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I used the generic expedited email address and also got the automated response.you’ve basically done all that you can for now. Won’t do any harm to send another email closer to the time though. I just felt like doing something made me feel better than doing nothing so I probs called up to way more than I should have!!!
You shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to go on holiday and you applied in good time (way over their published timescales).
I was exactly the same as you thinking it just wouldn’t happen and let’s face it it’s hard to trust the process when you’ve waited much longer than you should have.
Enjoy your hol, you’ll get there
You have all the emails I used too. Did you get an automated reply to say the app was received by them?
As it gets closer I’d email them again and ask the progress team (through the advice line) to escalate again for you.
My experience is it’s a waiting game and as much as you think it’s close they just don’t see it as urgent until a few days before.
It’s stressful and trust me I’ve had so many sleepless nights and annoying and pointless and irritating phone calls to the advice line. You will get there just keep at them and don’t take your eye off your phone in the days leading up to your travel date.
Hope all goes well
You need to ask the advice line exactly which office your passport is at and then ask for the email address for the upgrades team at the appropriate office. Also note there is a difference between requesting an upgrade and requesting for the expedited service. Expedited is for anyone who have waited over the 10 week mark (their advertised service timescale)
Hi.
I asked for expedited service on Friday for my sons first passport. This was after id sent upgrade request at the 2 weeks to travel mark and god knows how many calls to the jokers on the “advice line”. Wasn’t expecting anything and was preparing to travel to Liverpool this morning without an appt as I travel on weds.Anyway I received a call yesterday afternoon from a no caller ID number and passport was made available for me to collect this morning from Liverpool (I asked for that rather than post as didn’t trust it wouldn’t go missing).
The process does work but the stress is crazy I’ve spent 10 weeks worrying whether to lose out on a £4k holiday or leave my 12 week old baby at home.
Keep your phone on you at ALL TIMES on loud and vibrate. If you don’t hear with in my case 6 days to travel call up again and ask them to escalate for you (aswell as sending another email with all the info yourself including proof of travel).
FYI I saw people who had no appt and with 48 hours or less til travel and they did get a passport today.they won’t give it you if you go with over 48 hours though.
Hope this helpsTotally stressful experience. Applied 10 weeks today by post office check and send- 1st child paper app.
My experience- the advice line were shocking and couldn’t do anything to help until the 2 week until travel mark. They then helped to ask for an upgrade. However never received anything and was starting to worry.
On Friday I requested for the case to be escalated. I travel on weds morning. Advice line helped by putting the request through for me but were quick to tell me it was only a request and not a guarantee (totally unhelpful).
Anyway I was prepared to travel to Liverpool this morning and queue outside. However much to my relief I received a call from a no caller ID number yesterday afternoon to say my case was being processed and as requested I could go and collect from Liverpool office today. I now have my passport in hand.
If it helps anyone I saw a couple of people who had been queueing without an appt who were due to fly in the next 48 hours who managed to get their passports today. I saw them turning others away who weren’t due to travel that soon.
I totally feel for anyone who is still waiting but my advice is to persevere and ask for the upgrade at 2 weeks to travel and or escalate if been over 10 weeks since submission. If all else fails try the 48 hours without appt things as you have nothing to lose by doing this.
Good luck everyone
Application history
1st child passport
Applied by post office check and send paper app: 24/5/22
Acknowledged as received: 26/5/22
Applied by email for upgrade exactly 2 weeks before travel (can’t do any earlier)
Applied for escalation: 29/7/22
Received call from examiner (no caller ID): 31/7/22 arranged to pick up from Liverpool office on 1/8/22
Picked up from Liverpool office: 1/8/22
Date of travel: 3/8/22
@flyby I was told during my callback to send an email to the upgrade team today. If you haven’t emailed the team before and are due to travel in the next 2 weeks then I’d get the email sent as per above. Only exception is if it’s been over 10 weeks since you applied then it may be dealt with differently as per @boblee4 info above
@bltglark Thanks for this and agreed re the call backs being a waste of time!
@boblee4 Sounds positive and hopefully you get it asap then. Mine hasn’t quite been 10 weeks so I’ll have to just wait for a response to my email.
I got the details from the forum a few weeks back- hope this helps you. Obvs you need to replace Belfast with Liverpool on the email address if that’s where your app is sat waiting to be processed. I’ve also emailed my local MP for support this morning…
THERE IS NO POINT IN EMAILING THE UPGRADE TEAM UNTIL 2 WEEKS BEFORE TRAVEL
I was put through to the very helpful upgrade
team, who told me to do the following things
(after many weeks of going round and round in
circles).
1. They will tell you to email the office that is
dealing with your request. The online portal might
tell you this – phoning the above certainly will.
This is in the form of
“belfastupgradeteam@hmpo.org.uk.
2. Provide the following information:
SUBJECT – Date of Travel [but if you are travelling
early in the morning put the previous days date].
Do not put any more information in the subject
line.
3. In the body write:
Full name of person applying for passport
PEX number
Your name and contact details (if it is for your child
etc – this will only work if you are mentioned on
the application)
IMPORTANT NOTE – write a sentence to explain
why you have put a different date in the subject
line IF you are travelling in the early morning. I
wrote – PLEASE NOTE – Date of travel is 12 July
2022 BUT travel is at 7am on that date so
passport must be received by 11 July 2022 at the
latest.
