British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[fqvision]

*********************************************************************
Application type: First adult passport (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: 1st Class Signed For
Date of application: 28/03/2015
Payment method: D-Card
Royal mail delivery confirmation: 30-03-2015
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 31-03-2015
Date of return of documents: 09-04-2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: 01-04-2015
Date of Passport Appointment: 09-04-2015
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: 13-04-2015

**********************************************************************

End of Journey my friends,

Good luck with every one!

[jaweb]

[quote="jaweb"]Application Type: First time adult (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: special delivery (not check and send)
Date of application: 26/02/2015
Royal mail delivery confirmation:27/02/2015
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 10/04/2015 !!!
Date of return of documents: 18/03/2015 (Royal Mail 2nd class instead of DX secure)
Date of receipt of interview letter: 13/03/2015
Date of Passport Appointment: 20/03/2015
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: 13/04/2015
Date of Passport Receipt: 13/04/2015


10 days after I sent my application they asked new pictures. Then I attended the interview. Nothing was told.
On 23th they sent a letter asking a new photo. AGAIN. Then I called them as they must have received it after 5 days and now they said I needed to send a new form as well. It is utterly ridiculous! I do not understand why it takes 10 days for some people. The most ridiculous is they have not said anything at the interview, then they asked new pictures a few days later and when they received it they found out they want new form and new countersigner too...
Not to forget they sent back my documents with 2nd class when I asked it to be delivered secure and they just put the blame on me as I have not paid for it despite I have.


Update:

Last week Thursday I sent a new form without a new countersigner as I was advised to do this and today I have received this text from them (what I should have received on 27/02)

Your application for a passport has been received. It should take 3 weeks to renew or replace your passport and should take 6 weeks for a first passport. Please do not contact us before this time as this will affect our ability to deal with your application quickly. We will only be in touch if we require further information. At no time will HM Passport Office request personal or financial information via text.

WHAT A JOKE!!![/quote]

Today I got this text:
Your new passport is now being printed and should arrive in the next few working days. Keep it safe at all times. Any loss should be reported immediately via http://www.gov.uk. Your supporting documents will arrive separately.

Seriously why I needed to run these circles...
I just realised the front staff have no idea what to do. If you call them.they just tell you general things as they have no idea what's going on
Now I am impatiently waiting for my new passport and my journey will come to an end. Finally




Last update. Finally its here!

[kunmun23]

Passport for: 2 Adults and 2 Children (Naturalised citizen)
Application Type: First Passport
Method of application: Postal Application (NOT check and send, I picked up the forms from the post office and sent them special delivery after filling and checking it myself)
Date of application: 24-03-2015
Date application delivered to Passport Office : 25-03-2015
Date application receipt acknowledgement received : 30-03-2015 through Text message
Date of return of documents: 01-04-2015 through DX
Date of receipt of interview letter: 11-04-2015 (dated 30-03-2015) ...realize that there was a long weekend but still a bit surprised that it took 12 days to get to me !!
Date of Passport Appointment: 15-04-2015
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

[Rahel1984]

II. They send them back by second class royal mail. But u can add a extra 3 pound with ur passport fee if you want them back securely. U have to tick the box in the form as well. Think its in section 1.

Hi,

Can this service be used with check & send at Post Office?

Thanks.

Yes u can

[happyguy82]

II. They send them back by second class royal mail. But u can add a extra 3 pound with ur passport fee if you want them back securely. U have to tick the box in the form as well. Think its in section 1.

Hi,

Can this service be used with check & send at Post Office?

Thanks.

[benson147]

Has anyone every encounter this with the PO, i received a letter to book my appointment, called the passport office to confirm my details and then realise they had made mistake putting the wrong dob on their system so have been told i cannot book the interview and to wait .

If anyone on here has experience any sort of mistake before what happend next?

[forever.waiting]

[quote="forever.waiting"]Passport for: Adult (Naturalised Citizen)
Application Type: New
Method of application: online
Date of application: March 26, 2015
Date application received by IPS: March 27, 2015.
Date of return of documents: Na
Date of receipt of interview letter: April 4, 2015 (dated April 1, 2015)
Date of Passport Appointment: April 8, 2015
Date of Passport Receipt: Aptil 9, 2015


update: got the passport delivered today.

[legit2011]

@Rahel1984
Many thanks for the prompt response....much apprecaited.

[Rahel1984]

I will be applying for my British passport pretty soon and I do have some clarifications..Please see below.
I understand i will need to complete application form, follow guideline booklet, pay by debit or credit card, detach payment slip at the back of the guideline booklet and include in application and post (preffered).

Now the questions;

I. Do I need to include a special delivery envelope or has this been paid for with my passport application fees?
II. How would they (passport office) return my supporting documentation and previous passports?
III. How would the passport office return my new British passport following interview..Special delivery envelop?...who pays for that?
IV. Does it mean I need to include two special delivery envelopes for i and ii above?
V. Send all active and expired previous passports + BRP settlement card? Will my BRP card be returned with the supporting documentations?
VI. Send certificate of naturalisation?
VII. Send a passport photograph (1) countersigned by referee


I will appreciate some guidance on the above please.

