Durham

Finally received my passport today after 3 months (12 weeks and 1 day) waiting. Here is my timeline (first adult passport after naturalisation) Application submitted 8 February 2022 Use paper form to confirm identity 14 February 2022 Documents delivered by Royal Mail 28 February 2022 Documents marked as received 15 March 2022 Application being processed 15 March 2022 Application approved 28 April 2022 Passport printed 29 April 2022 Passport delivered 04 May 2022 Feeling relieved that this is over and I won't need to deal with HMPO for the next 10 years.. what a miserable service :( I hope others will have more luck with their passports.

Hi. I’ve been watching these closely and this is my time line. Passport is now out for delivery today so all in it’s took 3 weeks and 3 days to arrive. I think a lot of the time it’s the paper applications that are taking so long as well as people taking their own pictures, that then get rejected. I was panicking as I travel in 9 days. Hope everyone has luck getting theirs. Passport printed 2:56pm on 3 May 2022 Application approved 5:25pm on 29 April 2022 Identity details received 11:19am on 29 April 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:11am on 29 April 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:59am on 29 April 2022 Documents received 3:59pm on 27 April 2022 Application received 7:24pm on 11 April 2022 Identity details received 7:23pm on 11 April 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:28pm on 11 April 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:12am on 11 April 2022 Application submitted 11:12am on 11 April 2022

I renewed four passports but so far, Durham is fairing least well since I'm still waiting 8 weeks later Application being processed 27 April 2022 Documents received 29 March 2022 Application received 14 March 2022 Identity details received 14 March 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 13 March 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 12 March 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 12 March 2022 Application submitted 12 March 2022 Still a couple of weeks until the 10wks and then another until we're meant to travel. Infuriating, since it's one of the kids. If it was an adults we were waiting for, at the one of us could still take the kids away. But now it's all or nothing. Really frustrating since kids have had a really raw deal the past few years.

Good luck. Durham passport office has been useless from start to finish. Submitted an adult renewal on the 5th of March. It is still processing. Missed our family holiday. Absolute disgrace. They didn’t upgrade and the phone cuts out every time.

From what I can see it’s when the passorts are going into the processing phase. Not all do this so must be manual or extra checks. Hope you all get it sorted

That's what I was hoping but see below:11weeks tomorrow from submission. Application being processed 2:31pm on 14 April 2022 Documents received 12:21pm on 13 April 2022 Application received 5:45am on 24 February 2022 Identity details received 5:44am on 24 February 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:25am on 22 February 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:59am on 18 February 2022 Application submitted 6:59am on 18 February 2022

:(

Has anyone had any luck with the 0300 123 1973 number? I’ve just spent over 3hrs on hold and when they answered they asked how I got the number and we’re really shitty with me saying I shouldn’t ring that number and then hung up! Waiting on my daughters first passport coming back we go away in 2 weeks and they literally won’t give me any updates,(been waiting 9weeks already)I got my sons back from the Newport office over a week ago! How do you go about upgrading to fast track? Thanks

I've been watching this page so closely worrying that my child's renewal wouldn't come in time.i applied 12 weeks before we was due to fly I sent 1 to Peterbrough and it flew through had it back in 19 days the 1 we sent to Durham took 20 days to upgrade to even say they received documents but after that was updated we had it back with in 6 days this was our time scale Passport printed10:19am on 3 May 2022Application approved4:51pm on 29 April 2022Documents received10:13am on 28 April 2022Application received5:28pm on 9 April 2022Identity details received5:27pm on 9 April 2022Email sent to person confirming your identity5:14pm on 9 April 2022Ask someone to confirm your identity5:07pm on 9 April 2022Application submitted5:07pm on 9 April 2022

@lindsay86 - that's the number I use now as the other was useless and all they do is say we'll call you back. I do think it's the number for the Liverpool office though and my application started there so that could be why? In the 5 times I've called it they've always just taken my details, not had anyone say I shouldn't be calling it. To everyone else stuck in processing, I called today and mines still in the queue after 5 weeks, not even picked up by an examiner yet so you're probably looking at a similar wait. Seems to be around 6 weeks wait currently.

This is the timeline for First passport(naturalisation) -originally in Liverpool then London now Durham Submitted 11 March 2022 Docs received 29 March 2022 (signed for on 14 March) Application being Processed 29 April 2022 All in all pretty shambolic - I understand the issue is with the scanning of documents onto the system (outsourced to Sopra Steria) my documents despite being signed for on 13 March 2022 were not scanned until 18 April 2022 - a 5 week delay! Despite being promised call backs / ability to expedite due to departure date (TODAY 6 MAY 2022) - heard absolutely nothing. Local MP has been helpful in pushing an expected date of issue but nothing forthcoming other than moving from Liverpool to London then Durham who have more bandwidth (allegedly) Have moved flights to 20 May 2022 (beyond the 10 weeks a passport should be issued) but given latest average from approved to printed and received is 10 days not looking hopeful. Nothing appears to be dealt with chronologically despite what you may hear - I have friends (same status) who applied weeks later and have received a passport within 6 weeks.

I have been reading this forum for a while. Sent 2 x child renewals off 2 weeks ago. 1 came back very fast (Liverpool). The other one is at Durham and still waiting for the documents to be scanned in. Tried ringing. Either can't get through or get cut off. Starting to panic that the old passport is lost somewhere at the office? No response to emails. Absolutely no help at all.

