July 19, 2022

Passport Experiences 19th July 2022

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Passport Application Experiences

Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.

1st Adult Passport

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-25

Date Received:
2022-07-02

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Application was sent by check and send and was held up in the system for weeks. Had to collect from Peterborough in the end to ensure we did not miss our flight.

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-16

Date Received:
2022-06-17

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Applied with more than 10 weeks before school trip but passport took so long that school trip was missed.
Requested upgrade 5 times and never got a response
Three weeks after contacting MP’s office the passport was issued
Extremely stressful and frustrating.

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-05-19

Date Received:
2022-06-07

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
This first adult application went to Glasgow.
We have a childs renewal that went to Peterborough on the same day. Still, ‘We’ve received your documents’ on 18th July.

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-09

Date Received:
2022-07-22

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Unbelievably slow
Had to pester to be told I needed an interview and then pester for a time slot.

Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport

Submission Date:
2022-05-26

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Passport received 9.13am on 18 July 2022
Passport printed 1:34am on 15 July 2022
Application approved 3:11pm on 14 July 2022
Documents received 12:55pm on 8 June 2022
Application received 9:54pm on 26 May 2022
Identity details received 9:53pm on 26 May 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:46pm on 26 May 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:43pm on 26 May 2022
Application submitted 9:43pm on 26 May 2022

All in all, a relatively smooth experience, just a lot of waiting!

Was asked to do an interview on 8 July, spent a week trying to schedule it to no avail – managed to book one a week and a half later for early August but got an email the next day saying it had been approved with no need for interview. Passport arrived at home a few days later.

Adult Renewal Passport

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-26

Date Received:
2022-07-08

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Passport photo was rejected on 6.7. New photo submitted same day, passport arrived 8.7

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-13

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
I applied online and just received my passport!! I knew I had to quickly go on to this website, so I could log my experience to help others; the same way others did for me. 🙂

Pros:
– Cheaper applying online.
– Quick and easy application process.
– Clear instructions on what to do and how it’s done (although I had to watch a YouTube video to understand how digital photos work).

Cons:
– Delay in receiving my passport. Although I could see someone signed for the old document, but took a little longer to log on the system.
– I don’t think the 10 week start date is made very clear, this needs further clarity. FYI it happens once they receive old documents AND shows up on the system as ‘received’.
– For the online portal it could show what other steps are left out of however many for the whole process. Mine was ‘stuck’ on old documents received for about 3 weeks.

Main takeaway: quick, easy and simple process, but the stress came with waiting on the system to update me on progress. However, once application was approved things moved a lot faster from there for me, so HMPO have redeemed themselves (for me at least).

Timeline:
13.06.22 – Application for passport renewal received
14.06.22 – Passport sent off
16.06.22 – Old passport delivered and signed
20.06.22 – Old passport received logged on system
14.07.22 – Application for passport renewal approved
15.07.22 – Passport printed
18.07.22 – Passport delivered 🙂

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-10

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Really fast replacement – only eight days.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-11

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Could not have asked for more. I applied for a standard adult passport renewal and was asked to send my old passport to Liverpool. I submitted my application on 11.7.2022 and posted my passport back late the next day. They received my passport on 14.7.2022, approved the application on 15.7.2022, printed it on 16.7.2022 and it has arrived at my house today on 18.7.2022.

I did not pay for an upgrade or premium service.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-01

Date Received:
2022-07-09

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Very happy with my experience.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-03-31

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
After 10 weeks had passed, I tried to call the passport office but my reference number was not recognised so I couldn’t even speak to anyone (due to automated service). I felt very disappointed so I wrote an email to say that I had been waiting more than 10 weeks. 4 days later, I had an email stating my application was approved and a 4 more days later, it is now in my hand.
Good luck to those of you still waiting. An email after 10 weeks may help your case, even if you don’t get a personal response back (I didn’t)

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-05-03

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Despite POs advice line members inability to do most the things they say the would do I finally made contact with a customer services manager on Friday. I then emailed the upgrade team at thepassport office processing my application. I got a call Sunday to say I can collect from my local office Monday. After 20+ phone calls (several I ended as they couldn’t even spell my name), 4+ hours on hold, 3 emails and a 2 hour round trip on the hottest day ever I now have a passport with 1 day to go before flight.
I personally know people who applied a month after me and had theirs in 2 weeks, so god know what they are up to there. 50% of the staff i spoke to were ok. 10% were actuall helpfull (2).
Glad I’m not doing this again for a decade.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-10

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Bootle office. Adult renewal with title change.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-07

Date Received:
2022-07-14

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Passport applied for on Thursday with a digital photo taken that day. Posted for signed for pre 1 pm delivery. Delivery was confirmed early on Friday morning. Receipt a few hours later. Approved and sent for processing texts received then on Wednesday advice that the passport was on its way. No need to pay extra, the service from Liverpool was awesome.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-08

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Excellent 6 working days from start of application to receiving new passport.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-04

Date Received:
2022-07-14

Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy

Comments:
Submitting passport photo was awful, Wouldn’t accept any photos, Don’t bother with your own.

Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-18

Date Received:
2022-07-06

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Easy to apply online and unlike a family member’s experience in April old passport was acknowledged very quickly and process moved quickly after that and was pleased at how quickly the passports arrived.

Lost or Stolen Passport Application

Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport

Submission Date:
2022-05-02

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
Had a circular discussion where I was told to send the reference number for my lost passport to the passport office I had sent my documents too – I repeatedly explained that as I had lost my passport I hadn’t been asked for any documents so I didn’t know which office to send it too. This never got resolved.

Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport

Submission Date:
2022-04-07

Date Received:
Not Received

Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful

Comments:
Over 100 days, still have not received my passport. No one picks up the phone (customer service). No communication whatsoever.

1st Child Passport

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-06-11

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Passport approved on Thursday 14th July
Printed Friday 15th July
Received in post Monday 18th July

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-06-13

Date Received:
2022-07-15

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Criteria for taking a photo of a 2yr is a bit of a farce, difficult to get your child to comply. Must have had 50 photo rejections before we found one that would be accepted.

Type of Application:
First Child Passport

Submission Date:
2022-03-27

Date Received:
2022-06-28

Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful

Comments:
The passport office didn’t recognise that my wife’s married name for our sons passport application, despite her already holding a passport in her married name. Took three weeks (and many phone calls) to transfer my wife’s passport details from one passport office to the one processing my son’s application.

Child Renewal

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-06-17

Date Received:
2022-07-11

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Very easy online application from Melbourne Australia and passport received very quickly.

Type of Application:
Child Renewal

Submission Date:
2022-07-07

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy

Comments:
Quick and easy, a massive relief.

Overseas Passport Application

Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)

Submission Date:
2022-03-22

Date Received:
2022-07-18

Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average

Comments:
Application received 22 March
Documents received 13 April
Application approved 9 July
Passport printed 11 July
Passport receives via DHL 18 July

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