British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[padhme]

Hi everyone, as soon as I finish my citizenship ceremony I will need a passport extremely urgently for upcoming travel. I was wondering if anyone had any tips at all so make the process as quick as humanly possible.

E.g. Would it be faster for me to apply with a less busy passport office (e.g. outside of London rather than in London)? Is there anything I should say when I call them up to ensure the fastest possible route? How many days after sending my passport should I call to book the interview to get it as soon as possible? Can I attach a cover letter requesting urgent processing with my application? How can I ensure everything in my application is correct so that I don't lose any precious time? What is the quickest way to apply (post/NCS/online)?

If anyone has any tips, reminders, advice, etc, anything at all, it would be very very much appreciated! Thank you so much!!

[lucy_2011]

Hi akbarim,

FYI Guys

Just read the guidance again and it says if your parents are born after 31st Dec 1982 or were born outside UK, then you need to provide your grandparents details.

I also called up passport office to confirm and they said, i would need to mention the grandparents details as my parents were born in India.

[ilr84]

Documents submitted: Non EEA Passport + BRP (as son born prior to citizenship ceremony) + Naturalisation Certificate

why BRP? did they actually asked for it, when you were filling online?

Passport application form asks for 2 things: -

a) Identity of Child (i.e. Birth Cert)
b) proof of eligibility to British citizenship. At time of his birth, I was not BC, I was on ILR for which the proof is BRP.

proof of eligibility to british citizenship is the Certificate to register as a citizien.
and as at the time of birth he/she was not eligible so there is not point to send BRP???

thats my understanding. other users your input will be appreciated. thanks.

[ilr84]

Oh sorry i misunderstood your route i thought you went through mn 1 (3). But you didn't.

[akbarim]

You will still get your passport if you wont mention your grandparents name.. Not mandatory...

Providing all your previous passports you still possess and naturalisation certifate is

Hi akbarim,

FYI Guys

Just read the guidance again and it says if your parents are born after 31st Dec 1982 or were born outside UK, then you need to provide your grandparents details.

I also called up passport office to confirm and they said, i would need to mention the grandparents details as my parents were born in India.

[chowkal]

Guys
Please read the booklet. you dont have to provide all your previuos passports. You only need the current passport.

online is very easy please use that as you have less paper work and fees taken as well.

Good Luck

Ta

[lucy_2011]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (naturalised)
Method of application: Check and send post office
Date of application: 18/11/2015
Date of documents posted: 18/11/2015
Date of interview letter:
Date of interview booked:
Date of interview:
Date of return of documents:
Date of SMS received:
Date of passport receipt:

[rayclark]

Below is my wife's timeline:

Passport for: Adult 
Application Type: New (Naturalised)
Method of application: Postal (without check and send)
Date of application: 05/11/2015 (straight after ceremony!!)
Date application received by IPS: 06/11/2015
Date payment taken: 10/11/2015 (credit card)
Date of return of documents: 12/11/2015
Date of interview booked:13/11/2015 (Booked with reference no. same as barcode on paper form)
Date of receipt of interview letter: 14/11/2015 (just before interview)
Date of Passport Interview: 14/11/2015
Date of sms receipt: 16/11/2015
Date of Passport Receipt: 18/11/2015

Following the discussion on this forum we tried to book her interview before receiving the letter. On 11th and 12th Nov we had completely unhelpful, b*tches on the phone insisting that we should wait for the letter. They questioned my wife what was the hurry, why couldn't she wait for the letter etc. Finally I called on 13th to book the interview and when asked about the letter I just said yes she's got it. The barcode number on the application form is the same number on the interview letter so that's what I used. Actually she received the letter the next day just before the interview. She carried it along with the email confirmation of appointment, just in case.

Btw, I can also confirm that she did not give ANY grandparents details. The guidance notes state that this is not required for Naturalised Citizens. Post Office staff don't always seem aware of this.

Also as stated in the guidance notes we only provided her most recent, current passport NOT all previous calcelled passports since the beginning of time!

Guidance notes are very clear and helpful. If you follow them you don't need anything else. You don't even need PO check and send (just my opinion).

[uk2005]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (naturalised)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 04/11/2015 (06/11/2015) received
Date of interview letter: called 11/4/15 found they got my address wrong michine took wrong number in process
Date of interview booked: 14/11/2015(by phone)
Date of interview: 17/11/2015
Date of SMS received: 18/11/2015
Date of return of documents: 13/11/2015
Date of passport receipt: waiting

[lucy_2011]

The lady at Post office was adamant to write down the grandparents details. I did tell her to check the guidance notes and we almost ended up in arguments.
Anyways, she insisted ghat I should give my BRP along with certificate n passport as its a requirement now. I again questioned her that there is no such ipdate anywhere on the website and in guide.
In the end, I realized I have no energy left and gave her all docs whatever she wanted.
Post office employees defo need some updated training.

[bpt]

Below is my timeline

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised)
Method of application: Postal check and send
Date of application: 06/11/2015
Date of return of documents: 13/11/2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: 16/11/2015
Date of interview :17/11/2015 (I called before receiving the letter)
Date of text re passport receipt: 18/11/2015
Date of Passport Receipt: hoping to receive by 20th

Thank you again for all your help!

[akbarim]

You will receive it tomorrow

Below is my timeline

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised)
Method of application: Postal check and send
Date of application: 06/11/2015
Date of return of documents: 13/11/2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: 16/11/2015
Date of interview :17/11/2015 (I called before receiving the letter)
Date of text re passport receipt: 18/11/2015
Date of Passport Receipt: hoping to receive by 20th

Thank you again for all your help!

