Durham

@LisaH I think what’s most frustrating is how you can apply at the same time or even just one day before/after someone and you end up with such massive differences in your journey. I genuinely didn’t think the processing would take this long. Is yours a first time or renewal? Mine is a first adult passport.

@Gemski91 it's a child renewal so we were hoping it would be quicker...

So, after they signed for my old passport on 3rd July, they finally acknowledged receipt on 22nd July. Since then, there’s been nothing. I’ve checked back through this post and usually they start processing almost as soon as they receive it. I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend them so much that I’ve had long delays at each stage so far!

@KCBK It’s the same for me sadly! So many people here have approvals quite soon after processing but mines been stuck there for 20 days now! It took about two weeks for them to acknowledge my documents which were actually received only two days after I submitted my application! Application being processed 10 July Documents received 3 July Application received 19 June Identity details received 19 June Email sent to person confirming your identity 19 June Ask someone to confirm your identity 19 June Application submitted 19 June

I think it's purely down to providing the documentation that you are travelling within two weeks and booked your trip before the pandemic. Did anyone manage to track there delivery at any point? The PEX number doesn't seem to work with TNT.

Hi Lewis, for TNT you need to take the PEX off the front and also remove the spaces - that should work in the PAN area

It doesn’t matter when you booked it now as long as it’s within 2 weeks they will dat track it within 5 days

Timeline for First Child Passport, non-urgent and no chasing: Passport printed and sent 10:09am on 31 July 2020 Application approved 8:09pm on 29 July 2020 Application being processed 12:09pm on 14 July 2020 Documents received 2:53pm on 12 July 2020 Application received 10:54pm on 30 June 2020 Identity details received 10:53pm on 30 June 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 10:34pm on 30 June 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:31pm on 30 June 2020 Application submitted 10:31pm on 30 June 2020 We've got flights booked on Tuesday morning so I'm hoping that if it was sent today we will receive it on Monday!

Child renewal, standard application, no chasing Application history Passport printed and sent 11:54am on 28 July 2020 Application approved 11:27am on 27 July 2020 Documents received 2:43pm on 24 July 2020 Application received 6:53pm on 16 July 2020 Identity details received 6:52pm on 16 July 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:43pm on 16 July 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:42pm on 16 July 2020 Application submitted 6:42pm on 16 July 2020

@Gemski91 Have you had an update? Mine moved to Processing on July 27th and I’m trying to work out what the average time it takes for an adult renewal.

@KCBK Still processing! 4 weeks now as of yesterday!! I’m actually so fed up and angry because there are people who have applied at the end of July and had there passports already! I can’t quite believe how random everything is!! I have tried contacting them through twitter as well. I was told to PM them with my code but they still haven’t read it so on Monday I plan to try and phone again because 4 weeks processing is ridiculous imo.

@Gemski91 That’s utterly absurd. People on here have had them within a week of applying here, with no extenuating circumstances. Crazy how they’re not working from the earliest applications as a first priority.

@KCBK It’s made me so annoyed. I deliberately used a booth to ensure my picture wouldn’t get returned, I was more then prompt in getting all the supporting documents sent and my identity verified, it’s like I’ve been lost or something! First thing Monday I will be on that telephone to them!

Can anyone tell me about the return of their birth certificates? I’ve been processing for the 4 weeks now, I’ve not even had my mums or my birth certificates back yet. Phoning them today though.

According to the passport office they’re taking 8 weeks to process. If I haven’t had a call for interview in two weeks time I’ll have to contact them again. I travel exactly 4 weeks from today 😳 starting to get a little nervous now!

Royal Mail tracking shows passport was signed for at the Durham office on the 03/08/2020 by a GSIMPSON. Still waiting on it to be "received" at Durham. Judging by some posts on here, its about 2 weeks before it stops saying "Send your old passport" , is that correct? Application received 8:20am on 28 July 2020 Application submitted 8:20am on 28 July 2020

@solman07 Yes that’s about right, mine took 13 days to show as received despite being sent recorded and signed for the next day.

Weird as some peoples applications to Durham were sent a day or two before mine and it shows their documents as received.

There just doesn’t seem to much method with them. There are people who applied after me but recurved their passports first. Mines been processing for ages! I’ll have to escalate it if nothing happens in two weeks.

I applied for an adult renewal with a name change, which I received today. I had previously got in touch with customer services to request a faster renewal for ID purposes but I don't think that actually got processed. I received the passport today because TNT has 'tried' to deliver on Friday but apparently we weren't in (we definitely were!). I haven't received my old passport or my marriage certificate even though I paid extra for the recorded return delivery. Passport printed and sent 10:48am on 5 August 2020 Application approved 9:25am on 4 August 2020 Documents received 10:01am on 30 July 2020 Application received 6:44pm on 22 July 2020 Application submitted 6:43pm on 22 July 2020

@solman07 G Simpson also signed for my documents, but it took just over two weeks for them to acknowledge receipt. Hang in there! @Gemski91 They’ve just approved my application - I chased them, but they stonewalled each time.

Are there any First Adult passports who have had an interview? I am told now if by Monday next week I haven’t had a call for an interview then I have to contact them again. I’m travelling two weeks Monday so it’s getting way too close for comfort now.

First Adult passport - no interview Passport printed and sent 18 August 2020 Application approved 17 August 2020 Application being processed 8 August 2020 Documents received 7 August 2020 Use paper form to confirm identity 6 July 2020 Email sent to person confirming your identity 6 July 2020 Ask someone to confirm your identity 6 July 2020 Application submitted 6 July 2020

@Irosstrevor I Csnt work our what it is with my application? You’re a first timer like me. And your processing time was 9 days, yet I have been processing for almost 6 weeks now (6 on Friday) and they told me processing was taking 8 weeks. How is it that these are all massively varied in times. Mind boggling.

I got lucky with a really helpful person today. In order to escalate an application it has to meet two pieces of criteria. 1: has to have been on the system at least 8 weeks 2: travel must be within two weeks. Monday I am officially able to call for escalation as I my 8 week marker was last week and my two week marker will be Monday. I’ll let you know if I escalate and how that goes.