I.U don't need to send a pre paid envelope as they send ur british passport by secured delivery.
II. They send them back by second class royal mail. But u can add a extra 3 pound with ur passport fee if you want them back securely. U have to tick the box in the form as well. Think its in section 1.
III. They send it by DX courier most of the time. Sometimes royal mail secured delivery. That fee includes with ur passport fee.
IV. No u don't have to send any pre paid envelope.
V. Yes send ur passports. Do NOT send ur BRP.
VI. YES.
VII. Two passport photograph. One with countersigned.

[jaweb]

Application Type: First time adult (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: special delivery (not check and send)
Date of application: 26/02/2015
Royal mail delivery confirmation:27/02/2015
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 10/04/2015 !!!
Date of return of documents: 18/03/2015 (Royal Mail 2nd class instead of DX secure)
Date of receipt of interview letter: 13/03/2015
Date of Passport Appointment: 20/03/2015
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting


10 days after I sent my application they asked new pictures. Then I attended the interview. Nothing was told.
On 23th they sent a letter asking a new photo. AGAIN. Then I called them as they must have received it after 5 days and now they said I needed to send a new form as well. It is utterly ridiculous! I do not understand why it takes 10 days for some people. The most ridiculous is they have not said anything at the interview, then they asked new pictures a few days later and when they received it they found out they want new form and new countersigner too...
Not to forget they sent back my documents with 2nd class when I asked it to be delivered secure and they just put the blame on me as I have not paid for it despite I have.


Update:

Last week Thursday I sent a new form without a new countersigner as I was advised to do this and today I have received this text from them (what I should have received on 27/02)

Your application for a passport has been received. It should take 3 weeks to renew or replace your passport and should take 6 weeks for a first passport. Please do not contact us before this time as this will affect our ability to deal with your application quickly. We will only be in touch if we require further information. At no time will HM Passport Office request personal or financial information via text.

WHAT A JOKE!!!

[legit2011]

I will be applying for my British passport pretty soon and I do have some clarifications..Please see below.
I understand i will need to complete application form, follow guideline booklet, pay by debit or credit card, detach payment slip at the back of the guideline booklet and include in application and post (preffered).

Now the questions;

I. Do I need to include a special delivery envelope or has this been paid for with my passport application fees?
II. How would they (passport office) return my supporting documentation and previous passports?
III. How would the passport office return my new British passport following interview..Special delivery envelop?...who pays for that?
IV. Does it mean I need to include two special delivery envelopes for i and ii above?
V. Send all active and expired previous passports + BRP settlement card? Will my BRP card be returned with the supporting documentations?
VI. Send certificate of naturalisation?
VII. Send a passport photograph (1) countersigned by referee


I will appreciate some guidance on the above please.

[Timbo882]

First of all, thanks to you all for the timelines. This information has been very valuable in judging time frames for the applications.

Application type: First adult passport (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 25/03/2015
Payment method: Credit Card
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 27/03/2015
Date of return of documents: 01/04/2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: 01/04/2015
Date of Passport Appointment: 08/04/2015 @ Victoria
Date of Passport printing SMS receipt: Did not receive
Date of Passport Receipt: 09/04/2015

The large gap between my interview letter and my appointment was due to the Easter holidays. I had my appointment very early in the morning and had my passport delivered the next day. I was quite amazed to receive it so quickly.

[Rahel1984]

Hi all,

a little clarification.

If I hold 3 passports (Native country) before naturalization 2 of them expired and one is still valid.

Shall I need to send them all to UK passport office, or just need to send valid passport only.

I am about to apply my1st British passport application.

just need to send only one, should be valid....

I dont think u need a valid passport. Shouldn't be a problem if its expired

[fqvision]

Hi all,

a little clarification.

If I hold 3 passports (Native country) before naturalization 2 of them expired and one is still valid.

Shall I need to send them all to UK passport office, or just need to send valid passport only.

I am about to apply my1st British passport application.

just need to send only one, should be valid....

[JTF2007]

Hi all,

a little clarification.

If I hold 3 passports (Native country) before naturalization 2 of them expired and one is still valid.

Shall I need to send them all to UK passport office, or just need to send valid passport only.

I am about to apply my1st British passport application.

[fqvision]

*********************************************************************
Application type: First adult passport (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: 1st Class Signed For
Date of application: 28/03/2015
Payment method: D-Card
Royal mail delivery confirmation: 30-03-2015
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 31-03-2015
Date of return of documents: 09-04-2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: 01-04-2015
Date of Passport Appointment: 09-04-2015
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

**********************************************************************

Today Interview
Questioner?

what ur name Spell It?
What you do?
how you come here?
Who live with you?
what is your address?
Date of birth?
Father name?
Date of Birth
Mother name?
Date of Birth,
where you born?
what mobile contract you have?
and when you planning to buy your own house?

