Hi all,
I have just been on the phone to the Customer Service Management Team.
Apparently due to the big backlog in passports and it starting to hit the news (a few news articles today) they have realsed a new upgrade path for applications today!
If you can prove you are traveling within two weeks you are able to pay to upgrade. We got told to email a specific new upgrade team email adress stating various things and get contacted to pay and get fast tracked.
Personally we do not travel in two weeks time but I thought I would share with this fourm. Also you seem to get told 101 different things, so would be useful to know if anyone else also got told this!
The person on the phone said no doubt there will be teething problems and is not free.
If you are traveling within two weeks or about to, I would call up and ask about this serivce.
If you have any sucess please do let me know!
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New Passport Upgrade Service!
Travelingsoon12 · 6 Apr 2022, 15:40
Replies (1652)
So I recieved An email from Newport passport office stating receipt for upgrade request anyone know what this means
We fly on the 19th and we got a call asking for the email with flight confirmation to be sent on Thursday last week so did that straight after the call and they advised someone would contact within 2/3 days but still nothing!! I’m so stressed as we don’t have the money to move it😞
Can someone please give me some advice. I’m waiting for my daughters passport, it was expired but also lost. I’ve been waiting since 20th March. We fly on the 22nd and I’ve emailed the passport offices to apply for an upgrade and waiting on call, I’ve been sent acknowledgment from a few of the offices stating I will be contacted in 2 working days which will be end of today. If I don’t hear should I contact/email them again. Can anyone give me anymore advice ??? I’m so desperate, we all have our passports except my daughter and although she’s 17 she’s disabled so I can not leave her behind and I wouldn’t want to
@samking afraid to say you won’t hear within two working days of applying for the upgrade. I believe they are saying two to three days before. Travel. I fly on Friday and heard on Sunday
Thank you, they know how to make us sweat don’t they! I don’t mind tho just as long as it was a guarantee I got it
Just to update, I was finally called today, just 48 hours before I travel. Passport will be delivered tomorrow. I'm very relieved but I have to say this service is a joke!
@sickofthisnonsense glad you got the call and they are being sent. where was your application being processed? Mine is at Liverpool. Has anyone had any luck with Liverpool office?
@shanisedemi have you received your passports?
@hayleylou mine was originally sent to Liverpool but transferred to Durham. I called the main customer services line every other day since requesting the upgrade and was told something different each time. I issued 3 complaints as things got progressively more confusing due to conflicting advice. I never had any issue getting connected though... chose option 8 then 3 and never had to wait long. However not sure if there's any point speaking to them!
@shanisedemi have you been contacted yet? 🤞
@arnoldol when were you given the email address for the upgrade team?
I've just spoken with someone who has told me the 'Progress Team' will call me in 24-48 hours to give me the email address for where to send evidence of my date of travel. Once that's done I then need to wait another 48 hours to find out if its been approved.
I travel 2 weeks today so it all doesn't quite seem possible! I've saw a few people sharing the email addresses for upgrade teams, if I was to just send my details to one does anyone think that would work or confuse things? I sent the documents for my childs first application to Peterborough.
@Rub_03hen. I emailed Liverpool upgrade team on 4th and still not had a call. We fly 18th. I would wait until the 2 week mark personally and then the wait begins… >:(
Just to give hope to all still waiting! I just had the call, passport is processed and printed & being posted out to me before lunchtime & I will receive it tomorrow.
I fly Friday 13th 7am.
Application started on 20th March.
Upgrade team - Liverpool!
Good luck to all!!
Had a phone call last night, passport now approved. Should hopefully be with me by end of week. Really friendly operator that called, said they are working until 11PM to catchup with backlog.
Application approved 9 May 2022
Application being processed 21 March 2022
Documents received 15 March 2022
@shanisedemi and @ImFlying that's great news! Good to hear there are some getting sorted :)
What was the time frame from when your documents were received?
The 24th of March all documents received for us ! Xx
Hi
Anyone flying on 14th and passport with durham upgrade team heard anything?? We desperately need to fly to portugal but cant get medical evidence and everyone I speak to at the passport office gives different advice. The progress team took 5 days to call us back worried the upgrade team wont call us back in time.
Any advice?? We are emailing and calling everyday? Tempted to just go into the london office and speak to someone??
Brilliant news. Congratulations 👏
Hi guys, I am due to fly on the 18th. Got through to the advice team on saturday who told me to email the upgrade team. Emailed the upgrade team on saturday with all the details they require and still no response. Is there anything I can/should do to speed this up. Or do I just wait and cross my fingers, hands and toes?
@helppassport they might call you tomorrow? Send another email. Good luck
@hreeve3 I also fly on the 18th and haven’t heard anything yet. It’s a horrible waiting game
@hreeve3 we are due to fly on 19th And we were contacted on Friday to email everything over and we’ve not heard anything either but we’re told we would be contacted within 2 days. I called again today and they’ve added us back onto the call back list so fingers crossed
What number did you call today to get through? Been on hold for 1.5 hours. A very tedious process this.
We email everyday maybe three times a day.
Calls all they can do is get you a progress team call back 😩😩
Hopefully hear today or tomorrow?
Anyone try going into a passport office??
Hi all
So we're due to fly on 31st May, husbands passport was sent to Corby and is STILL showing as processing. We sent it late March when processing times were showing as 5 weeks. Our daughters was sent at the same time and was received within 3 weeks!
How do I find out which passport office it will have gone to? We are happy to pay for an upgrade, I just need to know which office it will have gone to.....will travel to get it if necessary!
Sorry you're all in the same boat as me, it's crazy stressful.
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