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
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Has anyone else been successful in relation to the 2 week upgrade? It’s getting to two weeks to my flight tomorrow! I know online it says we can’t use any other fast track process however has anyone also been successful booking a fast track appointment and getting a passport in person? There’s an appointment next week I can book however don’t want to pay the money and be told they cant process it as I don’t have my old passport as it’s been sent to HMPO and I’ve already got an application in the system! Currently on hold and anticipate I will be for a while...
Don't do it. I wasted my time going to a physical fast track appointment.
I've been on twitter and found lots of people getting calls the day before there holiday to collect passports on the day or day before.
Just email the upgrade team that has your application and pray - that's all I can do now.
London (my local office) acknowledged my email and liverpool didn't (they have the application) - they said they are working in travel order. I've got a week to go!
I got finally got a call back from the upgrade team 5 working days (instead of the 2) but they were a day too late - my passport had been approved through digital system and apparently nothing they can do. So now I’m unlikely to get my baby’s passport on time for our holiday on Wednesday. Absolutely devastated - as probably going to have to cancel our holiday for family of 5. :-(
Still waiting hope they call, so so worried.
Still haven't heard. Who has heard and what date do you travel?
I've not heard. Trying to travel Tuesday 3rd May.
Another success story!
I have been to collect my daughters upgraded passport today in london. Application completed by Durham.
Applied 5th March and stick processing.
Keep an eye out from a no caller if number!
Am over the moon - also a little less stressed 😂
Great news! When do you fly?
Passport problems can I ask when you travel date is??
@losingfaith I hope you're enjoying your holiday. I wonder if you'd be able to share the email / phone number of the Peterborough team as we are due to fly next Thurs (5th May) and my infants new child passport has been approved but not yet printed or posted. I want to try and get it collected from London like you managed to. Any help will be much appreciated. 🙏
Hi Everyone,
Sent upgrade email to Durham team last Tuesday morning but I still have not had any call from them :-(
is it adviseable to send them another email as reminder? I fly on 30th of April so getting little worried :-(
appreciate any input.
Yes! Chase chase chase!!
That's my only advice. Every time I chased it triggered an action on their part. I would ask them if they can print and you can pick the passport up to collect from a local Passport office!
Advice needed!
I’m flying for work in 16 days, and have only just realised I’ve lost my passport (haven’t travelled in a while and moved during the pandemic so assuming that’s how it’s happened)
I can’t seem to book an appointment at my passport office or any for that matter, will I be able to use this new upgrade service? or do I already need to have an application in process?
Keep checking the appointments, they release them several times a day for various office locations. You'll be able to get the fast track service as you've lost a passport.
https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently/1-week-fast-track-service
Does any one know how soon before travel the upgrade team are getting in touch with people?
I am travelling on 30th, still no call from them.
We're traveling on the 29th, emailed upgrade team on 18th, got no response and the helpline couldn't tell us much more than that they were busy. so went into the passport office to ask on the 25th. Were very helpful, said that if we didn't hear back on 26th to come back in. So back into the office this morning, said we'd get the passport by tomorrow morning at the latest. Just got the phonecall for payment there now and picking up in the morning.
Phew! Stressful for a first child passport! Our application had been sitting in documents received status for a month
Thank you @batchk23
Annoyingly I keep getting the “system busy” page only to be followed by the “please try again tomorrow” page
I am just concerned that I won’t get an appointment before my flight and wondering if the upgrade service is my best bet…
did you just turn up? my application has been sent to newport, can I still go to my nearest passport office?
Trailbl did you just turn up?? I didn't know you could x
Hi,
My daughter's passport hasn't arrived back since Feb. We are flying 4/5/22. did the upgrade service (Liverpool) on Monday, but haven;t heard anything back. Do they get back with you 2 days from your travel date or two days from your email?
TIA
2 working days of your travel
So as Monday is back holiday, that will be Friday? Would it be worth going up to Liverpool passport office to pick it up or just wait till i hear back from them? Such a nightmare.
I have no idea, we go 06:00 Monday morning. Liverpool have my application and I've heard nothing yet xx
Awful isn't it. U tried ringing and get through or email again? Did they tell you that you can pick it up from Liverpool?
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