I have been following this forum for a while. I sent 2 x child renewals on the same date 2 weeks ago. One to Liverpool and one to Durham. Have had the new passport already from Liverpool yet Durham still keeps telling me to send old documents. They were received there nearly 2 weeks. Either can't get through on phone or get cut off etc. Starting to panic that the old passport has been lost! No help from anywhere. No response to using the online contact form!

Starting to think mine has gone wrong. Applied 16th April old passport signed for on the 20th. Tracking still says send your old passport 16 days on. Colleague at work did there’s a week later and has had email update to say it’s being done 🤔

Child Renewal from HK Passport received - 7 May Passport printed - 2 May Application approved - 29 April Documents received - 12 April Docs signed for as received - 28 March Sent from HK - 24 March Application received - 23 March Identity details received - 23 March Application submitted - 23 March Tips for those fretting: 1. If you have travel plans / an urgent need, do call and write in to let them know. If your case is legitimate they will flag this on your file and do not what they can. 2. If phoning remember the menu sequence to get through to the right team and input the numbers - e.g. 8 then 3 - so as to not have to spend 5 minutes listening to automated messages each time

Application received 14th March Processing since 21st March So frustrating. Have a few weeks to play with but still can't help but worry when others have been waiting so long. So stressful

Just to further update on my saga. My fourth application is sitting with Durham to be looked at by an examiner. The helpdesk themselves have said it's 'highly unlikely' that it'll be processed within the 10wk service level agreement simply due to the volume of applications. It only needs to be looked at by an examiner because it was passed from Peterborough to Durham (for some unknown reason). HMPO won't do anything until 14days prior to travel. They can upgrade at that date but there's no guarantee that they'll actually deliver. The end of the SLA and the 14 days to travel overlap. It's an utter shitshow!

Over 3 weeks “in the post room” now is apparently normal. Did a check to see why I am still getting a send old passport message, that was the reply. Mate T work submitted 10 days ago and his is recognised already. It’s pretty much evidential that there is a shambles going on. It’s becoming being denied the right to travel now, how can anyone plan anything with this set up. Ridiculous.

Durham vs London Fast-Track Hi, I really need some advice if anybody can give some guidance 🙂 Applied for Mum’s adult renewal online on 25th March. Says documents (old passport) received 12th April. Nothing since. I’ve called the advice lines, they said to upgrade, email the Durham address. I’ve done this on Saturday, got an automated response. Haven’t heard anything since. Today I went on the Fast-Track appointment site and refreshed like crazy for hours and hours, until an appointment for the London office popped up for tomorrow and quickly booked it (We live in London). It took several attempts as the appointments went in a flash. I went to the post office and got two application forms in case I screw one up. My question is: What should I do. Should I declare the passport I sent in to Durham renewal as lost and start a new application under 1-week fast track? Has anybody had success with this? Should I just go to the appointment and advise of the travel date (17th May) and ask to Withdraw the other one and start the 1-week one? Will they do that? Any insight would be really appreciated. Mum is due to travel on 17th May and as you can imagine, super stressed. Thanks, DJ

Hello Mums, You can’t have two applications ongoing, as you have said you have already applied online you wouldn’t be able to go to the appointment as to upgrade this you would need to have emailed the upgrade address after calling them to advise them you wanted to update your current application. As if you upgrade like this their is no need to attend an appointment as long as they have received the documents.

Update on application for me today. Adult online renewal Passport received - 10 May Passport signed for at Durham – 28 April Application received - 27 April Application submitted - 26 April

@the_passport_journey You are fortunate as your application has leapfrogged many submitted in March and earlier in April. Good for you and perhaps hope they can process requests, just annoying for those that are waiting (my passport was signed for 20 days before yours on April 8th and was logged as received on April 27th with no updates since…) One question did you get either a processing or approved status after your documents were signed for?

Stepson applied online, was due to fly to.o4ow with his gf and her family.... Application being processed 4:13pm on 12 April 2022 Documents received 1:17pm on 11 April 2022 Application received 8:57am on 26 March 2022 Identity details received 8:57am on 26 March 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:52pm on 24 March 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:49pm on 24 March 2022 Application submitted 8:49pm on 24 March 2022 So far 30 days for processing, got a very dejected 18 year old now :'(

Adult Renewal. Was received on Fri 29th April. Just been updated passport received on 12th May.

Adult Renewal I fly to (if I'm lucky) Portugal 18th June, and sent my passport next day tracked 1pm 6th April - little late but all my friend done there's 2 weeks prior and had them within 3 weeks so wasn't too concerned. Application submitted 6:37pm on 5 April 2022 Application received 6:38pm on 5 April 2022 Sent next day tracked 1pm 6 April 2022 Confirmed with Post Office this was received 7th April 2022 It is now 12 May 2022 and still heard nothing from Passport Office of receipt. Tried calling numerous times but never get through and now know that advisor will not know anymore than I do so pointless, webchat always unavailable and also tried an enquiry but no response yet. All I can think about is the major FOMO I am gonna have if all my friends are there and my girlfriend, while I chill in the house haha. Really wish I can just show up to the office, take my passport back and do the premium service. Just a sitting duck until I can attempt emailing the HMPO email 2 weeks prior and hope that actually work.