British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[nmm]

Mine took 3 days, but looking at other timelines, some people don't even get the SMS.

Thanks.

It really strange that you cannot track it through post office online trace & track service. I don't understand why like a normal special delivery, passport application tracking is not available.

[apple02]

Though suggest to use special delivery and cross on secure delivery (on the form) for the return of document, as my documents were returned using 2nd class post and the envelope was open.

Hmmmm! What happens to the extra £3 paid towards SD then? In your instance your documents were not misplaced, good ending but what if.......even though you had paid extra.

exactly i paid for the extra £3 and none of my return documents or my BP was signed for. They dropped it through like a normal post.

[InUkOnHsmp]

BTW, do these also come through the normal postman? I thought it was DX they used for all secure delivery, or am I wrong?

[TTOE]

Passport for: 2 Adults
Application Type: New
Method of application: By Post (Self)
Date application sent : 05-Mar-2014 (By Special Delivery)
Date of receipt of application by IPS : 06-Mar-2014 (Tracked)
Date of deduction of fees : 07-Mar-2014 (Fee amount dropped in my bank balance online)
Date of receipt of interview letter :
Date of interview appointment :
Date of return of documents :
Date of receipt of passport :

[khurrambutt]

Hi TOTE,
I am planning to send my applications (+ 2 children) by post as well. Do you send them in white envelops provided by the post office or you can use a normal A4 envelop with special deliver. Also do we send it to Liverpoool or Belfast? Did you add the £3 extra per applicant in total amount that was suppose to be deducted?
Your help will be appreciated.

[Kiwi65]

Need some advice please
Citizenship ceremony on the 19th march and was thinking of sending my passport in straight away

I am going overseas for a week on 7th April

Is is to risky or should I wait till I return?

Was really hoping to use my new British one

[TTOE]

Hi TOTE,
I am planning to send my applications (+ 2 children) by post as well. Do you send them in white envelops provided by the post office or you can use a normal A4 envelop with special deliver. Also do we send it to Liverpoool or Belfast? Did you add the £3 extra per applicant in total amount that was suppose to be deducted?
Your help will be appreciated.

No, you don't have to use the white envelope, I didn't in my case, used the post office type A4 envelope and enclosed the two applicantion forms and docs for two as well. Ensure it is then addressed correctly by coping the address on the back of the white envelope.

I suspect where you send your application to varies as per where you leave. Use the address at the back of the white envelope which you picked up from your local post office.

Finally, yes I did add up additional £6 to the total paid for 2 applicants.

I hope this response helps. All the best.

[TTOE]

Need some advice please
Citizenship ceremony on the 19th march and was thinking of sending my passport in straight away

I am going overseas for a week on 7th April

Is is to risky or should I wait till I return?

Was really hoping to use my new British one

Looks very tight to me based on previous timelines, hmmm very tight. Have you considered talking you council into offering you earlier date for ceremony instead of having to wait till 19th, if not take the risk if you love or enjoy taking risk, your best bet, get an earlier ceremony date or wait till after you trip or reschedule your trip. All depends on how busy HMPO is overall.

[bansal82]

[quote="bansal82"]Application Timeline
Passport for: Child - First time
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 13-Feb-2014
Date application received by IPS: 17-Feb-2014 confirmed on Phone
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: N/A
Date of Passport Appointment: N/A
Date of Passport Receipt:Waiting

[alex68]

Update

Application Type: first passport 3Adults +1 Child
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 20 Feb 2014
Date application received by IPS: 21 Feb 2014
Date of return of documents: 07 Mar 2014
Date of interview letter: 05 Mar 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 07 Mar 2014
Date of Passport interview Appointment: 12 Mar 2014
Date of Passport Receipt:

[loveandbeloved]

Based on the timelines, it looks like it's taking two weeks (14-16 days) from the time you send the application to the time you receive the interview letter. Does this sound right?
#patientlywaiting #eager

[zubbshah]

Application Timeline
Passport for self: First time
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 21-Feb-2014
Date application received by IPS: on the 25th Feb.... (after checking with them, didnt recd any text / sms ...)
Date of return of documents: 7th March 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 5th March 2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11th March
Date of Passport Receipt:Waiting

updated timeline in red + bold....

[zubbshah]

Based on the timelines, it looks like it's taking two weeks (14-16 days) from the time you send the application to the time you receive the interview letter. Does this sound right?
#patientlywaiting #eager

yes...indeed...turn around time is around 2-3 weeks.... but if u ring them and ask them nicely then they'd certainly chcek and let you know if hmpo as recd your application..cause initially i was a bit skeptical...cause i had send via PO CnS and they didnt recd it and they then on 1st of this month they confirmed that they recd it some time on 25th feb....also seems like their sms system is down...so couldnt even send a text to confirm the application..

