Using 1 week fast track passport service while already got a Post Office paper application ongoing

Rony

Pollycat said:

Rony said:

onashoestring said:

Pollycat said:

I can't see on gov.uk where it mentions upgrading an application but maybe I've missed it.

I can’t see it on gov.U.K. website either but several posters (@smudge56 @Rony ) have mentioned it in posts on this forum.

My understanding from reading their threads is that once your standard application has exceeded the 10 week wait and if your  travel is imminent you can request your application is “upgraded” to a fast- track service  quoting your PEX reference number . 

However what is not clear is how you contact Passport Office to inform them of your imminent travel as no one can seem to get through on the phone lines - @Rony mentioned there is a “special” e-mail address ? 

Thanks for cc'ing me!

Just so you know I was given this email address after turning up at the passport office and them taking my details. So I am not sure if anyone can just use this email address, but you might as well try if you are desperate.

You need to these details in the email:

Name
PEX passport reference number
Date and time of flight + booking reference
Attach your booking details with the airline as proof
Explanation of your situation

They fast track passport renewals based on time left til flight.

If it doesn't work then I'd recommend making a trip down to the passport office Asap!

Good luck!

But weren't you travelling within 7 days?

smudge56 said:

Firstly you won’t be able to get a fast track appointment as they are booked up for the next three weeks.  Secondly as you have already submitted an application you will not be able to proceed with your fast track application. You will only be able to upgrade.
you can only upgrade if you are travelling within 7 days. If you decide to upgrade you will not get a callback until two days before your travel date.
your applications have been received and scanned on.  They are now just waiting to be examined. It’s likely that they will be out before your holiday.

The OP is departing on 28th May.

Yes, I was within 7 days (I was within 24 hours in fact LOL, I don't recommend this as I was unsuccessful ha, apply on day 1 of 7!)

I didn't know that there was a 7 day rule (I hadn't read through all the previous posts in detail my bad). So if this is the case then OP can use this route if they still have not received their passport a week prior to travel.

Pollycat

Rony said:

Pollycat said:

Rony said:

onashoestring said:

Pollycat said:

I can't see on gov.uk where it mentions upgrading an application but maybe I've missed it.

I can’t see it on gov.U.K. website either but several posters (@smudge56 @Rony ) have mentioned it in posts on this forum.

My understanding from reading their threads is that once your standard application has exceeded the 10 week wait and if your  travel is imminent you can request your application is “upgraded” to a fast- track service  quoting your PEX reference number . 

However what is not clear is how you contact Passport Office to inform them of your imminent travel as no one can seem to get through on the phone lines - @Rony mentioned there is a “special” e-mail address ? 

Thanks for cc'ing me!

Just so you know I was given this email address after turning up at the passport office and them taking my details. So I am not sure if anyone can just use this email address, but you might as well try if you are desperate.

You need to these details in the email:

Name
PEX passport reference number
Date and time of flight + booking reference
Attach your booking details with the airline as proof
Explanation of your situation

They fast track passport renewals based on time left til flight.

If it doesn't work then I'd recommend making a trip down to the passport office Asap!

Good luck!

But weren't you travelling within 7 days?

smudge56 said:

Firstly you won’t be able to get a fast track appointment as they are booked up for the next three weeks.  Secondly as you have already submitted an application you will not be able to proceed with your fast track application. You will only be able to upgrade.
you can only upgrade if you are travelling within 7 days. If you decide to upgrade you will not get a callback until two days before your travel date.
your applications have been received and scanned on.  They are now just waiting to be examined. It’s likely that they will be out before your holiday.

The OP is departing on 28th May.

Yes, I was within 7 days (I was within 24 hours in fact LOL, I don't recommend this as I was unsuccessful ha, apply on day 1 of 7!)

I didn't know that there was a 7 day rule (I hadn't read through all the previous posts in detail my bad). So if this is the case then OP can use this route if they still have not received their passport a week prior to travel.