[ChOudhry1]

Hi everyone, as soon as I finish my citizenship ceremony I will need a passport extremely urgently for upcoming travel. I was wondering if anyone had any tips at all so make the process as quick as humanly possible.

E.g. Would it be faster for me to apply with a less busy passport office (e.g. outside of London rather than in London)? Is there anything I should say when I call them up to ensure the fastest possible route? How many days after sending my passport should I call to book the interview to get it as soon as possible? Can I attach a cover letter requesting urgent processing with my application? How can I ensure everything in my application is correct so that I don't lose any precious time? What is the quickest way to apply (post/NCS/online)?

If anyone has any tips, reminders, advice, etc, anything at all, it would be very very much appreciated! Thank you so much!!

Hi dear,
I will not suggest to proceed with any of your plans. If you have an urgent travel plan you should travel on your existing passport. I have gone through the same situation and I called them to know the status after one week. I think that triggered some suspicion or may be be some sick minded case examinar and it took me 9 weeks despite of all kind of requests and appeals and even requests to with draw my application. They say it is the discrition of examiner if he may consider your request to with draw your application. I requested to send my existing passport back with or with out with drawing my application, if withdrawing the application was a problem so I can travel but nothing helped. They told me send the request in writing which I did, and after one week when I called to check they said they have not received any letter and asked if I had sent it as registered, (which was I lie as I found out latter )which I had not . I wrote them again with a reference to complaints. My referee received the enquiry after one month which he replied the same day. Finally made a complaint and then my case was handed over to the priority service and it was processed in another one week.
My mother was sick and I was desperate to travel and I was telling her every day that I will be with her in next two three days. It was a night mare and It was my experience only and some one else may have a different and pleasant experience, it also depends who your case Is dealing.
Best of luck

[uk2005]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (naturalised)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 04/11/2015 (06/11/2015) received
Date of interview letter: called 11/4/15 found they got my address wrong michine took wrong number in process
Date of interview booked: 14/11/2015(by phone)
Date of interview: 17/11/2015
Date of SMS received: 18/11/2015
Date of return of documents: 13/11/2015
Date of passport receipt: 19/11/2015 dated 17/11/2015
Finally my immigration journey is over thank you very much all members who share there knowledge good luck those who waiting

[chowkal]

All Passport applications through postoffices are sent to different locations for processing, depending upon your post code. i.e : I f you apply in London with a postcode of CR0, then the postoffice send it to Peterborugh.

Post office check and send is waste of money and most of them dont know as much as we do. We take due deligience, for them its a job..

Try online and it's good. less paper work and no more scroungers to take another nine pounds, and doing a shabby job.

If you dont receive the passport within three days of Interview call, then complain, which I did, and got my passport within next three days...

Good Luck

[rayclark]

Completely agree "chowkal"! Check and Send is perhaps for those who’ve never had to fill an immigration related form before and are going for their first alcoholic holiday to somewhere in Europe and need a passport!

For most of us who have worked through the immigration system numerous times, the passport application is so simple and straightforward.

If you fill it yourself, enclose all docs and send by special delivery you will actually even save a few quid. Negligible compared to other costs we’ve had to pay, but I still wouldn’t give my money to the post office when I know I can do a better job than them.

[lucy_2011]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (naturalised)
Method of application: Check and send post office
Date of application: 18/11/2015 received by Durham office - 19/11/2015
Date of documents posted: 18/11/2015
Date of interview letter:
Date of interview booked:
Date of interview:
Date of return of documents:
Date of SMS received:
Date of passport receipt:

[Purplewindow]

Lucy,

How did find that your passport has been received by Durham passport office?

[lucy_2011]

Lucy,

How did find that your passport has been received by Durham passport office?

I typed in google where to track passport application and it took me to gov.uk website... there is a form there. You fill that form and they'll email you details next day.

[Purplewindow]

Ok thanks for that.

[bay_girl2]

Hi folks, my ceremony is next week and I'm planning to apply for my passport on line. Does anyone know if this is as quick as any other method?

[chowkal]

Congratulations!
Online is quick and easy with less paper work. May be it's faster as well, they all have targets so they will be quick. At least one place in this whole journey to appreciate on their performance.
Remember folks once we get a naturalisation certificate we are citizens and no one can deny passport. Passport is for travel purpose and NOT a citizenship proving.

The last important thing for online application is when you print out the form, please ensure signatures are within that box and your strokes not touching the inside boundaries. And that's it.

Please save the nine quid as most of the post offices are making money from us and also they give a sub standard quality and no value
Also it gives confidence that we are good ourself in doing things.. as i believe this will lead to doing more things independently.

[vignezh]

A question for those applied online... I need to apply for passports for myself, wife and son. Does this require 3 different logins if applied through HO website or can we submit more than one application under one login.

[chowkal]

Hi,
I used one log in for two applciants
I think you can add upto 4/5 applciations per log in. There is a button down to "add another applicant"

Good Luck Vignesh

[mianrm]

Hi There,

I have applied for Passports for myself and family
Number of Passport Applications (2 Adults and 3 Childern)
Date Of application:14/11/15
Mode of Application : Post Office Check and Send


I have got a SMS today,
Your New Passport should arrive within a few working days, keep it safe, report any loss at www.gov.uk.
Your supporting documents will be returned separately.

I got this SMS twice without any references.

what does that mean ?i never got any interview call as of yet, i didn't got time to call them to find out the interview and book it.what is the number to call them please.

Just to give you more information, my to kids have neutralization certificates and the baby was born 11 months ago when we parents were on ILR and i have send the ILR-BRP cards of us along with birth certificate.