[zubbshah]

BTW, do these also come through the normal postman? I thought it was DX they used for all secure delivery, or am I wrong?

i recd my passport and Nat Cert yesterday thru DX however no signature was taken from thier end...lucky enough my mate was popping out and the Dx courier guy was out and juz confirmed my name with him and gave it to him...
they use a small envelope so the certificate was folded in half...
a bit crumpled...but what to do...even the PO guys fold it in half...
am thinking of laminating it ...so atleast it would be retained in good condition

[zubbshah]

seems tight Kiwi65...but based on the time lines just about 2 weeks u shd have ur existing passport back just in time for you to go over seas.....
i mean ....you gonna submit on 19th itself...and 7th april u flyin out...that gives you 19 days window....but knock off 3 sundays..so .juz about 16 days..around 2 weeks....so hopefully u shd receive your existing passport in the nick of time to fly out ...but again ...its a bit tight and risky....once u get it ..u can arrange for an interview date once u back to uk..
like TTOE said early on ...if u like taking risk.....then go for the kill... ...i mean i personally love taking risks.,.. "what life with out royal challange ? "

Need some advice please
Citizenship ceremony on the 19th march and was thinking of sending my passport in straight away

I am going overseas for a week on 7th April

Is is to risky or should I wait till I return?

Was really hoping to use my new British one

Looks very tight to me based on previous timelines, hmmm very tight. Have you considered talking you council into offering you earlier date for ceremony instead of having to wait till 19th, if not take the risk if you love or enjoy taking risk, your best bet, get an earlier ceremony date or wait till after you trip or reschedule your trip. All depends on how busy HMPO is overall.

[Jasper_X]

for first adult British passport applications,
Do you have to fill in section 4 (parents details) if both parents are from abroad and live abroad?
some details they ask seems to be targeted towards parents who live in the UK only?

[dr_me]

Passport for: First Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: By Post (Self)
Date application sent : 13-02-2014 (First Class Recorded)
Date of receipt of application by IPS : 14/02/2014 (tracked)
Date of deduction of fees : 17/02/2014 (No SMS confirmation received)
Date of receipt of interview letter : 01/03/2014
Date of interview appointment : 06/03/2014
Date of return of documents :03/03/2014
Date of receipt of passport : TBA

Final update: passport receipt: 8/03/2014

All done in approx. 3weeks from start to finish. This completes my journey to the citizenship.
I wish people of the forum good luck and thanks all of you for sharing and helping each other.
Apple02 bro you were right again it arrived as predicted

[abiegirl32]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check and send
Date of application: 01/02/2014
Date application received by IPS:05/02/2014
Date of further request of document:14/02/2014(received letter 18/02/2014 and was asked to provide evidence of changed of name. I sent that back on the 20/02/2014 by special delivery.
Date of return of documents: 04/03/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 04/03/2014(dated 28/02/2014)
Date of Passport Appointment:05/03/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 08/03/2014 (dropped through letterbox at 7.20pm)

I am so happy and goodluck to everyone waiting..

[InUkOnHsmp]

Congrats Abiegirl32,

Date of Passport Appointment:05/03/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 08/03/2014 (dropped through letterbox at 7.20pm)

Great, really quick turnaround after the interview. They deliver that late? I thought it was a courier so would come during the day time.

[abiegirl32]

Thanks InUkOnHsmp. I was surprised about the late delivery too, I guess the delivery man must have had a hectic day today.

[TTOE]

am thinking of laminating it ...so atleast it would be retained in good condition

Please don't laminate the certificate. I remember being given this advice at the ceremony, don't, if you do, you render it useless for certain stuffs including applying for a passport.

[TTOE]

Final update: passport receipt: 8/03/2014

Congrats dr_me - when is the test drive planned for?

[neda]

[quote="neda"]Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: the first one
Method of application: Check & Send or Postal
Date of application: 24.2.14
Date application received by IPS:No txt,
Date of return of documents:----
Date of receipt of interview letter: 08.03.14
Date of Passport Appointment: 20.03.14
Date of Passport Receipt:----

Hi every one,
Can some one please help me regarding passport interview. I saw example of questions in this forum, I am wondering to know what will happen after interview, is there any fail or pass and how can I know, they are OK with my interview?
Cheers
Neda

[joy2006]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: the first one
Method of application: Check & Send or Postal
Date of application: 24.2.14
Date application received by IPS:No txt,
Date of return of documents:----
Date of receipt of interview letter: 08.03.14
Date of Passport Appointment: 20.03.14
Date of Passport Receipt:----

Hi every one,
Can some one please help me regarding passport interview. I saw example of questions in this forum, I am wondering to know what will happen after interview, is there any fail or pass and how can I know, they are OK with my interview?
Cheers
Neda

Just be yourself and answer the questions you are asked truthfully and steadily. All questions they ask are only known to you and are on your passport application and nationality application forms (at least that is what i have gathered) and of course general questions about your financies. So if you kept a copy if the above two completed forms, just scan through them a day before the interview so that you remember what you filled in. The amount of questions you are asked depend on the interviewer and how you come across. For instance my interview lasted only 5mins or less and I was asked no more than 10 questions whereas some people on this forum have been asked like 30 questions and their interviews have taken longer. After the interview, the interviewer asked me if I had any questions for him and that was it, exited the building to go shopping and waited for my pp which was delivered after 4 days of the interview as promised.They wont tell you if you have passed or failed though but It's rare for them not to issue the passport however bad the applicant feels they didn't do well at the interview. Remember the whole point of the interview is to ensure that it's the real you and not some impersonator. So relax and you will be fine. Good luck.

[neda]

Thank u, joy2006.