Liverpool

Amy93 - we fly on the 4th. People keep saying I have time, but running out of hope. I'm not sure how it will speed things up, probably should have asked that lol.

Hi all. I’ve been reading everyone’s stories but this is my first post. My children are set to go on holiday on the 2nd April and I’ve applied for 2 first child passports. I sent the documents HMPO needed via recorded delivery on the 9th feb. It took 19 days for them to mark them as received! I’m so angry with whole system. Whenever I ring there is apparently nothing they can tell me, and I’m still waiting for a call back over a week and a half later! I’ve almost lost hope that we will make our holiday! Here is our timeline so far. Application being processed 12:12pm on 2 March 2022 Documents received 4:12pm on 28 February 2022 Application received 9:09pm on 6 February 2022 Identity details received 9:09pm on 6 February 2022 Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:17pm on 5 February 2022 Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:59pm on 5 February 2022 Application submitted 5:59pm on 5 February 2022

Sarah88 - My son's has been in examination since the 11th March, they keep telling me only a matter of time till I hear but losing faith. We fly on the 4th April. The woman has flagged mine as it's been 10 weeks since I submitted, but I have seen kids first passports be approved pretty quick. This is doing my head in as my daughters first went from documents received to application approved in 6 days, also the renewals I have done were all back in my hand within 3 weeks, but this one is taking ages for no reason. Passport applications should not be taking this long seriously.

Documents received 4:12pm on 28 February 2022 Application received 9:09pm on 6 February 2022

That's the killer here - your time elapsed as far as they are concerned didn't start until the 28th when the updated the docs received. You've two weeks to go, so hopefully you'll be OK but to be honest delays are getting longer and longer it seems, mine was approved a week ago (Sun 13th) and hasn't been printed yet - just keep on their case, it does seem sometimes it just comes down to the person you speak to - some are really helpful, others aren't. Good luck and fingers crossed.

Hi All, Hope all is well! Does anyone know (for child passport renewal) how many days will it take from: - "Your application is being processed" To: - "Application approved" Thanks a lot!!

Hope all is well! Does anyone know (for child passport renewal) how many days will it take from: – “Your application is being processed” To: – “Application approved” Thanks a lot!!

I suspect you're now in how long's a piece of string territory I am afraid. There doesn't seem to be any pattern or standard time scale, and timings seem to be specific to each application.

Has anyones application actually moved from “processing” to “approved”? I only seem to see on here those being approved that don’t have the application stage.

I also notice that they haven’t updated their how long passports are taking page since the week ending 6th March - I wonder if their figures are too bad!

Processing over 2 weeks now and phoning every other day and they can’t even say where you are in the queue.. obviously because there is no queue.. we have to decide by next week if we need to cancel our holiday. They also told us that some sit in processing longer depending on the nature of the problem .. I think they make it up as they go along 🤷‍♀️

Jespop30 - that still gives you 2 weeks so fingers crossed it gets sorted asap Monday! From when I spoke to them, if it goes over 10 weeks they start pushing too so they should. If not I’ll call and chase on your behalf too hun x Yes fingers crossed it gets printed next week! This stress is awful! @all - Processing to approved for me took 2.5 weeks. I’ve heard it can take 14-21 days but there’s no rule to it - seems to be pot luck. If you call and ask if it’s been assigned an examiner that helps to get an idea sometimes (although it can stage in examiner stage for a while!!)

So our tracking has been stuck on “we have received your old passport” since 10th March, we’ve called up and been told awaiting examination, so we’ve paid out £300 to move our holiday back a month to be safe. My friend works in the PO and said it’s gone to a queue for potential further documentation. We are so frustrated, this was a replacement passport and have a horrible feeling as my partner was born in Germany it’s flagged even though he’s British! You’d think having parents who fought for the country wouldn’t be used against you

Amy93- thanks hunni. See I'm not sure if others will chase it up, as not many of them count from when it is submitted, most count when application is recieved, but if she put an alert on it, maybe they will chase it. It's so frustrating, I sent my marriage certificate in after the birth certificate, and I don't even know if they log extra documents, as some people have said they don't, so I won't know it's been put onto the system.

