Passport farce

RogerBareford

caveat_emptor said:

daveyjp said:

I don't understand why a professional photograph was rejected.

Did the photographer use the online passport office photo checker before giving you the photo and taking payment?

My experience is that all online photos, whether it's home or pro are rejected automatically. There is an option to challenge the rejection which I used and the photo was accepted as I heard no more about it.
My photographer did not use the online photo checker as he said most of his photos are rejected and advised me to challenge.

I took mine by standing against a white wall holding my phone with my arm outstreched and it was accepted first time so i'm surprised you had multiple rejections.

greyteam1959

When I applied online I kept taking my own photos & uploading them until one was accepted.
Probably 4 or 5 attempts if I remember.

pattycake

I popped into my local Max Spielman.  From entering the store to leaving it was barely 10 minutes.  Photo taken, checked, first time accepted.  They gave me print copies and a link to put into my online application.  An absolute breeze.  Yes, cost me £12 but in the grand scheme of the cost of the renewal I thought it was ok.

My new passport was back within a month and that was only a couple of months ago.

SteveJW

Last time I used Max Spielman they even gave me a small USB memory stick with the pictures
Used these for my disabled badge application and to order some prints from Asda for visa applications

cannugec5

My husband recently renewed his passport online. Photo accepted on the second attempt ( too much shadow in the first one). New passport arrived within a month. 

I’ve never heard of Max Spielman. 

barkeraj2022

I applied to renew my passport on Thursday 7th July 2022 and received my new passport on Friday 15th July 2022.

That's 8 days! Is this a record?

Absolutely brilliant service.

TonyMMM

barkeraj2022 said:

I applied to renew my passport on Thursday 7th July 2022 and received my new passport on Friday 15th July 2022.

That's 8 days! Is this a record?

Absolutely brilliant service.

Not quite ...my wife applied to renew on the 13th July ....new passport arrived today (7 days). 

My renewal, a couple of months ago, took about 3 weeks, so things have improved.

mr_stripey

I used a local photographer who took pics or me and my kids for our passports. She uploaded them, got them approved there and then. I applied same day and got the passports back within two weeks.

deannagone

Just took a photo with my phone, was accepted without any problems.  I also took the photo standing against a white wall with nothing else on the wall.  Worst picture of me ever though ha ha. Passport locked away, don't want anyone accidentally seeing it, would put them off eating for a few days.

narrowboatboy

Tried the Post Office digital check and send. You pay£16, they take the photo and do all the paperwork.
New passport back in 7 days !!
My better half is going to give it a go today and we'll see if it was just a fluke.