Passport trouble - URGENT

Weeble001

Hi all,

Nowhere else to turn, been sobbing all day!

Long story short, kids passports were applied for 8 weeks ago, we are due to travel to Disneyland on Tuesday 5th August. I have called numerous times over the last few weeks for updates, have never received a call back. So I decided to haul myself to the passport office in Peterborough today. The man told me the passports are at the Belfast office where they are awaiting birth certificates for my children. They have been in review since 24th JUNE!! Nobody has advised me of this on the numerous times I have called. Why do they ask you to provide a phone number if they aren't going to use it?! And why not call back when I have sent so many requests?! I have lodged complaints for this already.

So my question is, with the birth certificates, is it worth posting them special delivery to Belfast and hoping they can print them at the Peterborough office? Or is it worth just taking them to the Peterborough office and hoping they can print them there and then? I'm in such a stress about the whole thing and not even sure if we will be able to go.

Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks

Kernow666

sorry to hear about this , i thought the passport shambles was over but i can see its not , a total and utter disgrace

i would personally take them to the passport office in person and get it sorted face to face and dont leave until your happy with everything

then get onto your local MP and lodge a complaint ( if you havent already ) and hopefully your out of pocket ex's will be reimbursed

good luck

claire21

Were you not ment to send the birth certs with the application ?

Weeble001

It didn't say to send birth certificates otherwise I would have sent them, I made sure I read it all at least 10 times before I sent it!

allconnected

Are these first passports, or renewals, for your children?

Because all first passports require birth certificates to be sent in with them, it's set out on page 14 of the guidance booklet in the table of documents.

Sorry if this isn't the case but you do indicate passports were applied for, rather than renewals.

Doesn't excuse the delay or the lack of communication, though.

Allconnected

claire21

I also read it as first passport ?
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/200881/British_passport_child_supporting_documentation.doc

Edit see link below for uk

Weeble001

Maybe I'm wrong in reading it but I thought it odd that I didn't have to send them, perhaps I misread. Yes they are first passports. Like you say though it doesn't excuse the lack of communication. I will go back to the passport office tomorrow with birth certificates and photos and see what they can do. Hopefully it can be sorted. The most ridiculous thing of all is that they claim they cannot contact each other internally via telephone? It is all done through email? I find this hard to believe really and if it that is the case it obviously doesn't work very well as a system.

claire21

I think you must have read about renewals rather than first passports

First child passport - supporting documents you will need to provide
IPS needs to see original documents that prove your child is British. IPS does not accept photocopies of documents or documents that have been laminated, but will accept documents that are laminated for Braille labelling.
A birth certificate is not considered absolute proof of identity. Even if your child was born in the UK, IPS may ask to see further documents.
The documents IPS needs to see depend on where your child was born.
If you are still not sure what you need to send after reading the details below, you can call the IPS Passport Adviceline
0300 222 0000
.
If the child was born or adopted in the UK
IPS needs to see the child's full birth or adoption certificate showing parents' details and one of the following:
the mother's UK birth certificate, or her Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or her passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth
the father's UK birth certificate, or his Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or his passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth* and the parents' marriage certificate
Note*: if the passport expired before the child's birth, you need to send the passport on which the father entered the UK.
If the child was born outside the UK
IPS needs to see the child's full birth or adoption certificate showing parents' details and one of the following:
the mother's UK birth certificate,* or her Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or her passport that was valid at the time of the child' birth
the father' UK birth certificate,* or his Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or his passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth and the parents' marriage certificate*
Note*: if the child has a birth certificate issued by a British consulate or high commission, you can send that instead of birth/marriage certificates.
If you are sending the father's documents, IPS also needs to see the parents' marriage certificate if the child was born before 1 July 2006.
If the child was born outside the UK but has a certificate of naturalisation or registration from the Home Office
IPS needs to see:
the naturalisation or registration certificate
the passport on which the child entered the UK
Child passport renewal - supporting documents you will need to provide
In this case IPS will need to see your child's current or last passport.
In this section...

Weeble001

Does that not say if they are born outside of the uk though?

Weeble001

Ok so yes I may have read it wrong, but that's by the by now, would you suggest I take them to my local office? I think this is probably my best bet would you say?

claire21

Sorry yes my first link does, was trying to find it in an easy page for you, rather than linking the whole booklet. But the second post is the uk child one, good luck x

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091009065536/direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/passports/applyingforaneworrenewedchildpassport/dg_174107