Liverpool

I’m not sure - I think you have to cancel your application and ask for them to be sent to you. I would call tomorrow and ask. They say that can take up to 3 weeks but given that it’s taken them 2 weeks to process my application (and counting), plus 8 days to upload documents and the new one isn’t in the post yet it’s a close run thing. With hindsight I wish I’d called it lost and done the week long process. As I’m sure you can see I’ve called most days - I’ve been promised callbacks that never happened. I sent details of my flights that went missing/ignored. You will lose money but you will save on stress if you can find a way to do the week long appointment. If you leave them in the system you may be lucky! But if you’re not there’s literally nothing you can do.

jespop30 - I was concerned the passport office had lost the documents but they found them in the end. I asked for a call back that never materialised. Has anyone had experience requesting for the supporting documents to be returned without withdrawing the application?

I've been waiting for a call back, but never received one, that was almost 2 weeks ago now.

I've just had an email this morning saying my application has been approved so that's less than 7 days from 'receiving' my old passport when i sent it on the 21st of Feb. Flying on the 19th of march so fingers crossed my new one arrives this week Application history StatusDate Application approved 12:57am on 8 March 2022 Documents received 1:11pm on 2 March 2022 Application received 4:10pm on 19 February 2022 Application submitted 4:10pm on 19 February 2022

That’s great news HUMEN! Do you think anything you did sped that up?

Seems like the Liverpool office are murder at processing docs. Application online 23rd Feb Docs send 24th Feb Both passports still sitting saying awaiting docs to be received. Totally stressed out and mad at myself for not doing the 1 week service. Documents are needed to be received no later than 25th March. In people's honest opinion, is that achievable?

I don’t think that’s achievable - somebody finally admitted to me this morning there are delays. But it is luck of the draw, some people do make it. If you want certainty and no stress try to get a fast track appointment. I’ve called every day and nothing.

I'm hoping as my son's application has been processing and with the examiner since the 16th, I hear something soon

Thanks Laura, as the days tick by, I become less and less optimistic. Please keep us posted on your progress. I feel its pointless me even calling the passport office if docs aren't even showing as received.

Thats a long time Jes. I had a look at people's updates on the stages andnit seemed an average of 11ish days to go from received to approved, so that's really long. Hope you hear back soon.

And when I say delays apparently it’s taking 10 days for applications to be processed and then another 5 days to go through examination in Liverpool. Other offices are moving faster.

I need it for the 4th April, and I can't even move the holiday as it's gone up by 3 grand 😭. It's been almost 4 weeks since they logged the documents as received, and almost 6 weeks since they received application and no idea how many weeks it has been since I submitted the application

This is terribly depressing. When we applied for a child renewal, it was 3 weeks turnaround and we sent it 5 weeks before our travel date. Application online: Feb 20th Documents signed for: Feb 25th Tracker: still saying send documents. Keep getting emails to say send documents so it's still not on the system. Just talked to the advice line, who just kept sighing heavily. I know they are busy but they should not be showing their frustration in such a way. All I wanted to know was whether they had the documents ( apparently "they'll be on someones desk somewhere"), or whether I could get the dual nation passport sent back so we could at least use that? Apparently not! My complaint is 1) why have a tracker if it is not fit for purpose and 2) why have a current time of 4 weeks if it that is from processing, not from application. It is misleading.

I have only called once and that was when I was concerned why my passport was not showing as being delivered on my royal mail tracking so I haven't really bugged them or anything I swear it is luck ! Have you had good news with yours Lauraf?

