British Passport Application

[AB_B]

Date of Application : 26 Oct 2011
Date Received by IPS : 28 Oct 2011
Date Letter sent to Countersignatory : 09 Nov 2011

I have travel booked for 2nd December and am now very worried that passport may not come in time. Countersignatory letter was sent by 2nd class post on 9 Nov 2011 and 2nd class post is taking 7-14 days to arrive in this environment.

Is there anyone who can help in advising me how I can speed this up? I called IPS and they were most unhelpful and bureaucratic saying they wouldn't accept countersignatory response before he recieves the letter etc. etc.

Thanks!

[Jambo]

2nd class post should not take so long but it all depends if the letter left IPS on 9th or was just printed and will be sent later.

Make sure the letter is sent back 1st class. Then call them 2-3 days after, asking for the reference number to book an interview (one should be generated once they receive the countersignatory letter). The passport usually arrives 2-3 days after the interview. So if your countersignatory reply to the letter as soon as he gets it, you could have the passport a week after.

[AB_B]

Thanks a lot Jambo. I replied by next day delivery post yesterday - delivered today. Will call tomorrow as per your advice to try to get a reference number off them.

When I called in a panic yesterday the lady said even after we recieve letter from your countersignatory we may have further checks to do, interview letter will be sent by second class post and there will be further checks after the interview. But I think she was being overly conservative and bureaucratic. Lets hope for the best!

Thanks again!