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@lindsay86 – that’s the number I use now as the other was useless and all they do is say we’ll call you back.
I do think it’s the number for the Liverpool office though and my application started there so that could be why? In the 5 times I’ve called it they’ve always just taken my details, not had anyone say I shouldn’t be calling it.

To everyone else stuck in processing, I called today and mines still in the queue after 5 weeks, not even picked up by an examiner yet so you’re probably looking at a similar wait. Seems to be around 6 weeks wait currently.

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Honestly for anyone applying in future I’d advise not to pay for the premium delivery, they just pop it in with standard royal mail post and it won’t be caught in the dreadful TNT backlog.

My partner didn’t pay as he was in no rush and got his supporting documents back the day before his passport

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I replied to this last night but apparently it didn’t post. Even got told it was a duplicate reply when I clicked submit again 🤷‍♂️

Anyway, is this your son’s first adult passport after having a child’s one or first one ever?

All first passports are actually treated differently, there’s first adult after having a child’s one, first adult after naturalization and first adult passport ever.

From people I’ve spoken to, first adult passport after having a child passport and first adult passport after naturalization may not always require an interview depending on the timeframe.

First adult passport without having held one before 100% requires an interview now. This is the case for mine, as told to me by 2 different advisors. I don’t believe any first adult passports are eligible for fast track as well.

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From what I’ve seen, if it was going to go to processing (manual route) then it will change to it a lot faster, usually within about a week of documents received (as long as they’re not waiting for anything else from you).

Pretty much all the other times I’ve seen people wait 1-2 weeks after documents received it’s gone straight to approved.

The change to “processing” doesn’t mean they’re actually processing it, it just means it’s been put on the pile to go to manual processing. Where as there’s no “gone to digital processing” update, you have to just wait for the approved so it might seem like it’s not moving.

I’d say currently the wait is 2-4 weeks digital and 8-10 manual depending on what they need from you and whether they transfer it internally.

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Did you not get a form to fill in after clicking the button?

I tried it twice and just found it useless.

First time I click the button, fill out the form where they ask you for all your details and then to describe the problem so I was typing for a minute or two, trying to give all the details. I click submit and I get told nobody is available. So I guess stupidly they don’t reserve your spot once you open it and it’s fastest to click submit on the form.

I’m a fast typist but second time I didn’t want to chance it so I just wrote it on notepad and copy and pasted. I get in, he says he’s opening up my application details and literally just repeats to me what’s on the tracker and can’t tell me any more, I ask if he can take my tracking information and he just says he “doesn’t have the facilities” to help in any way and told me to phone the helpline.

Definitely not worth using, better to just sit on hold to the helpline rather than refreshing the web page all day trying to get through to someone that can’t help with anything.

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Is it his first adult passport after having a child’s one? I’ve heard some people not need to be interviewed for this.

I think child passport to first adult passport and first adult passport after naturalization don’t always require an interview depending on the timeframes.

However, If it’s his first passport ever though (this is the case with mine) then I’ve been told by 2 HMPO advisors that I will 100% need an interview.

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As caridad said it just means it’s gone to the manual route instead of digital.
I think with digital every check is done automatically and just needs a person to accept it at the end so it’s much quicker.

I’ve heard anything as little as phoning them up can cause it to go to manual processing so there may not be any problems. Only way to be 100% though is to contact them and be sure they’re not waiting on anything on your end (as it’s already gone to manual it won’t add any time).

There’s currently about 6 weeks wait in processing depending on which office. I’m at 4 1/2 weeks in Durham and it’s not even been picked up by an examiner yet.

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@cooky987 seen a few getting approved from mid March so yours shouldn’t be far behind I wouldn’t think.

I’m about 2 weeks behind if they are doing them chronologically. Been waiting 8 1/2 weeks total but they only marked it as processing on the 1st of April.

Not sure if it will help with not getting cut off but the number I call is 03001231973
Don’t have to push any buttons just wait on hold. I think it’s direct to the Liverpool office and they seem a lot more knowledgeable and helpful than the number on the website.

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Currently 8 1/2 weeks. Was told last week all they’ve done is link documents in that time and it’s currently sat in a pile waiting to be picked up so I’ll probably hit the 10 weeks.

Will submit story when it reaches 10.

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Just been told mines now at Durham office after sending it in to Liverpool, not sure exactly when that happened as I’ve contacted them over 5 times and didn’t get told until today.

First adult passport timeline:
Applied/Confirmed ID/Sent documents 5th March
Acknowledgment of documents received 29th March
Processing 1st April

Was told it would be 4 weeks total but now 7 ½ weeks in and all they’ve done in that time is linked my documents, it’s still in a pile waiting to be seen by an examiner.

I’m now guessing that the delay with documents was internal transfer maybe? Wish they’d told me that before I spent money on new birth certificates thinking they’d lost them.

Holiday was booked for 16th may, 73 days after application but rebooking tonight at £600 cost as I have zero confidence in them sending it before then despite being over 10 weeks after.

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Just off the phone to them.

7 and a half weeks and it’s still untouched, in a queue to be seen by an examiner. So in almost 2 months all they’ve done is link a birth certificate.

Highly doubt they’ll examine it, interview me then post it within 20 days so about to rebook. What was a gift, now costing me £600 :/ – on that note I’ve seen it mentioned on here a few times but has anyone actually gone about trying to get compensation for them taking over the 10 weeks?

Also been told for the first time that apparently my application was transferred to the Durham office at some point so I guess my timeline may not be very relevant on this thread now.

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djbdane – were there interviews available soon after you called them then? 4 weeks is pretty fast including one.

I only applied 12 days after you so 52 days in for me now and still nothing.

Travel 21 days from today and I think jet2 allows changes up to 15 days before travel so now having to decide before the end of the week to either pay about £600 more to rearrange or risk not getting it by then and lose the whole holiday.

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Djbdane – thanks for the info. How did they get in contact with you to arrange the interview, was it letter, text or post?

I’m perfectly fine with having an interview it’s just a few pages back pusinky had said it took 13 days to receive a letter requesting an interview and then 12 days wait for the earliest one. With my flight now being 25 days away I’d need to arrange an interview in the next week now and even that’s pushing it.

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leiluna – mine is actually a first adult passport as someone born in England, never having held one before.

Not sure if they are processed the same, I do hold a British driver’s licence so maybe they have enough on the system to not need an interview?

Have just remembered the woman on the phone actually said they will text/email me when it comes to that though so anyone else reading who’s needed an interview can I ask if they wrote, text or emailed you for it?

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pusinky – that’s what I thought but the woman on the phone said all new first adult passports need an interview now, I even asked twice as I’d heard otherwise as well.

Can I ask what was the date your interview letter was sent then, the 25th? Just trying to judge roughly if I do get one as your timeline is the same as mine just a month earlier. (22 days for docs, then 3 and a bit working days to go to processing) Means I’d be due one in about 5 days

I hate the whole process of phoning them up and being on hold but guess I’m going to have to every few days as I can’t afford to wait 13 days for a letter just asking to call them.

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