I didn't know there was a 7 day rule either - I couldn't find anything about this upgrade anywhere - but it was mentioned by another poster up-thread.

Rony

Pollycat said:

Rony said:

Pollycat said:

Rony said:

onashoestring said:

Pollycat said:

I can't see on gov.uk where it mentions upgrading an application but maybe I've missed it.

I can’t see it on gov.U.K. website either but several posters (@smudge56 @Rony ) have mentioned it in posts on this forum.

My understanding from reading their threads is that once your standard application has exceeded the 10 week wait and if your  travel is imminent you can request your application is “upgraded” to a fast- track service  quoting your PEX reference number . 

However what is not clear is how you contact Passport Office to inform them of your imminent travel as no one can seem to get through on the phone lines - @Rony mentioned there is a “special” e-mail address ? 

Thanks for cc'ing me!

Just so you know I was given this email address after turning up at the passport office and them taking my details. So I am not sure if anyone can just use this email address, but you might as well try if you are desperate.

You need to these details in the email:

Name
PEX passport reference number
Date and time of flight + booking reference
Attach your booking details with the airline as proof
Explanation of your situation

They fast track passport renewals based on time left til flight.

If it doesn't work then I'd recommend making a trip down to the passport office Asap!

Good luck!

But weren't you travelling within 7 days?

smudge56 said:

Firstly you won’t be able to get a fast track appointment as they are booked up for the next three weeks.  Secondly as you have already submitted an application you will not be able to proceed with your fast track application. You will only be able to upgrade.
you can only upgrade if you are travelling within 7 days. If you decide to upgrade you will not get a callback until two days before your travel date.
your applications have been received and scanned on.  They are now just waiting to be examined. It’s likely that they will be out before your holiday.

The OP is departing on 28th May.

Yes, I was within 7 days (I was within 24 hours in fact LOL, I don't recommend this as I was unsuccessful ha, apply on day 1 of 7!)

I didn't know that there was a 7 day rule (I hadn't read through all the previous posts in detail my bad). So if this is the case then OP can use this route if they still have not received their passport a week prior to travel.

I didn't know there was a 7 day rule either - I couldn't find anything about this upgrade anywhere - but it was mentioned by another poster up-thread.

I can concur this upgrade is not mentioned anywhere online on the gov portal, it's almost an in person secret service (or perhaps its a new-ish service so not yet fully integrated online).

In my thread, I mentioned that if I had found this online I would have made my flight (as I found out my passport was out of date a week prior). I even called the passport office and they did not even mention this upgrade service and said there was nothing that I could do but wait for fast track cancellations.

It was only after I got rejected from my first flight that I went to the passport office as a last resort when they told me about this service.

sheramber

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-new-passport-quickly-just-23784412

What if I need a passport quickly?

There are two ways to apply for an urgent passport but you will need to attend your local passport office. The offices are in Newport, Liverpool, London, Peterborough, Durham, Belfast and Glasgow.

The online premium service means you get your new passport at your appointment, which last up to 30 minutes. You’ll apply, pay and book an appointment online. The earliest you can get an appointment is two days from when you apply.

You can use this service to renew an adult passport. It costs £177 or £187 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport) but only if your passport was issued after December 31, 2001.

There is also a one week fast track service and that is delivered to your home and you need to be in to sign for it. You can use this service to:

• renew an adult or child passport
• change your name on your passport (for example with a marriage certificate or deed poll)
• make changes to your personal details on your passport (for example, your gender)
• replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport
• apply for a first child passport

It costs £142 for an adult passport (or £152 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport) or £122 for a child passport (or £132 for a 50 page frequent traveller passport).

However, a word of warning, when we looked for available dates for the one week service for an adult renewal, or a first child passport on the morning of Tuesday, April 26, the next appointments being offered were on Tuesday, May 17, and only being offered were in Belfast, Glasgow or London.