British Passport application processing timelines (only)

Updated Feb 1 - Final update

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Birmingham)

Date of Application: 18/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 21/1/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 28/1/2014 (dated 27/1/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 1/2/2014

All done!! Thank you all for the information shared.

gadgets wrote:Updated Jan 29, 2014

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Birmingham)

Date of Application: 18/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 21/1/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 28/1/2014 (dated 27/1/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: pending

Almost there

Good turnaround times we are seeing now, you are almost there mate

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 11.01.14
Date application received by IPS: ( not checked )
Date of return of documents: 25.01.14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 22.01.14
Date of Passport Interview: 24.01.14
Date of Passport Receipt: 29.01.14

Can someone please help me understand this

I called the HMPO to check on the progress of my application, I was told that apllications generally take two to three weeks with the check&Verification section before it is passed onto the processing section which then deals with the interviews, then sent to the dispatching section which then dispatches out the supporting docs and then passport thereafter.

My question is: If the HO takes all those months verifying and checking your naturalisation application, then they approve it, why then does the HMPO have to spend 2 more weeks cheking and verifying before they can send you application to the processing section to start the process? Also why is it that after paying for the Check and Send service, the HMPO also still starts making the "checking & Sending" before sending it to their other departments, who inturn (am assuming here) also does the same job all over again, WHYYYYY?

MwanaKay wrote:Can someone please help me understand this

I called the HMPO to check on the progress of my application, I was told that apllications generally take two to three weeks with the check&Verification section before it is passed onto the processing section which then deals with the interviews, then sent to the dispatching section which then dispatches out the supporting docs and then passport thereafter.

My question is: If the HO takes all those months verifying and checking your naturalisation application, then they approve it, why then does the HMPO have to spend 2 more weeks cheking and verifying before they can send you application to the processing section to start the process? Also why is it that after paying for the Check and Send service, the HMPO also still starts making the "checking & Sending" before sending it to their other departments, who inturn (am assuming here) also does the same job all over again, WHYYYYY?

That's called the 'official talk'. I think in reality, you will find it's called "Bureaucracy'.

Passport for: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Application Type: New
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 27.01.2014
Date application received by IPS: 28.01.2014 (Tracked)
Date SMS received : 30.01.2014 (For both adults only - not sure if they send for kids? I entered my number only)
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Interview: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

Hi everyone, just had my ceremony today and went to the post office to get a passport application , can anyone tell me what other documents do I need appart from british citizen certificate and the old passport?
Kind regards

tarchei wrote:Passport for: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Application Type: New
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 27.01.2014
Date application received by IPS: 28.01.2014 (Tracked)
Date SMS received : 30.01.2014 (For both adults only - not sure if they send for kids? I entered my number only)
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Interview: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

Hi Tarchei,

Did you send all applications (2 Adults & 2 Children) and supported documents in one post cover?
How many postal covers you send for return supported documents for secure delivery ex: 1 or 2 or 3 or 4.
Can you please let me know.

amoursamara wrote:Hi everyone, just had my ceremony today and went to the post office to get a passport application , can anyone tell me what other documents do I need appart from british citizen certificate and the old passport?
Kind regards

No, you don't need anything else:

1 x Application Form, fully filled in and signed, and countersigned by referee
2x Passport Photo, 1 signed by Referee
Your Current Passport
Naturalisation Certificate

That's it!!!!

Date of Application: 27/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 28/01/14
confirmation by SMS: 31-01-2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter:
Date of Return of Documents:
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Home Counties)

Date of Application: 29/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: Pending
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: Pending
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: pending
Date of Passport Receipt: pending

First child Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (charlton, london)

Date of Application: 30/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: Pending
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: Pending
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: pending
Date of Passport Receipt: pending

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (London)

Date of Application: 03/02/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: Should be 04/02/2014 but will check and update tomorrow
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: Pending
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: pending
Date of Passport Receipt: pending

Thank God am now on the journey to receiving that red book to complete this long journey.

edenking wrote:

tarchei wrote:Passport for: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Application Type: New
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 27.01.2014
Date application received by IPS: 28.01.2014 (Tracked)
Date SMS received : 30.01.2014 (For both adults only - not sure if they send for kids? I entered my number only)
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Interview: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

Hi Tarchei,

Did you send all applications (2 Adults & 2 Children) and supported documents in one post cover?
How many postal covers you send for return supported documents for secure delivery ex: 1 or 2 or 3 or 4.
Can you please let me know.

Hi EdenKing, Sorry for the delay. I put each application, respective Photos and PP in the same envelope I got from Post office with the form. So I had 4 such envelopes for 4 applications which I put in one big envelope with all 4 certificates and sent with special delivery.

I just checked the option given in the form for secure delivery so they will send 4 separate posts for the docs. I didn't put any pre paid envelope in it.

Make sense?

tarchei wrote:

edenking wrote:

tarchei wrote:Passport for: 2 Adults & 2 Children
Application Type: New
Method of application: Self
Date of application: 27.01.2014
Date application received by IPS: 28.01.2014 (Tracked)
Date SMS received : 30.01.2014 (For both adults only - not sure if they send for kids? I entered my number only)
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Interview: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

Hi Tarchei,

Did you send all applications (2 Adults & 2 Children) and supported documents in one post cover?
How many postal covers you send for return supported documents for secure delivery ex: 1 or 2 or 3 or 4.
Can you please let me know.

Hi EdenKing, Sorry for the delay. I put each application, respective Photos and PP in the same envelope I got from Post office with the form. So I had 4 such envelopes for 4 applications which I put in one big envelope with all 4 certificates and sent with special delivery.

I just checked the option given in the form for secure delivery so they will send 4 separate posts for the docs. I didn't put any pre paid envelope in it.

Make sense?

Thank you Tarchei

Passport for: 2 Adults
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 09-01-2014
Date application received by IPS: Unknown
Date SMS received : 13-01-2014
Date of return of documents: 29-01-2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 25-01-2014 (Dated 23-01-2014)
Date of Passport Interview: 31-01-2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 04-02-2014

Final update

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Birmingham)

Date of Application: 18/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 21/1/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 28/1/2014 (dated 27/1/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 1/2/2014

All done!! Thank you all for the information shared.

hi ,

can anyone tell please how long the passport take to arrive when you apply for the first time??
i did,nt find any one in this forum from edinbourgh??

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Home Counties)

Date of Application: 29/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS (received a text message): 04/02/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: Pending
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: pending
Date of Passport Receipt: pending