British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[Williamme]

Can someone please help me understand this

I called the HMPO to check on the progress of my application, I was told that apllications generally take two to three weeks with the check&Verification section before it is passed onto the processing section which then deals with the interviews, then sent to the dispatching section which then dispatches out the supporting docs and then passport thereafter.

My question is: If the HO takes all those months verifying and checking your naturalisation application, then they approve it, why then does the HMPO have to spend 2 more weeks cheking and verifying before they can send you application to the processing section to start the process? Also why is it that after paying for the Check and Send service, the HMPO also still starts making the "checking & Sending" before sending it to their other departments, who inturn (am assuming here) also does the same job all over again, WHYYYYY?

That's called the 'official talk'. I think in reality, you will find it's called "Bureaucracy'.

[MwanaKay]

Can someone please help me understand this

I called the HMPO to check on the progress of my application, I was told that apllications generally take two to three weeks with the check&Verification section before it is passed onto the processing section which then deals with the interviews, then sent to the dispatching section which then dispatches out the supporting docs and then passport thereafter.

My question is: If the HO takes all those months verifying and checking your naturalisation application, then they approve it, why then does the HMPO have to spend 2 more weeks cheking and verifying before they can send you application to the processing section to start the process? Also why is it that after paying for the Check and Send service, the HMPO also still starts making the "checking & Sending" before sending it to their other departments, who inturn (am assuming here) also does the same job all over again, WHYYYYY?

[luk1c]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 11.01.14
Date application received by IPS: ( not checked )
Date of return of documents: 25.01.14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 22.01.14
Date of Passport Interview: 24.01.14
Date of Passport Receipt: 29.01.14

[MwanaKay]

Updated Jan 29, 2014

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Birmingham)

Date of Application: 18/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 21/1/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 28/1/2014 (dated 27/1/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: pending
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: pending

Almost there

Good turnaround times we are seeing now, you are almost there mate

[gadgets]

Updated Feb 1 - Final update

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Birmingham)

Date of Application: 18/1/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 21/1/2014
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 28/1/2014 (dated 27/1/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30/1/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 1/2/2014

All done!! Thank you all for the information shared.

[MwanaKay]

British Passport :
Method of Application: Post office check and send

Date of Application: 11/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS:14/01/14 confirmation by SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview latter: 21/01/2014
Date of Return of Documents: 20/01/14
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:24/01/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:28/01/14
im out long wait is over now time for good future
thanks sooooo much for every ones help ,that board and ppl in here so help full and friendly ALLAH bless you all

Hi rize007,
Please how did you do it to receive confirmation by SMS, or that your application has been received by IPS. I also applied by send and check.

If you filled in your phone number on the application form, they confirm receipt of application by SMS, it is just standard, although for some people they don't receive the sms for some reason. I filled in my number but have not received SMS confirmation, but when I called in they confirmed receipt of my application.

[jonjr023]

British Passport :
Method of Application: Post office check and send

Date of Application: 11/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS:14/01/14 confirmation by SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview latter: 21/01/2014
Date of Return of Documents: 20/01/14
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:24/01/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:28/01/14
im out long wait is over now time for good future
thanks sooooo much for every ones help ,that board and ppl in here so help full and friendly ALLAH bless you all

Hi rize007,
Please how did you do it to receive confirmation by SMS, or that your application has been received by IPS. I also applied by send and check.

[jonjr023]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 28/01/2014
Date application received by IPS: 03/02/2014 called #: 03002220000 on the Passport Application receipt for confirmation
Date of return of documents: Pending
Date of receipt of interview letter: Pending
Date of Passport Appointment: Pending
Date of Passport Receipt:Pending

HI everyone, please how do you track the application with send and check ?

[rize007]

British Passport :
Method of Application: Post office check and send

Date of Application: 11/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS:14/01/14 confirmation by SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview latter: 21/01/2014
Date of Return of Documents: 20/01/14
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:24/01/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:28/01/14
im out long wait is over now time for good future
thanks sooooo much for every ones help ,that board and ppl in here so help full and friendly ALLAH bless you all

[feliteodor]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 15.01.2014
Date application received by IPS: 20.01.2014
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter: 28.01.2014 - dated 24.01.2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 04.02.2014 London Victoria Office
Date of Passport Receipt:

[MwanaKay]

Date of Application: 23/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 24/01/14
Date of Debit of Fees: 24/01/14
Confirmation by SMS: 26/01/14
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: waiting
Date of Return of Documents: waiting
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

Wow! that's good, I applied the same date as you but I have not gotten an sms confirmation yet. Atleast you know someone is working on it though.

Fingers crossed

[Mili1705]

Date of Application: 23/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 24/01/14
Date of Debit of Fees: 24/01/14
Confirmation by SMS: 26/01/14
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: waiting
Date of Return of Documents: waiting
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

[asadkhan71]

Date of Application: 27/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 28/01/14
confirmation by SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter:
Date of Return of Documents:
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

[scigo]

First passport for 3 children under 10 of an EEU citizen

Method of Application: Check & Send
Date of Application: 20/12/13
Date of Application Received by IPS: 30/12/13
Text message received from HMPO: 30/12/13
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: N/A
Phone call regarding the update: 24/1/14, 1 passport rejected (doesn't meet eligibility criteria ), 2 competed 23/1/2014
Date of Return of Documents: 29/1/14 (all documents from the rejected passport)
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: N/A
Date of Passport Receipt: 25/1/2014 (1st),27/1/2014 (2nd)

