First time passport with interview - how long does it really take?

kirstypea

Hello all, hopefully you can help me out a little...

So I've been planning a trip in July, and set about organising my first ever passport today only to find that the website specifies 6 weeks processing time, and the trip is planned for 5 weeks time (I know - very bad organisation on my part!).

Has anyone applied for a first time adult passport recently (or since they started doing interviews) and how long did it take to process? Is 6 weeks a realistic estimate or do they just say that to cover their backs?

Considering it's probably a busy time of year for them, do you think I'd be really silly to go ahead and book the holiday & apply for the passport and just cross my fingers that it arrives in 5 weeks time?

angel

I countersigned a first time application form for my friend three weeks ago. She sent it by Post Office check and send and within a week was sent a letter asking her to call to make an appointment for an interview. She called last Monday and was offered Wednesday or Thursday of the same week. She went on wednesday and her passport arrived Saturday morning!

Amazingly fast service!

terryw

angel wrote: »

I countersigned a first time application form for my friend three weeks ago. She sent it by Post Office check and send and within a week was sent a letter asking her to call to make an appointment for an interview. She called last Monday and was offered Wednesday or Thursday of the same week. She went on wednesday and her passport arrived Saturday morning!

Amazingly fast service!

Angel, that is great. Credit where credit is due .........it is so nice to hear of a govt dept which is doing well. Three cheers for the passport people!

terryw

p.s Wish the !!!!!!s would do some thing about the long queues at Newcastle airport when you return from a week in Spain!

kirstypea

Thanks guys... anyone else apply since June 07? I need to weigh up the risk of booking this holiday!

Warrington-Mike

I telephoned on a Saturday morning at 7am (I was on my way home from working nights!) and given an apointment for the tuesday, went down there was called to counter 5 mins before allocated time, and I was out in 15 mins - passport in hand!

Mind you - it aint cheap anymore!

kirstypea

Was that for your first ever passport? When I phoned them they told me they could only do urgent and fast track applications for renewals now that they've introduced interviews...

I may have to phone them again and plead, was it the helpline number you called to ask for that or did you phone the passport office direct?

Warrington-Mike

I called the 24 Hour helpline - it was a renewal, but so much quicker than the last time - when I had to stand in a que in India Buildings liverpool for about 4 hours!

kirstypea

Ah, I see

Renewals are no problem time wise as they will fast track them. They no longer fast track first time passports due to the new interview system, according to the website and the lady on the phone. From what I can gather, the only way to do it is the old fashioned way by post, which they say will take 6 weeks, and I only have 5.

I was hoping that lots of people would pipe up with "oh yes, mine only took 3 weeks!" :rotfl:

misscutiepie1984

If you have a decent countersignatory it will be quick.... i got passport back within 3 days of my interview

angel

misscutiepie1984 wrote: »

If you have a decent countersignatory it will be quick.... i got passport back within 3 days of my interview

I'm not a decent countersignatory and my friends was quick! :rotfl: