Foreign Birth Registration

So they are now saying that it will take in excess of a year! They should then change the information on the website to state that rather than takes up to 6 months and for more complex applications (although not sure what would be considered as a complex application) up to a year, if a year is now the standard time frame. I thought 6 months was bad enough to be honest and even with a backlog a year?! I believe they have taken on more staff but it appears that perhaps they would need even more to help clear the backlog because it is just going to get bigger as more people apply. As I have said I have borrowed some of the documents needed and will still need them again to get the passport once I get them back from the FBR process so I hope no-one needs any of them in the meantime

It isn't clear when the '6 months' starts, I take it as from when you apply, as in when your documents are received at the embassy etc... (going by the tracking for post) but it seems that it is from when you get the email from the dfa.

My one gripe about this confirming receipt of documents is that surely they are opened before anything is entered on the system to know that it is an application. Surely they could then send an email saying they have received them. I am now 2 months since I sent my documents to the Embassy and I have no idea if my documents are still there or if they are in Dublin - something to say yes we have them and we have sent them on would be extremely helpful and reassuring.

Michael I can totally understand your frustration.

7869 applications that weren't approved last year, that is quite a lot not processed.

Please could I have the phone number? I have tried ringing +353 1671 1633 but that's the passport office.

Thanks

spike18 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:50 pm

Good Evening to all Fellow FBR applicants,

I thought that I might share both my timeline and recent experience with the DFA.

I submitted my online application on 22nd August 2018 and sent my documentation to the London Embassy on 16th September. I received the 'confirmation of receipt' email on 20th September. As six and a half months have now passed, I decided to call the DFA for an update.

My call was answered within ninety seconds. I spoke to an extremely friendly and helpful staff member. She explained that they had been rather busy lately and that they were now quoting up to a year for completion of the process. She re-confirmed receipt of my application and told me that it had gone through an initial inspection. She suggested that prior to final submission it would be more thoroughly inspected and suggested that if I hadn't heard anything I should contact them at the end of the Summer for an update.

This leads me to two conclusions. Firstly, the likely timeline for new applications is much longer than six months and secondly the clock doesn't start ticking until the DFA have acknowledged receipt.

That's the right number. From memory you have to select English and then it's option 1 for the FBR team.

Called again two days ago. Application is apparently one of the July (received 30th in London) ones currently being processed. Was told should be done by mid April. Fingers crossed!

I called yesterday. Mine was received in London on 31st July - apparently it hasn't been processed yet but it likely to be 'very soon' as they are working on July now.

I am just hoping that mine is just behind yours!

mikef wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:02 pm

I called yesterday. Mine was received in London on 31st July - apparently it hasn't been processed yet but it likely to be 'very soon' as they are working on July now.

Kindly keep us updated on your progress. I am an August applicant, so it would be good news if your July applications are being finalized. Thanks for the update!

Hi,

That was the number I used.

theonlyh wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:42 am

Please could I have the phone number? I have tried ringing +353 1671 1633 but that's the passport office.

Thanks

spike18 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:50 pm

Good Evening to all Fellow FBR applicants,

I thought that I might share both my timeline and recent experience with the DFA.

I submitted my online application on 22nd August 2018 and sent my documentation to the London Embassy on 16th September. I received the 'confirmation of receipt' email on 20th September. As six and a half months have now passed, I decided to call the DFA for an update.

My call was answered within ninety seconds. I spoke to an extremely friendly and helpful staff member. She explained that they had been rather busy lately and that they were now quoting up to a year for completion of the process. She re-confirmed receipt of my application and told me that it had gone through an initial inspection. She suggested that prior to final submission it would be more thoroughly inspected and suggested that if I hadn't heard anything I should contact them at the end of the Summer for an update.

This leads me to two conclusions. Firstly, the likely timeline for new applications is much longer than six months and secondly the clock doesn't start ticking until the DFA have acknowledged receipt.

mikef wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:02 pm

I called yesterday. Mine was received in London on 31st July - apparently it hasn't been processed yet but it likely to be 'very soon' as they are working on July now.

I am just hoping that mine is just behind yours!