[thirdlioness]

Date of Application sent: 18th Dec 2013 (it was after last collection time)
Method of Application: Post office using Special Delivery
Passport office sent to: Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Receipt date of passport by HMPO: 20th Dec 2013
Passport fees taken from account: 24th Dec 2013
Text message received from HMPO: 30th Dec 2013
Interview letter: 15th Jan 2014 (by first class mail) booked interview same day
Interview date: 21st Jan 2014
Receipt of original documents: 21st Jan 2014 by DPD courier (was not signed for)
Receipt of passport: 24th Jan 2014 by Royal mail SDE (was not signed for)

I had hiccup with the application due to the headsize in the passport photo being a bit off the required dimensions.
6th Jan 2014 - Letter stating about photo requirements not met
8th Jan 2014 - Sent 2 passport photos signed by countersignature again by Royal mail SDE
9th Jan 2014 - Belfast HMPO received photos according to requirements

This forum has been extremely useful and helpful. Thank God, it's over!

[MwanaKay]

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Aberdeen) (wife and I)
Date of Application: 09/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: I did not receive SMS and did not track my documents.
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 15th and 16th January both dated 14/01/14.
Date of Return of Documents: ???
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 21/01/14.

first slots in Dundee available. We needed two bookings close so there is only one trip to be done for both.

Date of Passport Receipt: ???

Almost done

Update

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Aberdeen) (wife and I)
Date of Application: 09/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: I did not receive SMS and did not track my documents.
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 15th and 16th January both dated 14/01/14.
Date of Return of Documents: 23/01/14 (for my wife), I have been advised my documents will be on next week
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 21/01/14.
Date of Passport Receipt: 23/01/14 (for both).

Thanks very much for all the support through out the years, I would have not been able to do it without you. Good luck to all the ones still waiting, be patient, your time will come.

I'm out!!!

Congrates Pqek

Very Encouraging, wow

[TTOE]

Those are awesome timelines for first passport, well done pqek. Congrats and good luck for the future.

Wow! good to see Pqek sign-off.....All the best!

[InUkOnHsmp]

Those are awesome timelines for first passport, well done pqek. Congrats and good luck for the future.

[Pqek]

First Adult Passport Application Timeline :

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Aberdeen) (wife and I)
Date of Application: 09/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: I did not receive SMS and did not track my documents.
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 15th and 16th January both dated 14/01/14.
Date of Return of Documents: ???
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 21/01/14.

first slots in Dundee available. We needed two bookings close so there is only one trip to be done for both.

Date of Passport Receipt: ???

Almost done

Update

Method of Application: PO Check & Send (Aberdeen) (wife and I)
Date of Application: 09/01/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: I did not receive SMS and did not track my documents.
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 15th and 16th January both dated 14/01/14.
Date of Return of Documents: 23/01/14 (for my wife), I have been advised my documents will be on next week
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 21/01/14.
Date of Passport Receipt: 23/01/14 (for both).

Thanks very much for all the support through out the years, I would have not been able to do it without you. Good luck to all the ones still waiting, be patient, your time will come.

I'm out!!!

[gcu_mha]

Method of Application: Check & Send
Date of Application: 23/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS: - 24/01/14
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: - 01/02/14
Date of Return of Documents: -
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: -
Date of Passport Receipt: -

[PatienceInc]

Hi Guys,

Here's my timeline for passport application,

Date of Ceremony: 7/1/2014 (private)
Date of Passport Application : 7/1/2014
Method : Post office check and send
Received by office/acknowledgement : none
Date of interview letter : 15/1/2014
Date of Interview : 16/1/2014 (Edinburgh)
Date passport received : 21/1/2014 (secure delivery - had to collect from post office)
Date of receiving the original docs: 22/1/2014 (secure delivery- already paid at post office)

Thanks for all the info provided in this forum and all the best for everyone.

[MwanaKay]

Method of Application: Check & Send
Date of Application: 23/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS: 24/01/2014 (called the IPS on the 27th of jan and they confirmed receipt of my application on the 24th of Jan)
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: awaiting
Date of Return of Documents: awaiting
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: awaiting
Date of Passport Receipt: awaiting

[cordelio]

Date of application: 6th Jan (PO check and send)
Acknowledgement SMS: 9th Jan
Receipt of invitation letter: 11th Jan (dated 9th)
Return of documents: 16th Jan
Passport interview: 21st Jan (I called the day I received the letter, Saturday 11th Jan, and this was the earliest day available)
Receipt of passport: 23rd Jan

I opted for normal 2nd class delivery as I didn't want them to chase me for signature but post it through the mailbox directly.

Thanks everyone for this extremely useful forum. Also kudos for moderators who keep this place free of spam and maintain intelligent level of discussions and also allowing for humour from time to time

Will be back soon for my child's MN1 and passport application.

Best Regards

[zeevirgo]

HI All, I've been approved for British citizen so going to my ceremony in march. I've got one question to ask, I filled out the British application form and it says you must write in the white boxes on the form. Has anyone written a bit out of it and still get approved.

No they gonna cancel your nationality do not do this

Only signature must be in white area not all form

cheers

[zeevirgo]

Method of Application: Post office check and send

Date of Application: 07/01/14
Date of Application Received by IPS: 11/01/14 confirmation by SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 21/01/2014 (dated 17/01/2014)
Date of Return of Documents: awaiting
Date of Passport Interview Appointment:29/01/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:TBC