British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[itsahmedawan]

Has anyone tried calling the passport office? I tried but was given very weird replies ranging from my application could not be traced to first time applications take a minimum of 6 weeks!

They give stupid replies.. Once they told my application is in Peterborough and sometimes they say its in glasgow., now I stopped calling them..

Good to hear that I am not alone is these respones!

Anyone else waiting for the interview letter who applied in March?

i applied non 17 march through check and send service and they received on 19 march and they give 20 march for examination after that i called then to check status and lady asking me some silly questions that r u traveling, did u send on ur own application and then nothing.
i m still waiting for interview letter r my suporting documents.

[collipu]

Has anyone tried calling the passport office? I tried but was given very weird replies ranging from my application could not be traced to first time applications take a minimum of 6 weeks!

They give stupid replies.. Once they told my application is in Peterborough and sometimes they say its in glasgow., now I stopped calling them..

Good to hear that I am not alone is these respones!

Anyone else waiting for the interview letter who applied in March?

[Kb_puth]

Has anyone tried calling the passport office? I tried but was given very weird replies ranging from my application could not be traced to first time applications take a minimum of 6 weeks!

They give stupid replies.. Once they told my application is in Peterborough and sometimes they say its in glasgow., now I stopped calling them..

[tobeukcitizen]

Application Timeline

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (By Naturalization)
Method of application: By Post (to Durham)
Date application sent : 05-MAR-2014 (By Special Delivery)
Date of receipt of application by IPS : 06-03-2014
Date of deduction of fees : 11-06-2014
Date of receipt of interview letter : 26-3-2014
Date of interview appointment : 1-4-2014 (in Reading)
Date of return of documents : 27-3-3014
Date of receipt of passport :3-4-2014

Thanks all for being part of my Naturalisation application journey. All your timelines were really helpful to keep track of when I might expect my next update tentatively. Wish you all a good luck.

My interview experience: It was a typical interview as posted by lot others in this forum. It lasted for 8 minutes. My interview was at 8:45, but I arrived early at 8:10 and I was out by 8:46.

I was not sure how parking will be near the Passport office which is why I arrived early. But, parking spaces on the King's Road at that time of the day was not that busy. I took the ticket for 1hr 40 mins paying £2.60, but used it only for 1 hr.

While I waited in the Ground floor reception in the Kings Reach building, the receptionist/security was rude,making his own rules, asking me not to speak on my mobile phone(even though I spoke very softly) , but he spoke so loudly that it could have be heard to people in all the floors of that building. There were no notice displayed regarding mobile phones.

[collipu]

Has anyone tried calling the passport office? I tried but was given very weird replies ranging from my application could not be traced to first time applications take a minimum of 6 weeks!

[dadageer]

update:

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New, first adult passport
Method of application: Special Delivery
Date of application: 02.04.2014
Date application received by IPS: 8am 03.04.2014 (Royal Mail Proof)
Date SMS Received: 04.04.2014
Date of deduction of fees: Pending
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Appointment: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

[NOG]

The passport application guide states -
"We may check you live at the address you give. If you don’t, it may delay your application unless you explain the circumstances in section 8 of the application form. We will not normally return your passport to an address that is different from your current address. If you want it delivered to a different address, please explain why you want us to do this and give the other address in section 8."

From experience, has the address ever been checked for an individual's passport application? If so, how, HM Passport Office visiting the address?

[InUkOnHsmp]

I will be posting my application in the next few days.
I live in newcastle, hence Durham Passport office is closer to me.
But seen from some posts saying '' Don't send to Durham as it takes too long b4 sending interview letter,
Quick question... Peterbrough or Durham- Which is quicker in processing 1st Adult passport applications.
Thanks

Peterborough.

[Kb_puth]

How long does it take for first child passport? Child is born in UK.. Already been 2 week (check and send service). It's really frustrating to wait.. I had travel plans for next week

Am in the same situation as you and it's now 2 weeks I sent off my child application. There was no appointment available for a fast track application until after 3 weeks, so I had no option than to post it myself. Now we have to travel next week urgently . The guy I spoke to on the phone today spoilt my day by telling to allow up to 4 weeks for a postal application. I will be on the phone with them again tomorrow.

Even I keep calling PO and Dx secure daily.
The guy I spoke yesterday told me it might take more than 4 weeks .. I should hv tried for fast track my maternity leave will end soon ...

[dial2all]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Online ( payment by debit card online)
Date of application: 03/04/2014 (Countersignatures and declaration paper sent out same day by special delivery to Liverpool passport office)
Date of sms:
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

[pinkunicorn]

I figured I'd send this in since it'd have been useful to me if others in my shoes had.

