New Passport Upgrade Service!

It’s cruel how they keep people waiting. I’ve got till the 18th. I’m sure by the end of this week I will be a stressed to the max! Has anyone had them call on the weekend or do they only call working week days??

I know but I do sympathise with them to be fair this is the biggest back log they’ve ever faced. I spoke to someone today who said the upgrade team don’t work weekends (although Newport emailed me back today) apparently where ever the passport is you need that office to approve it first then it can be printed at any passport office. For some reason mines in Belfast! And I live in Birmingham I’m praying they call me Monday!

@JadeWinnett when do you fly? I spoke to progress team today via a call back and they said upgrade are working weekend as they are pushing to get things moving. Same old different story anytime you speak to HMPO. I fly on Friday. It’s not feeling promising. Although today did say Peterborough had acknowledged it into their queue yesterday

I thought so! I think this is the worse of it always being told something different! Is that what the progress team told you that they had acknowledged it? Are you ringing the main number to get through to progress or 973 at the end? Im not either to be honest. I fly on Thursday so Tuesday is the latest I can wait for them to call me

It was a call back from the progress team logged through the main number. But not much point in calling any number really. We have to decide by end of Tuesday whether to pay to move our holiday or not. It’s such a joke. Peterborough don’t even have an automated email response when you send it to the upgrade team.

I can see there are a lot of people in the same boat. I have been waiting since April 6th where my application has been processing. My two childrens passports were sent off at the same time have been printed off and returned weeks ago but my status has not changed. I’ve made numerous calls and get told different things. I have to call tomorrow for the upgrade team as I am supposed to be flying out on the 22nd. I was told I would then get a call back within 48hrs if they can help me but there are no guarantees. This is my last hope to get my passport otherwise I have to cancel my family holiday. It’s soul destroying as when I first applied I was told turn around time was three weeks. I have no idea what criteria has to be met to be eligible for an upgrade. My passport went to the Peterborough office and my Documents are on the system. I will be calling again at 9am in the hope of getting through to someone who can help instead of being fobbed off. Good luck to those waiting

Hey everyone, I have been following this for a while. I just wanted to let you know that I applied for the upgrade service on 28/04/22 at Peterborough and did not even receive any acknowledgment (this was for my son’s child renewal). However this morning I got a call from the Peterborough upgrade team to come and collect his passport tomorrow morning. So please do not worry if you have not received an acknowledgment. We fly on 12/05/22. Good luck to you all x

Hi stay positive do you know if your passport was at Peterborough to start with? Mines gone to Belfast for some reason I fly too the 12th. But I was advised when I first applied to email Peterborough even though my passport isn’t there!

Hi @StayPositive1 congrats on getting the passport. Did they call really early on a Sunday morning? Lucky you. We fly on the 13th. Desperate to get the call. Feel like we never will. It’s a joke that the “process” has no way to be tracked

Hi @JadeWinnitt his was always at Peterborough. Hope you get your call today! @arnoldol yes she called just after 8 this morning on withheld. They are working in date order so you should get your call tomorrow. Best of luck!

Thank you!! And congrats on getting yours!! I’ve just spoke to someone who stated when I applied for the upgrade they are also meant to request a call back from the upgrade team when you request it unfortunately they did not do this for me so it is unlikely I will get it in time now! Just draining!!

@StayPositive1 I just got the call!!!! Can pick up the wee man’s passport tomorrow from Glasgow (I live in Edinburgh). Absolutely over the moon. Didn’t even charge me

Hello people who received calls today. When are yous travelling? And which office called you? Thanks

Hi that’s great news that people have received there upgrade calls, has anyone had a successful upgrade with Durham yet? I leave on the 15th and preying I get a call soon 🤞

I leave on 17th, for the 15th I’d say expect a call around Tuesday/Wednesday. Hopefully no later

You won’t get calls till 2/3 days before people, it’s going on travel date. I’ve been into the passport office and spoke to the upgrade manger and that’s what she told me.

Amber you probs won’t get a call till the end of week.

Great news some are getting their passports. Brings hope to us waiting 🤞🤞

I got the call today and I travel on the 13th. Was very surprised to get it. It’s a withheld number so keep your phone on loud and keep the faith

Got my fingers crossed for the end of the week 🤞 hate how close its being left 😩

@arnoldol Ahh that’s amazing news! They offered to post mine and I said no thanks, would rather drive and not take the risk! Yes they didn’t charge me either which was great! @JadeWinnitt I’m not sure if that’s entirely true. Did you get the email that said we’ve put through your upgrade request because that’s all I got and sent the evidence. You should ring again to see if that is true. Top tip for getting through: Call the mainline number Press 5, 2, 2, 1 and you’ll get through within 10 minutes x

Staypositive that’s the thing I take what they say with a pinch of salt now as I’m misinformed daily! I’ve put a complaint in now then called up again and they have told me my passport has gone to the examination department and there is a note to say to release to the upgrade team. The gentleman then put an alert on for the examiner to state I’m flying the 12th so it’s urgent he thinks I’ll get a call tomorrow so fingers crossed but again punch of salt! Lol

Sorry forgot to answer that, yeah I got that email and sent it over but I was told Thursday they don’t understand why the told me Peterborough because my passport is in Belfast!

Fingers crossed they call you tomorrow Jade. Keep us updated

Thank you! Will do good luck to everyone!