My application was approved yesterday afternoon Application - 6th feb Documents received - 17th feb Processing - 23rd feb Approved - 19th March I’m hoping the printing and delivery goes quick as I am due to fly on the 28th

I’m hoping the printing and delivery goes quick as I am due to fly on the 28th

Mine was approved on the 13th March and is still showing as approved this morning - so be prepared for drama! Good luck hopefully you'll get it in time.

Mine was approved 16th and meant to go away 24th March (next thurs) not looking likely. I’m wondering if you called then and if they can help speed the process at all as I doubt they can and have already rang them loads

Jespop30 - they do keep going on about this “10 week service agreement” but the reality is they changed their website! Grr! Hopefully flagging it helps your case. They don’t flag for everyone so it just mean something! :) x That’s not good! They should log it separately instead of cause us more stress (I’m sure they have it - just being awful at communication as always!) Baz8790 - hope it gets printed asap! I’ve seen some stay at approved for a week or two, and others be printed a few days later! Hope yours is approved asap for your holiday! Fingers crossed.

Mine was approved 16th and meant to go away 24th March (next thurs) not looking likely. I’m wondering if you called then and if they can help speed the process at all as I doubt they can and have already rang them loads

Nothing to lose by trying but I get the impression when it's approved it's 'passed' for printing, so you're in a queue and you just have to wait your turn in the queue. However, I suspect the weak link after approval is TNT as I was told it can take up to 5 days for TNT to collect once printed, so I think they are only collecting as many as their system can process at a time - so it may be printed and sat in a cage waiting for TNT to collect it.

Djbane- yeah think you’re right, it’s just a queue and then TNT just taking what they can. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s pot luck at this stage too 😂 I’ve lost all faith!

Djbane- yeah think you’re right, it’s just a queue and then TNT just taking what they can. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s pot luck at this stage too 😂 I’ve lost all faith!

I've just had a massive 4 month drama with the DVLA getting a licence so this is nothing compared to that - but maybe something to factor into this is COVID cases are rising again, so maybe illness is now impacting the service at every level - I know this is what the issue was at the DVLA (and industrial action)

Djbane - oh I see! Thank you for the heads up on DVLA- useful to know as I need to sort that 😵‍💫

Even If they approve it, I don't know if it will even reach here in time, with the various times it's taking to print and then be delivered. Some people are recieving there's within a week of being approved while others are taking longer. I am seriously thinking of changing it, if I can. Means I would have to take kids out of school for a week, but really isn't my fault, as I put the application in with plenty of time, not my fault it's taking 10+ weeks.

Jespop30 - not your fault at all! It’s awful what we have to go through, the stress and logistics :( Is there a deadline / latest to when you can change your booking? (Ours was 7 days so we waited until then but asked them for an estimation)

Jespop30 – not your fault at all! It’s awful what we have to go through, the stress and logistics 🙁

What would help is if they are just honest - if they are overwhelmed say it - if it's going to take the full 10 weeks then tell us - OK we'll be annoyed but if you're told the reason and given a timescale then we'll cope with it - at least people can avoid this roller-coaster of frustration and anguish as travel deadlines approach

Spoke to tui, and anything under 28 days comes with a cancellation fee, and as in due to fly in less than 15 days, means I would lose 100%. I spoke to the advise line, couldn't wait till tomorrow. She has put an urgent call back for the progress team, and she hopes they ring today, but if not she wants me to ring back tomorrow, and wants me to speak to the customer management team. She said it looks like they are waiting for something. I said my marriage certificate, which is already in the office. She asked if I had heard from them and I said no, and she said I should have heard something from them. Just have no hope anymore.

Jespop30 - that’s awful! You’d think there’d be some flexibility at least, given it’s not your fault at all :( Yeah you’re right, the least they could do is be honest about the timelines changing suddenly from 3 weeks to 10! So out of order. Fingers and toes are crossed for you hun :( xx