Durham

Final update for my overseas adult passport renewal application: Passport printed and sent 6:37pm on 14 July 2020 Application approved 3:38pm on 14 July 2020 Application being processed 10:37am on 9 July 2020 Documents received 8:26am on 8 July 2020 Application received 7:39pm on 17 June 2020 Application submitted 7:38pm on 17 June 2020 The longest wait was for them to acknowledge receiving my old passport. It was delivered to the address on June 22nd according to the courier tracking, but the status only changed on July 8th on HMPO website. After than it was a breeze. I will submit my passport waiting time once I receive the new passport. Good luck everybody!

This timeline might be useful to anyone abroad. I live in France and sent my passport by tracked delivery. It took a week to get there and then another week for them to scan it in. Once that was started, it was a bit quicker, but it still took another two weeks for them to send it to me. Delivery was good. I could chose the time I wanted and follow the location of the courier on a map, so I knew exactly when he was going to arrive. It was signed for with a PIN, which seems much more secure. There's also an option to pick it up, but the nearest pick up points are not nearby (and I live in a city!) so it's better to be in when it arrives. Passport received on 16 July 2020 Passport printed and sent 3:07pm on 14 July 2020 Application approved 11:35am on 13 July 2020 Application being processed 8:24am on 29 June 2020 Documents received 2:54pm on 26 June 2020 Application received 1:50pm on 9 June 2020 Application submitted 1:49pm on 9 June 2020 It's a blue/black one. Sorry anyone hoping to still get a burgundy, I think they're out!

Just had our passport drop through our letterbox. Child renewal Submitted 26th June arrived 17th July. Here is the timeline - Passport printed and sent 12:25pm on 15 July 2020 Application approved 9:10pm on 13 July 2020 Application being processed 11:34am on 7 July 2020 Documents received 8:16am on 5 July 2020 Application received 10:38am on 26 June 2020 Identity details received 10:37am on 26 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 10:23am on 26 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:14am on 26 June 2020 Application submitted 10:14am on 26 June 2020

2 child renewals, still waiting. Application submitted 7:15pm on 24 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:15pm on 24 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:30pm on 24 June 2020 Identity details received 9:03pm on 28 June 2020 Application received 9:04pm on 28 June 2020 Passports sent in one envelope Royal Mail recorded delivery and signed for on 30th June Documents received 2:42pm on 8 July 2020 Application being processed 12:34pm on 10 July 2020 And that's where we're at.

Received two adult renewals and first child passport through the letterbox yesterday 17th July. All 3 blue and from Durham office. Full timeline (I sent documents for all 3 together as a family application meaning all 3 progressed at the same stage together) Passport received 17th July Passport printed and sent 3:15pm on 15 July 2020 Application approved 10:01am on 14 July 2020 Application being processed 7:44am on 25 June 2020 Documents received 12:35pm on 23 June 2020 Application received 7:05pm on 12 June 2020 Application submitted 7:05pm on 12 June 2020

*Update!* So, beginning of last week, I sent an email via the online messaging service to HMPO, referencing my PEX number. I gave our travel dates. (1st August 2020). HMPO Liverpool phoned me back, asking me for flight evidence as my adult renewal was being processed there. It's worth noting everyone, that where you send your expired passport to, actually bears no relevance to where the processing is being done! I emailed and pushed a few times. The people I spoke to were all very polite and pretty understanding. I had booked travel in June - so not before lockdown. They never asked me *when* I made the booking. Only flight info. Just now awaiting courier delivery, following yesterday's update. Passport printed and sent 5:24pm on 17 July 2020 Application approved 12:46pm on 16 July 2020 Application being processed 1:31pm on 10 July 2020 Documents received 11:49am on 6 July 2020 Application received 10:02am on 26 June 2020 Application submitted 10:02am on 26 June 2020

Childs Renewal was required by Aug 10th travel date: Passport printed and sent 9:38am on 15 July 2020 Application approved 7:03pm on 13 July 2020 Application being processed 11:26am on 7 July 2020 Documents received 7:43am on 6 July 2020 Application received 10:36am on 26 June 2020 Identity details received 10:36am on 26 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:19am on 25 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:48am on 25 June 2020 Application submitted 10:48am on 25 June 2020 Hello all, I think recent timings for renewals are pretty good. I took my sons photo on my phone and it went through without issue. Not much point in badgering the individual offices by phone unless it's nearing the two week travel deadline. Good luck.