Fingers crossed, will let u know when I hear anything. Hopefully soon

Good news! I received my passport yesterday via FedEx courier from the New York consulate.

Total timeline:

FBR application received in Dublin: 2 August
Added to FBR: 19 December
Received FBR certificate: 11 January

Passport application received in Dublin: 11 February
Passport issued: 28 March
Passport received: 4 April

Best wishes to everyone still waiting; I really hope things start to move more quickly!

sean015 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 05, 2019 1:29 pm

Good news! I received my passport yesterday.
Total timeline:
FBR application received in Dublin: 2 August
Added to FBR: 19 December
Received FBR certificate: 11 January
Passport application received in Dublin: 11 February
Passport issued: 28 March
Passport received: 4 April

Congratulations Sean!
From your timeline it appears you have The Luck of The Irish!!

Hello everyone - here is my (as yet inconclusive) timeline:

Application to be entered on to the FBR acknowledged as received at London Embassy - 7th February 2018
Email from Dublin, 'Unable to proceed as baptismal certificates are not acceptable' (rule changed in January unbeknownst to me) - 19th June 2018
Application to register birth of Grandmother (1879) sent to General Register Office - 24th August 2018
Birth registered - 15th September 2018
Application to be entered on to the FBR acknowledged as received at London Embassy - 1st October 2018
Nothing received since then.

GM

Hi All!


Mine was received in Dublin June 15. So, I wait!!

Laurie

Sean

That's great to hear. The whole passport process seems to be significantly better organised (with tracking etc) than the system in place for FBR. I still have at least 4 weeks to wait for mine - that's the official wait time. Right now, I see myself getting the Turkish passport before the Irish one materializes. The FBR experience has instilled in me a deep sense of pessimism when it comes to the DFA and expectations of timely receipt.

Gennart

I presume the DFA will only count your application as received from the date that the fresh documents reached them in October. Therefore, since they are reportedly working on the July applications now, it may take some time yet for them to begin processing yours. However, the whole "we are working on July" thing makes little sense. Both Sean and I were August applicants and our FBR process is now over. As a process, FBR nothing if not inconsistent.

Laurie

Why you have been waiting since June is a complete mystery to me. If they are truly working on the July batch, then your application should have moved forward. Did you apply direct to Dublin from the United States? If so, it's essentially the same situation as Michael, but with 2 extra months of wait time tacked on. Quite odd, as U.S. applications had been proceeding within about 5 months from receipt to FBR entry prior to mid August 2018.

Irish Passport application form the UK seems to be taking the full 48 working days, for me anyway.

Applied on -9th Feb 2019
Application received - 14th Feb 2019.
Estimated delievery date on tracker - 13th March

Still haven’t received it yet. Probably will be near the end of April hopefully.

Laurie9434 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:20 pm

Hi All!


Mine was received in Dublin June 15. So, I wait!!

Laurie

Oh dang... I’ve lost my mind! Sorry, My application and documents were received in Dublin on August 15. The only reason I can think for my putting June 15 is that’s my daughters birthday.

Kellie18 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 07, 2019 8:46 am

Irish Passport application form the UK seems to be taking the full 48 working days, for me anyway.

Applied on -9th Feb 2019
Application received - 14th Feb 2019.
Estimated delievery date on tracker - 13th March

Still haven’t received it yet. Probably will be near the end of April hopefully.

I think the current wait times for 1st time applications in the UK is currently sitting at 55 days, Kellie.

I applied for my passport via the Passport Express service in Glasgow, with current wait times of apparently 17 days. I only sent the documents away last week, and have not yet been updated onto the tracking system. But I am obviously hoping it’s closer to the 17 day wait as opposed to 55.

I submitted my passport application at the embassy on March 27th and it appeared in the tracking system on the same day. That does not mean much. It is still estimated to take 6 weeks in total to process.

