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)
Has anyone heard back from Durham or liverpool yet?
No and due to fly Sunday 1st feeling so upset and stressed can’t believe this as other are getting upgrades for flights next week!
I know we are the same and I have noticed others getting it who are going much later than we are. We fly Monday. I'm thinking of going into the office today. Which office are you waiting for contact from x
Waiting on Durham so a little far from London! Also told they just turn you away if you turn up! 🤷🏻♀️
I'm also waiting on Durham, let me know if you here might give me some hope. Good luck x
Still waiting on Liverpool. Supposed to be travelling Wednesday
I applied for my daughter’s renewal 31/01. Sent her passport 01/02. Which never arrived they told me to mark it lost so I did and then called and said it was found but has already been cancelled but was out of date anyway, the application has been sitting in processing and with the examiner since 15/3. I got an email at one point saying I was meant to fly to a wedding on 21/04 but didn’t book as no passport back, we have a family holiday booked 29/05 and was told about this new service but said criteria is you have to be waiting over 10 weeks and flying within 2 weeks. Was you told this? I’m worried as I feel it’s cutting it fine? Did you all hear back from them and get the passport? I was told not to call and upgrade until 11th/12th May. I don’t have any other options do I? So very stressful :(
Sorry.. I got email stating passport received at one point but they said was an error. **
Just picked up my son's passport at lunchtime, flying tomorrow so upgrade service got it done just in the nick of time!
We just turned up to chase on it at the front desk in the passport office after pretty much a week of hearing nothing. Not sure if it does things up or made a difference but at least gave us the comfort that it was being looked at and someone was able to confirm it was in their queue - tbf everyone we dealt with in person was v nice and helpful
Hi,
My wife applied for a renewal passport for my daughter and sent in both my birth certificate and passport as supporting documents. As we all know, the turnaround times are a lot longer than usual at the moment. We have been notified that her passport is being processed (notification received 13th April) but i am due to fly on 12th May and have no idea when ill get my passport back. Does anyone know if there is away that i can get my passport back seeing as they have my birth cert as authentication? Ive been trying to get through to the PO for the last three days but just get cut off.....Thanks
I am still waiting to hear from Durham, I called passport office today and he reassured me that if I have sent the email that I am in the queue and it will get done and not to worry.
Just for a bit of reassurance a work colleague in a similar position flys on Monday 2nd, only process her upgrade request Mon 25th, got automatic email back wed 27th and then got a call today 28th to say the passport would be delivered Saturday! So I have everything crossed for everyone and we need to trust in the process
We are due to travel this Sunday, have not heard a thing and when I call they can’t tell me anything apart from it’s waiting to be looked at!
I would never use the 0300 number as you get don't get anywhere, I have recently gone through a renewal for my Daughter started on 6th March and Passport has been printed today, we are due to go away 12th May 22 so the relief is amazing, nothing has ever made me as stressed as this whole ordeal.
Best contact number for Passport office for less waiting times and not getting cut off is 01633285419.
I feel your pain everyone so good luck to you all!!!!
Finally got call from Durham office today and passport now printed. Picking it tomorrow first thing :-D
good luck to everyone waiting...
Shouq when do you fly?
Well done!
Please keep your finger crossed for me feeling so sad!
I emailed Liverpool upgrade team yesterday and have my daughter's passport today! I applied on 2nd March and fly next week. I think the lady I spoke to picked it up really quickly because they'd asked for extra documentation that it turns out they didn't need so it should have been processed weeks ago - she even waived the fee. I put the reference number and the flight date in the subject line and attached proof of our flight.
This doesn't make sense anymore. May I ask was that your child's first passport?
Pleased for you all don't get wrong but having applied 17th Feb and meant to be travelling 3rd May I'm getting no where.
A positive upgrade story (fingers crossed for you all still waiting). We applied for our upgrade on Friday via the Belfast team and after an anxious wait, we received a phone call yesterday (Wednesday) to say the upgrade could go ahead with a fee of £96. Rather than risking delivery, we asked to collect from Liverpool today. We applied on 17th Feb and fly on the 4th May and it was for our Son’s first passport. I’m not sure how they order these things as should be date of travel order surely? But people who travel before us don’t seem to have their passports yet. Sadly I think it’s luck of the draw, as we applied 10 weeks ago but know people who have applied after us and received in 3 weeks which isn’t fair at all but we’re just pleased to finally have it. Good luck everyone!
Still waiting for upgrade we are supposed to fly Sunday 1st makes no sense as told those flying first will be dealt with first but I have seen so many people getting up grades from Durham which is where our application is and the don’t fly till next week! So unfair!
@foxtrot lady
I really hope they call you today and you get to pick it up.
Please update if you do manage to get the passport. :-( feeling so upset for you. I hope we get ours before our flight!
Does anyone know can first adult passport be upgraded? Anyone here applied for first adult and get upgraded? Will be flying out on the 14th so not sure should I email upgrade team or cancel the holidays?
Has anyone booked some cheap flights to speed this up? We are travelling on 29th May but am worried that the passport won’t be done with the 2 week upgrade when we apply. Do they check the dates the flights are booked? It’s so stressful we’ve waited so long I’m really not hopeful the upgrade will work as I don’t know what the hold up is and neither are the contact centre.
Any luck today?
Does anyone have a direct number for the processing team? I waited over an hour to speak to someone, she tried to put me through to the processing team but it cut me off 😩 I’ve been using 01633 285419 to get through. I can start my daughters upgrade from today and I’m so worried now I won’t get through to anyone 🤦♀️
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