Hi all, here's my progress for a first child's passport Application approved 11:49am on 20 July 2020 Application being processed 11:40am on 13 July 2020 Documents received 10:34am on 9 July 2020 Application received 8:13pm on 25 June 2020 Identity details received 8:13pm on 25 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:50pm on 25 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:23am on 25 June 2020 Application submitted 11:23am on 25 June 2020

After calling repeatedly to escalate my adult renewal and speaking to 6 different people who all gave me different information, I got through the Complaints on Friday 17th and was allowed to submit my documentary evidence via email. I am sure that this helped as my application was approved today and the passport was printed and sent. Here is the timeline: Passport printed and sent 1:58pm on 20 July 2020 Application approved 1:13pm on 20 July 2020 Application being processed 11:11am on 20 July 2020 Documents received 9:49am on 17 July 2020 Application received 3:22pm on 6 July 2020 Application submitted 3:22pm on 6 July 2020 I just wanted to ask if any of you know when you can track the delivery on the TNT website and what code should you put into Consignment Number/PAN number, presumably the code issued by the HMPO when submitting online application? Thanks in advance for all help!

Hi. Passport tracker was indicating posted on Friday 17th July. There's a link to TNT. But without a consignment / tracking number, it's impossible to track. Any idea how to do this, anyone?

Tracking never worked for me they all came 2 days after they were posted got a text on the day by tnt to say so

Congrats @nk8366! On what number did you use to contact them? I've tried around 20 times now using 0300 222 0000 and I wait 3-5 minutes before it justs drops off.

Greaz90, on one of the occasions when I registered for a callback I was contacted from this number, so I subsequently used it to call, you have to wait for someone to respond, but at least you are never cut off: 01633 285 422

chalie2566, I figured out that the reference number you got for your passport should be used as PAN number on the TNT website, without the letters (POD or POX), just the digits. Then you can see the consignment number given to you and all shipping info. I paid for tracked return of the old passport and now I can see that it will be delivered first, hopefully the same PAN number will then work when I need to track the new passport.

Thanks @nk8366 ; Just confirming- you sent your old passport to the Durham address?

I did post office digital application, and they said that all passports from that branch are sent to Durham. They send them in special pouches, so you cannot track the delivery of your individual passport, which made me worried, as it took 11 days to register mine as received.

It didn’t for me all 4 of mine

My-passport I just received 4 renewals and 2 were black ish and 2 burgundy they are using both colours still

Hi all, thought I should post as I’ve been avidly watching during my experience. My case is an adult passport renewal at Durham office. I will update once it’s physically received. Application history Application approved 1:29pm on 21 July 2020 Documents received 9:42am on 20 July 2020 (They were signed for at Durham on 6th July) Application received 4:10pm on 4 July 2020 Application submitted 4:09pm on 4 July 2020 It’s important to know I emailed HMPO and informed them I was travelling, I had to provide evidence to show that a flight was booked pre-covid. I luckily had an email still of a booking I had made previously. It appears they are only doing so if the flight was within 14days from you reaching out. I sent the evidence on Saturday via email and by Monday my passport was registered as received and 24 hours later the photo and application accepted. I will update when it’s physically in my hand with regards to time to print and be delivered. I completed the passport application online.

I’m getting slightly concerned. I sent my current passport from the US as part of a renewal application and it arrived and was signed for on Friday 3rd July. It’s now been 18 days and Durham have yet to acknowledge receipt of it. Is that normal? I have an unexpired US visa in it and I’m terrified they’ve lost it - which is the last thing I need out here in the US, where they want your visa details for everything.

They won’t of lost it there just slowwwwww

I wouldn’t be worried as the only reason they registered mine today after 16 days was because I submitted some evidence to move things along, had I not then I think mine still wouldn’t be registered as received. It may be worth reaching out to them stating the US government are asking for visa evidence and that might move things along quicker for you. Good Luck

Getting any information out of them has been like getting blood from a stone. I can't fathom what kind of organisation either leaves mail unopened for almost three weeks or opens it and doesn't log it. I genuinely don't understand the logic of it - there's no way they're so busy that they're three weeks behind in opening mail.

They are that far behind around 3 million passports expired during lockdown and they don’t have as many staff now due to social distancing and half a million more every month expire

Hi all, This forum has been of great use over the last few anxious weeks, so I thought I'd share my timeline (Adult Renewal): Passport printed and sent 9:49am on 22 July 2020 Application approved 8:31pm on 20 July 2020 Application being processed 11:11am on 20 July 2020 Documents received 2:45pm on 17 July 2020 Application received 10:30am on 6 July 2020 Application submitted 10:29am on 6 July 2020 Was signed for by the Durham office on 7 July. Best of luck everyone!