Passport delay

mgdavid

Lmi6 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for your reply! Do you think it's safe to leave it until a week before I leave? Or should I try and do it a bit earlier to make sure I definitely get my passport?

Also my passport is in Durham but my closest passport office is Glasgow, if I upgrade does this mean I have to go to Durham for an appointment?

Thanks again for reading.

previous poster said: 'you will only be able to upgrade if your date of travel is within a week,'
so you wait until 1 week before travel, then phone them to find out where the application has got to, discuss upgrade (and the process around it) with them if necessary .

jkkne

The closure of Newport made no effect. Some offices don't deal with actual passports at all, as bizarre as that sounds. Durham picks up most of Glasgow's work for example.

The process for Passports (from a former IPS worker)

Documents arrive at one of the offices and are digitally scanned onto the system.

They are seperated into normal applications and check and send applications

Each team of examiners will get a box of applications and scan the barcode from the application. It will appear on the screen. The screen will show any problems with the application (ie - if the address formerly had a fake application or if the surname matches a known issue surname - ie - John Smith had an issue so the system may flag all J Smiths)

The examiner will then check your photo and any supporting documents. If there's an issue they'll write you a letter (from a computer template) or telephone you. Your application will then get put in a pigeon hole with a reminder set on the computer and in pen on the actual application.

Sometimes the scanner that does your photo makes a fault and the examiner then has to send your photo for a rescan, which can take time.

If all is well then they'll process it and it'll be sent on the system to the printing company. And your old documents will be filed and sent to the post room

The bottom level examiners (PO2) can only do basic applications. PO3s can do all, this includes name changes, adopted or foster applications etc

Mr_Wang

Received mine today. Total time for renewal of a jumbo passport, through check and send has taken a day less than 4 weeks.

smudge56

Lmi6 wrote: »

Hey everyone I am after some advice.

I go away in 2 weeks and and sent away for my passport 2 weeks ago. I have tracked it and it's at te Durham office "going through the examination process" Does anyone know what this actually means? Does it mean it's been looked at now or it's in a pile awaiting to be looked at?

Also, I phoned to try and upgrade but the guy on the phone said you are not allowed to upgrade to a weeks/one day service. My passport is only a renewal so I thought I would be able to upgrade? Can someone tell me if I can or not? Because I've heard of others being able to upgrade. The guy told me to phone back a week before I leave and then they'll see what they can do. I'm not sure if I wait until a week before travel to contact them again that I'll definitely be helped.

Any advice would be great!

Thank-you for reading.

It means its waiting to be dealt with - Durham is a huge office it could take another week before its dealt with. WAs it the call centre you spoke to or the actual Durham office? If you get through to Durham they should be able to put a note on your application to say when you date of travel is and that you wish to upgrade. They should then call you when its ready to be issued. Try e-mailing them if you are having no luck with the call centre

Lmi6

It was just the call centre I spoke to. I'll try and find a phone number/email for the Durham office. Thanks for the replies.

mummyyummy_2

we received kids 1st passports today, exactly 3 weeks after we sent them via check n send in post office.

mazza111

Filled in the form online for my daughter, they sent 6 copies to her, hope she's not going to make that many mistakes filling the wee bit out I've left for her to do :rotfl:

cleggie

Sent ours via check and send at the PO (1xadult renewl and 2x childs 1st) on 28th May, and received them all back yesterday.

Simon7685

My daughters arrived today (renewal), it was done via check and send on 28th May. I rang on Tuesday and they said it hadn't been looked at yet and advised to give it another week. I received the old one back this morning, so gave them another ring. They advised it was done on 13 June and was with the courier. An hour later the doorbell went and there it was.

Total time 18 days but this included bank holiday over the jubilee weekend.
All in all quite pleased with the service given the problems some people have documented.

Bob_the_Saver

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160174/Passport-processing-delays-crippling-UK-economic-recovery.html