Sign IT,

awesome experience, Its not a interview just personal appearance, nothing to worry,

he told me passport will arrive in next few days.

[noajthan]

Update

Application Timeline (2 of 2 applications)
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (1st time: naturalised citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 11 Mar 2015 (resubmitted after correcting form)
Date application received by IPS: 12 March 2015
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

*** Note: Initial application (on 7 March) rejected by PO clerk as countersignatory's date on photo didn't match date used by countersignatory (witness) on the form itself.

Check & Send fee includes multiple submissions of same application (within 1 month) so able to resubmit a corrected form with matching dates

18 March: Passport official phoned my wife to say a British passport cannot be issued to her as she has applied for her 1st British passport in her married name & her current (Filipino) passport (which has not been cancelled) is in her maiden name (!).
(She was naturalised in married name & full supporting docs were ofcourse supplied both for naturalisation & in the passport application).

It appears the official is confusing 'identity' with 'travel documents'; after all my wife is entitled to use her maiden &/or married names.

Her present uncancelled passport (from Philippines) is now rendered unusable; this is because since the date of her British citizenship ceremony (last month), she ceased to be a Filipino citizen. She is at present only a British citizen so issuing a British passport will not in fact create a second 'identity'.

The official advised she will be taking advice from the PO legal department & will contact us again soon on next steps.

This is worrying & disturbing to say the least; (it appears to be a side effect of the requirement to submit all uncancelled passports from all countries).

Hoping the PO will recognise their official is actually mistaken so that the application can proceed as normal.

9 April: Called help line again;
told to expect a call back from Durham office inside 2 working days.

[T51820]

Passport for: Adult (Naturalised Citizen)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: March 25, 2015
Date application received by IPS: March 27, 2015 (I phoned them today April 1st to check if they received it).
Date of return of documents: April 1, 2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: April 1, 2015 (dated March 31, 2015)
Date of Passport Appointment: April 2, 2015
Date of Passport Receipt: April 8, 2015

[Rahel1984]

Hi All,

Can some one advise me how many referees do you need for first passport as a naturalize citizen.
what documents you require to send and what service to use post or on-line .

Best Regards

U only need one referee for passport application. He or she should be a professional body and must hold a british passport. U need to send ur previous passport and ur naturalisation certificate. How u wana send ur application? It entirely depends on you. But my personal opinion to use postal service. Either self post or check send.

Thank for your quick reply,

Just a sub-question, do I need to send my old birth country passports ? one of them expired and I will be attending ceremony next week.

That shouldn't be a problem. Cos in the form it says u should send ur all previous uncancelled passport with ur application. Doesn't matter if its expired.

[JTF2007]

Hi All,

Can some one advise me how many referees do you need for first passport as a naturalize citizen.
what documents you require to send and what service to use post or on-line .

Best Regards

U only need one referee for passport application. He or she should be a professional body and must hold a british passport. U need to send ur previous passport and ur naturalisation certificate. How u wana send ur application? It entirely depends on you. But my personal opinion to use postal service. Either self post or check send.

Thank for your quick reply,

Just a sub-question, do I need to send my old birth country passports ? one of them expired and I will be attending ceremony next week.

[Rahel1984]

Hi All,

Can some one advise me how many referees do you need for first passport as a naturalize citizen.
what documents you require to send and what service to use post or on-line .

Best Regards

U only need one referee for passport application. He or she should be a professional body and must hold a british passport. U need to send ur previous passport and ur naturalisation certificate. How u wana send ur application? It entirely depends on you. But my personal opinion to use postal service. Either self post or check send.

[JTF2007]

Hi All,

Can some one advise me how many referees do you need for first passport as a naturalize citizen.
what documents you require to send and what service to use post or on-line .

Best Regards

[pwh]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (naturalised)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 8 March 2015 (posted first class 9 March 2015)
Date application received by IPS: Unknown (no SMS received)
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

Other information: Avoid using the "Beta" online application system, it isn't production ready yet. HMPO sent letter dated 12 March advising that they were unable to retrieve my details from the online system due to system errors and provided a paper form to complete (which defeated the purpose of filling in online). I called them 30 March before sending the paper form, and they said that their online system was now working and they could see my details and there was no problem with the details, the paper form was not required after all, and they would put it back in the pile for processing. So basically it sat on someone's desk for 3 weeks because of a system error in the online system and did not look at it again until I called them. One month since applying and still no interview letter.

[fwd079]

Update:

For my 3 years old daughter.

Passport for: Minor
Application Type: New
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 26/03/2015
Date application received by IPS: 27/03/2015
Date of receipt of interview letter: N/A
Date of Passport Appointment: N/A
Date of Passport Receipt: 02/04/2015
Date of return of documents: 07/04/2015

Received documents, the end of this timeline.

Hopefully will post here soon for wife's passport. Whole process took 13 days in total.

Good luck all.

[hadi2012]

Passport for: Child Naturalized citizen
Application Type: First Passport
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 07 April 2015
Date application received by IPS(SMS):
Date of return of documents:
Date of Passport Receipt:[/quote][/quote]