Durham

Hi all, my application has been in processing since March 15th.. Have any applications around these dates been approved?

Hope you have better luck than me getting your passport. I completed my 2 daughters passport applications at the same time as my husbands passport renewal. All 3 sent to different places. One daughter received her passport 2 weeks later. My second daughter received hers after 5 weeks and my husband missed our family holiday and is still processing after over 7 weeks. Passport office was no help after repeated calls. One finally said if I emailed we could maybe upgrade but then they emailed with a phone number that kept cutting out. Terrible service that people forget we actually have the pleasure of payinh for. Disgraceful.

Mine have been processing now for 5 weeks with no movement, 6 weeks since I applied to renew the passport, surly it’s got to start moving now

1 1/2 hours on phone waiting to speak to someone and still waiting for them to answer 🤬🤬

I applied on Feb 8th.. in processing since March 15th. Still no updates!

I’m not holding out on Durham getting my passport sorted, on hold over an hour to find out my passport still isn’t processing! Sent off on the 23rd of March, the processing stage seems to take ages too so haven’t a clue how long it will take. I am going to have to upgrade to the 2 week option soon, has anyone had any luck with Durham and the upgrade option?

Hi, @hongkong8888 how long did it take to receive a DHL tracking number after you got the 'Passport printed' update? Thanks!

No DHL tracking number issued, no idea when it's arriving (Spain) Passport printed 9:37am on 16 April 2022 Application approved 1:23pm on 14 April 2022 New photo received 11:59am on 14 April 2022 Photo rejected 11:43am on 14 April 2022 Documents received 5:37pm on 1 April 2022 Application received 4:21pm on 10 March 2022 Application submitted 4:21pm on 10 March 2022

Hi All, Since applying for my passport (adult renewal) I have read the horror stories on here - however, thankfully I am one of the lucky ones who seems to not have to wait very long - this was from the Durham office. Application approved 9:24pm on 22 April 2022 Documents received 3:33pm on 20 April 2022 Application received 2:16pm on 4 April 2022 Application submitted 2:16pm on 4 April 2022 From what I have read and spoken to people about it seems the trouble starts as soon as you go into the 'application processing stage' as that seems to mean its gone to be looked at by a person which at the minute takes a long time. I wish you all the best in your applications and I hope you get it in time for your Holidays.

@JamesJ1992 When were your documents sent and signed for by Durham HMPO? I applied on the 4th like you and my documents were signed for on the 8th (sent from overseas) so will be interesting to see if my timings are similar to yours. Please do post when you get updates on printing and dispatch. Good Luck to us all!

My stepsons passport application timescale is very similar to James' above. Durham office for a first adult passport; Application history Application approved 9:00pm on 21 April 2022 Documents received 1:55pm on 19 April 2022 Application received 2:24pm on 2 April 2022 Application submitted 2:24pm on 2 April 2022 The old child passport which i sent was signed for on Royal mail tracking on 4th April.

Max, mine were sent on the 5th April, signed for just after 9am on the 6th. I will come back to let you know when it has printed and dispatched. Fingers crossed yours has a similar timeline!

Really hope I have some news this week, coming upto 7 weeks now

me too, applied 10 weeks ago, have been in processing for 6 weeks now :(

Has anyone used the upgrade service with Durham? I can apply this Friday but want to find out if anyone has been successful with Durham 🤞

Seems to be pot luck when they approve these. My son's child renewal is in Durham. It was a paper application and everything was received on 18th April so going back what everyone is saying it could be approved in a few days or I could still be waiting in 5 weeks!

Good luck with your sons hopefully you can be one of the quick ones 🤞 Never been so stressed with it all, I sent it off on the 23rd of March it was received In Belfast on the 1st then sent to Durham on the 4th but apparently it’s still waiting to be looked at, I’m preying the 2 week upgrade will work 🤞 I will drive to Durham if I have to to collect it but as I’m in Essex I wouldn’t want to drive that far unless needs be.

if it's a paper application, then most likely it will take much longer unfortunately. Online/electronic ones seem to get approved quite quickly

I really regret sending it off with paper application 🤦‍♀️ I tried to do the post office online check and send but my post office couldn’t do it so advised me to do a paper form instead as it was “only taking 3 weeks” as they said 🙄 wish I had read online first and don’t the online application. Everyone I no have had there’s back already, I’m just preying this new upgrade system will work, would love to hear from someone who has had an upgrade with Durham to give me some hope

Hi I’m having similar issues! I sent my passport to Durham office on 11th April. RM tracking said it had been signed for by durham on 12th April. The passport office sent me a text today saying I still need to send off my old passport but according to Royal Mail theyve signed for it already im feeling pretty stressed and anxious and can’t even ring up to talk to anyone or use the web chat as they say it’s too busy im meant to fly on 7th july has anyone else had this problem of receiving a text? please help someone!

I had the same experience getting a text to send my documents after they were already signed for by someone at Durham. I think it’s just some automated notification. I’m going to give it till a month after my documents were signed for (April 8th) then make some noise. I am abroad and need my passport by June otherwise I will have an issue!

We got the same automated texts - the last time it said that our application would be cancelled and no refund given if documents were not received by May. I phoned and got through to a person who emailed the Durham office with all our details, including the RM tracking number, and the documents were officially received a few days later.

Sent mine the 10th March, processing since 16th March and still waiting, ringing once a week and they keep saying it’s waiting on an examiner to look at it, 7 weeks processing Wednesday, it’s a p*ss take to be fair, u speak to someone for an update and they can’t tell u anything

First adult passport applied for online via Durham office; Application history Passport printed 1:53pm on 25 April Application approved 9:00pm on 21 April Documents received 1:55pm on 19 April Application received 2:24pm on 2 April Application submitted 2:24pm on 2 April As someone said above it seems best to apply online.

I applied online for my first adult passport, 11th March, has been shown as Application being Processed since 29th March!! I'm due to fly this Friday.... I have called numerous times and been told its passed its checks, but has no date for printing!! I'm absolutely devestated as was going away for my 40th. Been told there is nothing they can do. It's at Durham. Been waiting on a call back since last Tuesday, despite me calling them back every other day! Funming