Just thought I would update you guys with my current wait time. Due to travel next week. Will have to postpone as passport office cannot give any indication on when I will get it. They had my documents signed for on the 17th feb Application being processed 12:16pm on 4 March 2022 Documents received 2:52pm on 2 March 2022 Application received 9:18am on 16 February 2022 Identity details received 9:18am on 16 February 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:27pm on 14 February 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:40am on 14 February 2022 Application submitted 11:40am on 14 February 2022

My partner has been advised they are working through docs received from royal mail on the 25th. Hopefully you hear something today badger. I have one document that was signed for on the 25th. The other the 28th. (Even though both send 1st class signed for) I dont know how I've not crashed their site the amount of times I'm checking the tracker

Stephanie thats so frustrating. How late can you leave it before having to change your holiday? Like someone said previously its the cost implications of these changes. Don't know why they aren't just dishing out overtime to the passport office staff to sort this backlog

I’m going to leave it until Friday. But I’m due to start work in a different country next week. So hopefully they will allow me to postpone. I know I’ve been checking non stop. Only looks like it’s Liverpool suffering with a backlog.

Is Bootle the same as Liverpool? I sent documents on 26th but these haven't been received yet - this is for an adult renewal

Thanks for that Kelso! You made me laugh about crashing the tracker!

It is only Liverpool suffering currently - something has clearly gone wrong in the last couple of weeks. But what that is they’re unwilling to say. As somebody who has chased everyday since 22nd Feb and submitted their application on 7th Feb here is what I’ve learnt. The system goes - documents received (normally takes 8 days), documents processing (can take 2/3 weeks), awaiting examination (currently adding 1 week), in examination (5-10 days), more info/approved (quick), sent (2-3 days).It’s more like a 6 week process right now. If your flight time fits in that you should be fine. But if not you’re better taking the risk of recalling documents and trying to get an in-day process if you have under 4 weeks. There are exceptions to this - some people just get lucky and go application received, documents received, application approved. It depends what pile you’re in and I was told this is random. They don’t work through in date order or any other order they were willing to tell me. I’d advise you all to fill in the survey and give them the feedback that it’s unhelpful to have an IVR saying ‘average is 4 weeks’ when it isn’t. And that the agents don’t seem to know anything and just get frustrated (which I can understand)but either have agents who can help and prioritise or get rid of the tracking system. The two things are clearly incompatible. The complaint lady told me I’d likely have my passport late next week. There’s no compensation as they have the 10 week loophole so weigh up whether it’s better to pay twice for an application or lose the holiday.

Just to offer some hope to people, I have been worried as I’m travelling on the 11th April but my passport skipped the processing stage! Application submitted: 13th February Documents received: 1st March Application approved: 6th March Passport printed & sent: 8th March I was also really worried about my digital photo however it has passed without rejection! Good luck all

heartbroken had to change flights from weds to sun now and don’t even know if it will definitely arrive by then…spoke to TNT after not receiving any tracking info..they haven’t even got it!! So frustrated and upset..hoping it will arrive in time as I’ve got to reapply for ESTA forms with new passport no. they really need to use a different courier service as it seems no one gets a good amount of reliable info

Finally had a call back after requesting one 11 days ago. It was discussed that as I am due to fly on the 4th of April, instead of waiting for an update from examiner, I am going to send my marriage certificate in, as she can't guarantee they will link to my application as my application has been approved and received my end. So that will take 8 working days at least to be logged on the system, and then if my son's application is on hold it will flag up, and will be looked at fairly quickly. This will leave about 10 days before our holiday, cutting it fine. When I have previously had an application on hold, and I've send what they needed, it was approved 1 or 2 days after they recieved that information

Hi guys, new to the forum chat. I've been keeping up with all of your applications. This is my application timeline: Application being processed 10:20am on 24 February 2022 Identity details received 2:18pm on 18 February 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:11pm on 18 February 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 2:05pm on 18 February 2022 Application submitted 2:05pm on 18 February 2022 Like many I am also stuck in the limbo of Liverpool processing. What are you guys saying to agents to get call backs or any agent to actually care about you situation? So far I've rang twice today and last week, I got zero help or info at all. The gents both times just merely read out the status of my application and told me what I already know. I fly out on the 26th of March, realistically what chance do I stand of making that?