Method of Application: First Adult Passport (British Citizen by Descent), applied from US
Date of Application: 23/11/13
Date of Application Received by IPS: 26/11/13
Date of SMS Received: None from HM Passport Office
Date of Fees deduction: 27/11/13 (SMS from bank)
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: N/A
Date of Return of Documents: 15/01/14
Date of Interview booked: N/A
Date of Passport Receipt: 13/01/14

The delay was due to my failure to enclose a copy of the info page from my countersignatory's US passport. Once he got the letter requesting this, it was only about two weeks including time to post that to them. Their letter took three weeks for him to receive, however. Presumably due to high mail volume right before Christmas.

Overseas applicants do not require an interview.

[Desert Storm]

Method of Application: Self Post Next Day special delivery
Date of Application: 17/03/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 18/03/14
Date of SMS Received: 21/03/14
Date of Fees deduction: 21/03/14
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 03.04.14 dated 01.04.14
Date of Return of Documents: 03/04/14
Date of Interview booked: 09.04.14 @ Reading
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

[psychecat]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Post Office Check & Send
Date of application: 10/03/2014
Date of sms: None (Called the passport office, they received the application on 12/03/2014)
Date of return of documents: 29/03/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 26/03/2014 dated 24/03/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 29/03/2014 Luton PO
Date of Passport Receipt: 31/03/2014

[Aujla]

Hi InUkOnHsmp,

As per gov website, Fast track option will take around 3 week time to get an appointment so I thought check and send was the best option. My friend who applied recently for his daughter received passport in a week so I had hopes. I called PO to upgrade my application to fast track but they told that service not available for first passport application

Already suffered long 3 month wait with citizenship application which messed up my holiday plans..

Hi. I m in the same situation guys. I sent my baby's passport application more than 3 weeks ago but still waiting. And unfortunately I don't have barcode number also. When I phone them they say that they can't do anything without barcode number . I sent by special delivery.

[daniel212]

I will be posting my application in the next few days.
I live in newcastle, hence Durham Passport office is closer to me.
But seen from some posts saying '' Don't send to Durham as it takes too long b4 sending interview letter,
Quick question... Peterbrough or Durham- Which is quicker in processing 1st Adult passport applications.
Thanks

[karaj]

Method of Application: Direct recorded delivered
Date of Application: 24/03/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 25/03/14
Date of SMS Received: 26/03/14
Date of Fees deduction: 31/03/14
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 3/04/14
Date of Return of Documents: 
Date of Interview booked: 11/04/14
Date of Passport Receipt:

[abiegirl32]

How long does it take for first child passport? Child is born in UK.. Already been 2 week (check and send service). It's really frustrating to wait.. I had travel plans for next week

Am in the same situation as you and it's now 2 weeks I sent off my child application. There was no appointment available for a fast track application until after 3 weeks, so I had no option than to post it myself. Now we have to travel next week urgently . The guy I spoke to on the phone today spoilt my day by telling to allow up to 4 weeks for a postal application. I will be on the phone with them again tomorrow.

[dadageer]

alright lads..here I go on my final mission

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New, first adult passport
Method of application: Special Delivery
Date of application: 02.04.2014
Date application received by IPS: 8AM 03.04.2014 (Royal Mail Proof)
Date SMS Received: Pending
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Appointment: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt: Pending

[InUkOnHsmp]

I feel your pain mate, but fast track appointments do get available on a short term as well, as people do cancel. In my case I got an appointment in peterborough 4 days after I called, maybe you should have tried.

Anyway, really hope you get your kids passport in time mate. You can give the DX secure guys a call to check if they have your kids passport, this will tell you 2 days before it comes that its coming.

HTH

[Kb_puth]

Hi InUkOnHsmp,

As per gov website, Fast track option will take around 3 week time to get an appointment so I thought check and send was the best option. My friend who applied recently for his daughter received passport in a week so I had hopes. I called PO to upgrade my application to fast track but they told that service not available for first passport application

Already suffered long 3 month wait with citizenship application which messed up my holiday plans..

[InUkOnHsmp]

Hi winchesterguy,

Kb_puth, is talking about a child passport:

How long does it take for first child passport? Child is born in UK..

[winchesterguy]

There is no fast track service for adult passport. Only kids and cases where there are renewals/lost passports can only be fast tracked.

[InUkOnHsmp]

Sorry to be blunt mate, but if you have travel plans next week, why did you not spend 40-50 pounds extra and go for the fast track service. I applied for my daughter using this service, and got the passport on the 4th day.

The regular route can take up to 2-3 weeks going by the timelines on the forum.

Also check and send is not the fastest way of getting a passport IMO.

[Kb_puth]

How long does it take for first child passport? Child is born in UK.. Already been 2 week (check and send service). It's really frustrating to wait.. I had travel plans for next week

[Anand_2012]

Method of Application: Post Office Check and Send
Date of Application: 02/04/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS:
Date of SMS Received:
Date of Fees deduction:
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter:
Date of Return of Documents:
Date of Interview booked:
Date of Passport Receipt: