Durham

@st_tommy nearly 4 months (since 18 Feb) and has been in processing since 14 April. It is a first passport overseas application.

Just checked the website tracking and now it doesn’t even say processing anymore, just back to documents received. No idea if it’s a glitch in the system or what but I’m panicking!!!!

Hey! So I checked my application now after reading your post and mine shows the same. Documents received, it completely got rid of the Application processing stage/message that was showing their since May 14 2022. It might be a glitch if it’s happening to both of us.

Praying it turns into approved today or tomorrow!!!

Happened to me too thought things could be moving but looks like a glitch

Just an update, passport was printed Friday and I just got a tracking update it would be delivered Thursday- I was able to call TNT and get it switched to tomorrow! I will feel better when I can see it with my own two eyes but it’s looking like we’ll make our holiday on Friday!

Great news @Inf103, nearly there!

Hi @upsidedown. May I ask what the details are for the Durham Progress Team, please? Is this a dedicated line, or the general advice line, or... I ask as I've had no luck getting through on the Passport Advice Line at all, and my flight for work, not even fun - is on Sunday 26th June. 🥴

I'm (meant to be) flying to Madrid on Sunday 26th June for two days' work. Being self-employed, no work = no pay = also a very pissed-off client, who's spent thousands on their Team's flights and hotel rooms. 🙃 It's the first work I've had since Dec 2019 (Covid cancelled all my 2020 work, ill for 18 months since then), so this trip is vital for me to stay something approaching solvent. The chaos that this utter lack of foresight has brought is staggering.

@Rapha, it was just the normal advice line. He got straight through and spoke to someone who put him through to the progress team without even asking for his PEX number. Are you not eligible for an urgent upgrade? I have seen people on this forum have success going to their local office and queuing when their flights are so soon. Or you could try the upgrade team (I have seen the address for Durham posted here) and attach your proof of flight.

Agree re chaos - the Australian passport office here is also getting a lot of criticism for long delays etc. You would think it would be obvious to the "powers that be" that there would be high demand once travel opened up.

@Rapha the e-mail address shared somewhere on here was durhamupgrade@hmpo.gov.uk

I’ve just called again. It was a glitch in the system, many customers are receiving the notice but she assured me it hasn’t gone backwards. Told me to call again in an hour to try and reach the customer service management team. Am really getting nowhere sadly !

Received my passport today DHL Overseas on line Digital Application. Durham Office Application Submitted 9:04 am 5th May Application received 9:04 am 5th May Old Passport signed for Durham 10:36 am 6th May Old Passport received 7:26 am 1st June Approved 5:36 pm 8th June Printed 4:48 am 10th June Delivered 2:45 pm 15th June (DHL) photo taken by myself (Selfie) with IPhone, was a little concerned this may have failed checks but passed through i was just as concerned as most on this forum but found great support from those that contributed. absolutely delighted it arrived today and also feel for all those going through the trauma of still waiting to receive theirs, keep phoning and asking for progress and if that that fails turn up at the PO for assistance if your living in the UK, i did not have the option to fast track or turn up in person as I'm living in Europe so had to rely on the system, but fair play to HMPO 5.5 weeks from start to finish good luck everyone who needs theirs urgently for visiting sick relatives, Happy Holidays and Business trips Top Tip from another @Caz 86 anyone receiving their passports via DHL do download the DHL express App and enter you address otherwise you may not get delivery dates and time. special thanks to @SingaporeDon who's advice was just brilliant. packing my suitcase now....

Finally received passport in the mail, our holiday this week will not be ruined!! Paper Application Submitted via Post Office: 31 March Email Response to Progress Inquiry: 27 April, stating that documents were received (A million calls this week asking for upgrade with travel 17 June) Printed: 10th June Delivered: 15th June Because we did a paper application I think it took wayyyyy longer than it would have otherwise. Just happy to have received it in time for our holiday!

Congrats!! Exciting news! Wishing we could get ours figured! We applied March 30 online, said processing since April 27 as well.

Yes it’s definitely a glitch, but I guess it won’t be fixed soon as it’s been over a day and it’s still showing as “Docs Received” for me! Are you also in Canada or the USA and waiting for your passport? Are you waiting for your supporting documents to be sent back? As I’ve been reading and as far as I’m aware, they don’t send the supporting docs right away. They send the UK passport first and then your old passport.

In the USA with a trip booked To Canada for June 21 . Waiting on new passport

Am currently on hold with HMPO again as we speak. Trying to get answers or speak to customer service management team. This is becoming very ridiculous

Sadly I’ve been sending 5 emails a day to this email address and have had no reply. I’ve been sending copy/paste email of the same since Monday evening. It’s been 2 days now and no reply to my dozens of emails lol. I’ve just lost hope now and it seems like I’ll have to cancel another vacation pretty soon. This is ridiculous and I’d highly urge anyone who is looking into applying for a first adult UK passport, Do NOT do it at this time. Wait another year or so for this to pass.

I’m so sorry @bobokitty that you have to go through this so soon before your vacation. Unfortunately I wish I could give you some hope, but I was in the same boat as you back in Mid April (I was calling everyday 2x a day for 5days straight), I even went as far as waking up at 3am EST (Toronto time) to be the first in queue when the HMPO line opened up, I got through and everybody I’ve spoken to is nice no doubt but there is NO consistency in information. I’ve been told I had to write written letters in order to request my supporting docs back, I did. Twice. And I got nothing back in return or reply lol. I don’t have the time to keep calling in between my day job and my life lol, so I gave up close to the end of May, I had to postpone my travel to New York because of it. As I didn’t have my Canada passport :(

Don’t even care about old docs. Just need the new passport. This is completely nuts. There is no consistency and no one is helpful at all

Ah, right you are @upsidedown, it was the phrase 'Progress Team' that piqued my interest as I thought hold, up, Progress? I've not heard of that before!

Thanks @TCL Yes, I've emailed all the Upgrade Teams (once!) this afternoon. I thought the Progress Team might have been another email address! Let's see if I get a response. Nothing by way of auto-acknowledgement so far. Seems they don't go in for that kind of thing. 🧐

Re: the urgent upgrade. Yes, that's the route I'm trying to go down. I worry I don't strictly qualify as a) it's not a compassionate trip, (other than for my own sanity and wellbeing as I try to shakily return to work after being severely unwell) b) I'm not on 'important government business' – whatever tf that is these days... That said, Kevin Foster (Undersecretary, HO) did say: "Where there are compelling reasons for international travel or matters could not have been foreseen, we will always act". So I'm hoping they will, given this job opportunity only arose very recently. He also mentions for MP's teams: • In-person Passport Surgeries with HMPO staff at Portcullis House walk-in hub • and an Urgent Enquiries inbox that MPs can sent representations to on constituents' behalf. Let's see what tomorrow brings. I got a text this morning saying they've received my old passport at least. I sent it on the 7th June.