Liverpool

It's taking 8 working days to upload documents onto the system, but I have heard that sometimes if they request extra documents it doesn't always show up that they have recieved them, and that the application can go to approved without acknowledging the extra documents.

Ah okay that would be the ideal scenario - 8 working days would be today so hopefully I receive an update by the end of the week. Does anyone know what stages follow on from the ones I've had so far?

If you are lucky, it will go straight to approved which I think is taking 7-10 days but if you are unlucky like several of us, it will go to application processing and that takes longers. My son's application is in processing and been for almost 4 weeks but it did go into examination on Friday.

It looks like the ‘escalating’ worked - they finally updated my status to ‘Documents received’. Let’s now see how long will simple renewal (nothing changed) take.

JMS - fingers crossed for you.

I don’t like to be negative here but been following this thread for last 2 weeks! We go on holiday on 6 April and my granddaughters renewals have been at HMPO since Mid January and the other early February. They are both stuck in processing for over 2 weeks with no movement. Calling every day and told something different. A lot of the staff are rude or clueless and repeat over and over again 10 week rule. An automated message could do the same job! There is obviously no queue system and if you are unlucky enough to be waiting on a manual examiner then sorry you are doomed!! Looks like our family holiday for their Papa retiring is not going to happen! Last time passport office was in this mess at least they escalated people travelling in the near future! Apologies for the rant but actually raging 😡

Apologies for the rant but actually raging 😡

No need to apologise it must be infuriating stuck in the processing limbo when other applications, after yours, according to this forum are being approved - especially when there doesn't seem to be any reason why some are quick and some are delayed - good luck getting yours sorted.

It was apparently printed and sent last Wednesday. I find it hard to believe it’s taken 6 whole days to get here but there we go!

Fingers crossed for today lauraf1991!

I am waiting on two passports, one in processing since 25feb and one since 28 Feb. Anyone else waiting from around this sort of time? Or had recent approval from February time?

Amy93 - after waiting an hour managed to get through to someone. Not been assigned to an examiner yet and my only option is to wait till the 10 weeks have elapsed for them to take the matter seriously. Last resort is to send a letter to the local MP in the hope that might trigger something to move

Jespop - hope yours gets approved asap! Hope mine gets to examination soon x

Frustrated_1 :( That sucks! I was thinking the same, surely there's a way to escalate as it's getting ridiculous. Would you just escalate to your local MP? ADgrams - yes some of the staff are really rude which doesn't help at all! I'm nothing but polite when I call, and sometimes I get a, 'It is what it is, can't tell you anything'. - The mental (and physical) tolls this sort of stress takes on us is not ok, it's not great in the spirit of wellbeing either. Really hope everyone gets good news asap xx

Jms- mine were uploaded today too! Looks like they got to our post bag! I was actually reading the website with timings and it does say time from processing… and they track the 10 weeks from ‘when they receive your documents’ which is certainly not what you expect, and covers them…Two weeks to receive delivered documents into the system! Cheeky. Guess I have a long 6 week wait ahead (was 3 weeks when I applied 2.5 weeks ago!)

If it's approved at odd ours of the night, do you get a text at that time? x P.S. Have emailed my local MP just to make them aware, and hopefully put pressure on to try and fix the system / allocate resource to a proper process. It might not help but if enough people make some noise x

I just received the following email from the Passport Office Enquiry team: "Dear Miss ........., Thank you for your email about the progress of your application. I am happy to confirm we received your passport at our Peterborough office on 12 February 2022. All correctly completed applications are being processed within the timescales of the service you applied for, which is approximately 10 weeks for a renewal application. You do not need to do anything and if we need anything else from you, we will contact you" This is odd considering my application was sent to Liverpool, not Peterborough and that it is saying TEN WEEKS for a renewal. That is certainly NOT the processing times being claimed anywhere.

Just spoke to a lady on that number and she told the application is "Awaiting QC Checks" apparently that means examiner has done all the checks & application has progressed to final stage. Only need to be approved and sent for printing.

Just spoken to someone who said our application is in the queue for an examiner which could take 4-6 weeks from receiving everything. Going to see if we can push our holiday back now I’m devastated

So frustrating that this level of transparency isn't on their website. Had I known I'd still be waiting after applying on 3rd February I would happily have paid the extra for a fast track service.

Last resort is to send a letter to the local MP in the hope that might trigger something to move

Frustrated_1 - I've just had a 4 month battle with the DVLA to get a licence issued - complete farce of me sending documents, they sending them back only to request them again etc etc. My local MP Matt Hancock was on a bit of a rehabilitation mission locally so I took advantage of that and I contacted him - he did intervene and within 2 weeks I got the licence, after being told my returned documents would go back into the 10 week long processing queue, putting the issue of the licence to Mid April - so give it a go, certainly seemed to work in my case with the DVLA.

All correctly completed applications are being processed within the timescales of the service you applied for, which is approximately 10 weeks for a renewal application.

On their website the current time for a renewal is 5 weeks - with the 'please allow 10 weeks' comment on the page too - so hopefully the 10 week is their 'cover themselves' limit and the actual processing times on the site are nearer the length of time it's taking. They can do it - mine took 20 days from application online to approved, and this is for a 1st passport and there was an interview in that process too - just waiting for the on the way update now - so don't lose hope it probably won't be 10 weeks - fingers crossed.

Don't think any are taking 10 weeks, fingers crossed. I rang the office yesterday and now it's in examination I am having to stop myself ringing, as least it's one step closer to being done.

I finally have my passport! Really pleased but so frustrated by the whole thing. I will let you know how I get on with my complaint. Good luck everyone.

I finally have my passport! Really pleased but so frustrated by the whole thing. I will let you know how I get on with my complaint. Good luck everyone.

What a relief!! Good luck with the complaint

About time lauraf1991. Good luck with the complaint. So I caved and rang the passport office, the number on this site we all ring apparently we are not suppose too as a rude gentlemen just told me and kept quizzing me how I got it, I just told him I had been ringing it on and off for 3-4 weeks and never had a problem. On the plus side my son's passport application definitely went to the examiner on the 11th, just now waiting for an update that never seems to come.

Jespop30 - Unfortunate bumping into someone like that! Not okay :( Hope you get yours approved asap!! x I'll ring that number again tomorrow and see if it's been assigned an examiner... hope I don't get the rude man!