?

I got it in a text message. Threaten to get your local MP involved and explain the passport is the only form of ID. Tell them you’ve been on the phone so many times and get strict with them. They only budged when I did that. I got a reply back from my emails and a text message as they marked me as URGENT. Do the same!

Managed to get my ETD in Australia so I can return to UK and back to Aus….so relieved! My passport renewal magically went into “approved” a few hours after I submitted the ETD. It’s been 5 days and still hasn’t said printed or sent. Not a big issue right now as I have the ETD but I still need the full adult renewal because of my visa etc etc. I think their system probably just triggered it as approved and the damn thing is still stuck in limbo somewhere in Durham…

When went into printed and sent within a day. That’s strange.. I would call them and mention your visa is urgent.

Viksnid hi,is it DHL express or DHL parcel services they use ?

DHL express. They have a chat channel online. I got a waybill number in a text message. Have you called the passport office? I think they’re closed weekends. Call on Monday and explain it’s urgent. Explain that I got mine after 7 days.

This is what the text said: DHL Express 1389261930 from HM PASSPORT OFC estimated Wed Mar 30. Signature required. Manage delivery: https://del.dhl.com/NZ/9zCVcM8aN4

Hi All, Just wanted to give a bit of information on my waiting times so far, as I am applying from France and there doesn't seem to be lots of people applying from abroad on here! My wife and I are both British as are our families and as such all of our documents are British ones such as birth certs and marriage certs of us and our parents. Only my sons birth certificate is a French document. this is our timeline so far: Application being processed 12:08pm on 23 February 2022 Documents received 3:00pm on 21 February 2022 - Actually delivered at 830 am on the 16th! Application received 8:26pm on 11 February 2022 Identity details received 8:25pm on 11 February 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:08pm on 11 February 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:46pm on 11 February 2022 Application submitted 7:46pm on 11 February 2022 Hope this helps someone, I will update when it finally gets approved! Frustrating to have to wait so much longer than if we were in the UK!

VIKSNID does contacting your MP help? I’ve emailed mine unsure if he will look into it x