British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[MHA]

Update:

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 26/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: unknown
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: never received
Date of return of documents: 11/09/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/09/2014 - passed
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: TBA

Congratulation Sogy

what did they ask u during interview and where u took the interview???

[sogy]

Update:

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 26/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: unknown
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: never received
Date of return of documents: 11/09/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/09/2014 - passed
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: TBA

[msank]

Update

UpdatePassport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 27/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: 29/08/2014( SMS received)
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Interview: 11/09/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:

[sogy]

Do u live in london

Nope.

When you get your letter, you need to call the number in it, and then they tell you what your options for the interview are.

[MHA]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 26/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: unknown
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: never received
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/09/2014
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: TBA

Dear Sogy!
Do u live in london bcz i live in london and which office is suitable 4 me?????

[sogy]

Dear Sogy!
Which office received ur application and where did u book ur interview 4 passport?????

I wish i knew the office - there was no SMS, and the interview letter does not name the office.

The interview is booked in Derby (they also offered Leicester and Sheffiled).

[MHA]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 26/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: unknown
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: never received
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/09/2014
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: TBA

Dear Sogy!
Which office received ur application and where did u book ur interview 4 passport?????

[sogy]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 26/08/2014
Date application received by IPS: unknown
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: never received
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/09/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/09/2014
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: TBA

[gaboon_viper]

Final step in our journey!! Passport application for my 19 year old daughter :

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First Adult passport
Method of application: postal, special delivery and sent to the IPS office in Belfast (not check and send)
Date of application : 28th August 2014
Date application received by IPS: 29th August 2014
Date fees debited from bank acc : 3rd September 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 9th September 2014 (Letter is dated 5th September 2014)
Date of Passport Appointment: To call for appointment on 10th September
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of SMS from Office : TBA
Date of Passport received : TBA

I have a strong feeling that my daughters passport application has been processed so quickly because we sent the application to Belfast IPS rather than Peterborough or Liverpool, even though we live south of London.

Wow, nice timings, intelligent application. Thats y u r respected guru. CR0001, big boss. Salute to you boss

[mash2u]

Final step in our journey!! Passport application for my 19 year old daughter :

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First Adult passport
Method of application: postal, special delivery and sent to the IPS office in Belfast (not check and send)
Date of application : 28th August 2014
Date application received by IPS: 29th August 2014
Date fees debited from bank acc : 3rd September 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 9th September 2014 (Letter is dated 5th September 2014)
Date of Passport Appointment: To call for appointment on 10th September
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of SMS from Office : TBA
Date of Passport received : TBA

I have a strong feeling that my daughters passport application has been processed so quickly because we sent the application to Belfast IPS rather than Peterborough or Liverpool, even though we live south of London.

That's an amazing response time, CR001. I'm also not surprised you didn't opt for Check and Send. Curious though - how is it that you chose the Belfast IPS? Unfortunately, I applied last week through the Post Office and am likely not going to be hearing from them for a few weeks at the very least.

[CR001]

Final step in our journey!! Passport application for my 19 year old daughter :

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First Adult passport
Method of application: postal, special delivery and sent to the IPS office in Belfast (not check and send)
Date of application : 28th August 2014
Date application received by IPS: 29th August 2014
Date fees debited from bank acc : 3rd September 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 9th September 2014 (Letter is dated 5th September 2014)
Date of Passport Appointment: To call for appointment on 10th September
Date of return of documents: TBA
Date of SMS from Office : TBA
Date of Passport received : TBA

I have a strong feeling that my daughters passport application has been processed so quickly because we sent the application to Belfast IPS rather than Peterborough or Liverpool, even though we live south of London.

[gaboon_viper]

Thanks MHA, via DX, strangley, not ask for any id. Hope it helps

supporting documents as well???

yes, documents arrived before passport via DX, not ask for id. Thnx

[MHA]

Thanks MHA, via DX, strangley, not ask for any id. Hope it helps

supporting documents as well???

[gaboon_viper]

Thanks MHA, via DX, strangley, not ask for any id. Hope it helps

[MHA]

Hi great forum, Update. Got passport today. Without ur help not possible. Thanks i love u

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application:08.08.14
Date application received by IPS: 12.08.14
Date of return of documents: 26.08.14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 29.08.14
Date of Passport Appointment: 05.09.14 Friday
Date of Sms from Office. 08.09.15 Monday
Date of Passport received : 09.09.14

Congratulation gaboon_viper

i wanna ask u did u receive ur supporting documents by DX Secure or Royal Mail and secondly when they deliver ur passport and supporting documents did delivery man check ur ID etc?????