My FBR and Passport journey comes to an end, exactly 9 months after submitting my FBR application online

8th July: Applied online : 8th July
20th July: Documents Received by London Embassy
7th November : E-mail from DFA requesting clarification re: marriage cert (Grandmother) and additional document
8th November : Additional Documents Sent to DFA in Ireland
12th November: Documents Received by DFA
15th November : E-mail from DFA confirming application approved and forwarded for FBR certificate printing
6th December : Certificate arrived in the post (via London Embassy)

10th January - Passport application send to Cork Passport Office
14th January - Application received (according to AnPost Tracking)
21st January - Application received (according to DFA Passport Tracking)
- Target date set for 22nd March
29th March - Asked for update and advised that there was no issue on system preventing issue of passport
2nd April - Received telephone call from DFA to advise that passport would be printed on 3rd
4th April - Passport Tracking status changed to dispatched
8th April - Passport arrived in mail this morning

I obviously didn't apply for passport immediately after I received my FBR certificate. This was due to work issues and Christmas. Taking out the 5 week gap, I think I was very fortunate to get everything done within 8 months. I was particularly lucky with the FBR within 5 months as most Summer applications appear to have exceeded 6 months.

Congratulations to all those who have recently received their FBR and/or Passport. I also hope a speedy resolution for those still waiting for FBR, particularly michael123 and those who are well over the original 6 months date from 2018.

Erin go bragh !

Boy am I glad I found this thread with the new chat - thought it was weird there were no new comments on the old one. Took me a while to figure out it had been closed!

Here's my timeline:
Application submitted online: 4th September, 2018
Documents sent directly to Dublin consulate and received: 10th September, 2018
Acknowledgement of application from embassy: pending
Congratulations email received: pending
Delivery of FBR certificate: pending

I've tried calling and using the webchat today to try get an update and neither are working. Anyone got tips on the best way to get through these days?

Aussie_MJ wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 08, 2019 2:09 pm

I've tried calling and using the webchat today to try get an update and neither are working. Anyone got tips on the best way to get through these days?

I think Sulla mentioned on the old thread that you need to adjust your computer's clock to Irish time to access their webchat for some convoluted reason, and then it's during Irish business hours only. Not only that, but as of about a month ago, you can no longer use webchat to make inquiries about the FBR, only passport apps.

My timeline is a little behind yours, I sent my FBR application off mid-sept and it was received and acknowledged Sept 27th in Dublin.

When I spoke to them at the start of March via the webchat (when you still could) they said don't expect any news before July/Aug. Super frustrating, but what can you do?

I missed that one about changing the clock settings, how strange is that one.

It is frustrating how long it takes, to put it into perspective I know someone who got citizenship for a different nationality but it took less than a month to process! So just goes to prove that it doesn't need to be complicated.

I think I am going to have to message the embassy to ask if my documents have been sent to Dublin, again frustrating that you can only email through the web form and limited to 250 characters so need to work out how to word it. I would just like to know that the received them okay and if they have been forwarded on. I know no point contacting the DFA yet

Aussie MJ - you can't contact them about FBR through web chat any more I believe you can only call them now.

Congratulations to all who have received theirs

I decided to call again, was told to try back in September.. which will make it 13 months.. application recieved in Dublin 8/21/18, direct from USA

I might call them again tomorrow and the next and continue until my application is expedited.

Michael123 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 09, 2019 3:46 pm

I decided to call again, was told to try back in September.. which will make it 13 months.. application recieved in Dublin 8/21/18, direct from USA

13 months is inexcusable. They should at least explain what the hold up is.

LesMalouinettes wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:13 am

Michael123 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 09, 2019 3:46 pm

I decided to call again, was told to try back in September.. which will make it 13 months.. application recieved in Dublin 8/21/18, direct from USA

13 months is inexcusable. They should at least explain what the hold up is.

His exact words “I see you called in the past and spoke with me in January, I apologize for the delay but you can blame it on Brexit, if you had applied a year earlier the time would have been shortened greatly. Because we have been snowed with applications, I would suggest calling in September. You application is in que to be examined but there are many more ahead of you.”

I should have asked about the current interest rate on the fee I paid!!! If that doesnt make it worse, I paid just under 100 USD for next day international shipping from the USA to Dublin, that was the equivalent to racing to a red traffic light.


Tick-tock.. #IrishCitenship2025!!