Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
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1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
23-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
very easy and straightforward steps. quick response , really did expect my passport will come this soon. 12days
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
26-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The updates regarding the stages the passport is at
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
25-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
22-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application 22/09/23
Documents posted 25/09/23
Documents received 28/09/23
Application approved 3/10/23, photo was initially rejected 3/10/23 (photo was too dark), uploaded a new photo more or less straight away after the notification and was approved same day within 5 mins of uploading.
Passport printed 4/10/23
Passport received 5/10/23
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
24-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 24/09/2023 5:57pm
Ask someone to confirm identity 24/09/2023 5:57pm
Email sent to person confirming identity 24/09/2023 6:15pm
Idenity details received 24/09/2023 6:42pm
Application received 24/09/2023 6:42pm
Documents sent special delivery 25/09/2023
Documents signed for on 26/09/2023 9:29am
Documents received 27/09/23 10:55am
Person not eligible 02/10/2023 11:58am
Email sent to person confirming identity 03/10/2023 1:23pm
Identity details received 03/10/2023 1:34pm
Application approved 03/10/2023 1:35pm
Passport printed 04/10/2023 6:58am
Passport received 05/10/2023 9am
Very fast and easy to do
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
11-09-2023
Date Received:
04-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent. I took longer than planned to send the docs off and more docs were requested and sent so very fast turnaround.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
15-09-2023
Date Received:
04-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
1. Application received 20th Sept
2. Supporting documents posted by special delivery guaranteed by 1pm on the 21st Sept
3. Documents delivered by Royal Mail 22nd Sept (royal mail tracker did not confirm delivery and is still showing as “In transit”)
4. Documents scanned in on the 27th Sept
5. Application approved 2nd Oct
6. Passport printed 3rd Oct
7. Passport received 4th Oct
8. Supporting documents received 5th Oct
A few things I’d like to point out for anyone who might experience the same as I did
– Don’t lose hope if royal mail tracker does not update to confirm delivery. If you use special delivery to send off your supporting documents it’s definitely going to reach the next day but due to high volume of post, not everything is signed individually. I called the office everyday to let them know my royal mail tracker is not updating and they asked me for my tracking number to link the applications. Basically keep calling them. The number is 0300 222 0000. Choose option 8 and then 4 to get through to someone. The max I’ve had to wait was 1min to speak to someone.
– I sent supporting documents for both my daughters in one envelope. If you do the same make sure to call them up and let them know so they can link the applications. You can see from my timeline pictures that the tracker was literally updated a few minutes apart for both the applications.
– +44 7897 028714 this is an authentic number. I’ve texted them everyday for an update even if they gave me the same reply. I genuinely believe that it sped up the process
– My friend countersigned both my daughters applications and it was accepted. I’ve read in the group that some people had to provide more than one person to countersign as they don’t accept the same person. I think it’s all done randomly and depends entirely on the examiner.
Overall absolutely amazing service provided by HMPO.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
24-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Had problems with the photo which was probably my fault, and ended up spending £9 at a “photome” booth to get a proper one done. Regardless, the whole process was smooth and easy and even sending a new photo was a very quick and easy photo, with HMPO taking only a few hours to confirm that the new photo was good/bad. No complaints at all.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
16-09-2023
Date Received:
05-10-2023
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
20 days in total of which 5 days were to find someone to confirm my identity.
Timeline
16 Sept – application submitted. Asked to send the documents via post and provide the contact details of someone to confirm my identity.
21 Sept. Identity confirmed. Asked to send naturalization certificate and “other nationality passport”
23 Sept. Documents sent via post.
27 Sept. Got a confirmation email that the documents are received.
3 Oct. Application approved.
04 Oct. “Your new passport has been printed” message received.
05 Oct – Passport arrived via post (I’ve paid the additional 5 pounds for tracked post office service)
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