Thanx!

[gaboon_viper]

Hi great forum, Update. Got passport today. Without ur help not possible. Thanks i love u

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application:08.08.14
Date application received by IPS: 12.08.14
Date of return of documents: 26.08.14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 29.08.14
Date of Passport Appointment: 05.09.14 Friday
Date of Sms from Office. 08.09.15 Monday
Date of Passport received : 09.09.14

[Jav13]

Update:
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 17.07.2014
Date application received by IPS: 22.07.2014
SMS received: 23.07.14
Date of return of documents: still waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: 21.08.2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 27.08.14
Date of SMS printing passport: 28.08.14 10am
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

Text msg received 4m DX on 30.08 that they attempted delivery of passport on 29.08 and left a card. However I could NOT trace any card. I called DX to arrange a collection but they refused. I then requested re-delivery but the earliest date they gave me was 03.09. It seems almost a week. Not very happy.

[Jav13]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 17.07.2014
Date application received by IPS: 22.07.2014
SMS received: 23.07.14
Date of return of documents: 04.09.14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 21.08.2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 27.08.14
Date of SMS printing passport: 28.08.14 10am
Date of Passport Receipt: 03.09.14

Text msg received 4m DX on 30.08 that they attempted delivery of passport on 29.08 and left a card. However I could NOT trace any card. I called DX to arrange a collection but they refused. I then requested re-delivery but the earliest date they gave me was 03.09. It seems almost a week. Not very happy.

[man4uni]

Dear man4uni!

First of all congratulation 4 getting British Passport, secondly i wanna ask that is there any hard & fast rule for delivering Supporting Documents,some times they deliver b4 interview letter,some times with British Passport,sometimes after British Passport??????

But if u call them they always mention that they will deliver after 2 weeks of BP delivery

Thank you for the wishes

This is a very tricky question indeed. Looks like HMPO doesn't have a proper process for this one. The reason I say this is this application was for my wife, who received her documents (submitted) before the actual British passport. However, in my case which was few months ago, I received the British passport first then the submitted documents (after few days).

I know this isn't of any help , but just sharing our experience

[MHA]

At last the journey is over! Alhumdulillah

Update in RED

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (1st British Passport)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 6th Aug 2014
Date application received by IPS (sms): 11th Aug 2014
Date of return of documents: 28th Aug 2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 26th Aug 2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 27th Aug 2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 1st Sep 2014

Dear man4uni!

First of all congratulation 4 getting British Passport, secondly i wanna ask that is there any hard & fast rule for delivering Supporting Documents,some times they deliver b4 interview letter,some times with British Passport,sometimes after British Passport??????

But if u call them they always mention that they will deliver after 2 weeks of BP delivery

[ali_asad_pk]

dear MHA

no tracking number etc, just that passport is being printed

Regards

[MHA]

Dear Ali Asad!

First thanx 4 prompt reply secondly i wanna ask that when passport office send message ,passport is printing after interview do they send any tracking number of DX Courier as well???

Thanx!

[pinkpanter]

All:

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 21/07/2014
Date application received by IPS: 24/07/2014 (Belfast)
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 25/07/2014
Date of return of documents: 21/08/2014 (attempted delivery by DX on 20/08/2014)
Date of receipt of interview letter: Never (sent on 15/08/2014, see below)
Date of Passport Appointment: 27/08/2014
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: 04/09/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 04/09/2014


There were a few hiccups in the process. Despite the hiccups, I got my passport exactly 6 weeks from receipt of my application by IPS (6weeks and 4 days from the day I sent it). A few notes and tips:

1. The "6 week" target that IPs sets for itself and against which it measures its performance appears to be from the date of actual receipt. Please bear this in mind when you apply: the 6 week period will not usually start until at least a couple of days after your check & send application.

2. There appears to be no real geographical logic to where your application ends up: I applied from London and my application was considered by the Belfast office.

3. The standard IPS helpline number is not very helpful. They do not have accurate information and calling them can be a waste of time. Even when they try to be helpful, the just don't know anything. If you need to contact IPS, contact the office that is dealing with your application. In my case, I waited 4 weeks after my application and, because I needed to travel urgently, I called the Belfast office who were extremely helpful and sent my original documents back by DX (for which I had paid) once they had reviewed my paper application and sent out my interview letter.

4. I never got an interview letter for some reason (probably lost in mail). Once I had had my original documents for a few days, I called them again and they gave me the necessary information to book an interview. (When you call them, you get an automatic message saying you should only call if you have received an invitation letter but, if you hold long enough, they will speak to you and if you have a genuine issue and are not just wasting time or panicking unnecessarily, they will help you out.)

5. For some reason, when I went for my interview, the centre did not have my details on its electronic system (apparently a glitch on their system). They ended up conducting a contingency interview on paper and sending my details by DX to Belfast. This delayed matters somewhat.

6. Once I pointed out the delay and the fact that I needed to travel to a country for which I preferred to use my British passport, I got a call back from their customer services personnel who were very helpful and arranged to process my passport on a fast-track basis. I got my passport less than a day after they got involved.

I hope this helps. Good luck all.

Hello, Please can you advise as I also applied on 21st July and my and my child applications sent to Peterborough office. How did you get Belfast direcect Number as I am struggling to get Peterborough office contact Number? Can you help me to find Peterborough Office Number please. Please note that its now more than 6 weeks and I haven't hear anything yet despite the numerous calls and emails but, every time the same standard reply that our application is in examining process.

[pinkpanter]

All:

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send PO
Date of application: 21/07/2014
Date application received by IPS: 24/07/2014 (Belfast)
SMS confirming receipt by IPS: 25/07/2014
Date of return of documents: 21/08/2014 (attempted delivery by DX on 20/08/2014)
Date of receipt of interview letter: Never (sent on 15/08/2014, see below)
Date of Passport Appointment: 27/08/2014
Date of Passport printing sms receipt: 04/09/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 04/09/2014

Hello, Please can you advise as I also applied on 21st July and my and my child applications sent to Peterborough office. How did you get Belfast direcect Number as I am struggling to get Peterborough office contact Number? Can you help me to find Peterborough Office Number please. Please note that its now more than 6 weeks and I haven't hear anything yet despite the numerous calls and emails but, every time the same standard reply that our application is in examining process.


There were a few hiccups in the process. Despite the hiccups, I got my passport exactly 6 weeks from receipt of my application by IPS (6weeks and 4 days from the day I sent it). A few notes and tips:

1. The "6 week" target that IPs sets for itself and against which it measures its performance appears to be from the date of actual receipt. Please bear this in mind when you apply: the 6 week period will not usually start until at least a couple of days after your check & send application.

2. There appears to be no real geographical logic to where your application ends up: I applied from London and my application was considered by the Belfast office.

3. The standard IPS helpline number is not very helpful. They do not have accurate information and calling them can be a waste of time. Even when they try to be helpful, the just don't know anything. If you need to contact IPS, contact the office that is dealing with your application. In my case, I waited 4 weeks after my application and, because I needed to travel urgently, I called the Belfast office who were extremely helpful and sent my original documents back by DX (for which I had paid) once they had reviewed my paper application and sent out my interview letter.

4. I never got an interview letter for some reason (probably lost in mail). Once I had had my original documents for a few days, I called them again and they gave me the necessary information to book an interview. (When you call them, you get an automatic message saying you should only call if you have received an invitation letter but, if you hold long enough, they will speak to you and if you have a genuine issue and are not just wasting time or panicking unnecessarily, they will help you out.)

5. For some reason, when I went for my interview, the centre did not have my details on its electronic system (apparently a glitch on their system). They ended up conducting a contingency interview on paper and sending my details by DX to Belfast. This delayed matters somewhat.

6. Once I pointed out the delay and the fact that I needed to travel to a country for which I preferred to use my British passport, I got a call back from their customer services personnel who were very helpful and arranged to process my passport on a fast-track basis. I got my passport less than a day after they got involved.

I hope this helps. Good luck all.

[ali_asad_pk]

Dear MHA

British passport is always delivered through courier i.e. DX Secure

In my case, as I paid for supporting documents to be returned via secure delivery so both, my supporting documents and British passport, were delivered by DX SEcure, same person, same time.

Good Luck