British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[Derivaz]

Very true Ayyubi, it even costs more.

Derivaz, good luck for your ceremony.

I got my certificate today; it looks correct; it was the surname and then the name (spelt right) and the council told me that's the normal format; so it looks like it's over.

I asked about the passport and they told me to apply in January if I'm going on holidays in December, just in case it doesn't arrive in time; they told me that I don't need it anyway, with another EU passport I can travel to more or less the same places as with the UK one; and I can prove my citizenship with the certificate, so they told me, it's up to me.. I'll get it though, but in January; it seems like the worst part is over

[Derivaz]

...
How can it be faster? They do nothing apart from putting everything in a plastic envelope and send it to HMPO.

Most PO's wait 2-3 days so they have a few applications together to send. It is safer, cheaper and quicker sending the application by special delivery straight to HMPO.

That's what I thought also however I saw below on the website;

Using Check & Send is usually faster than posting your own application. Her Majesty’s Passport Office may still need to contact either you or your countersignatory to check details.

it doesn't cost much anyway, does it? isn't it like a tenner?

[cordelio]

...
How can it be faster? They do nothing apart from putting everything in a plastic envelope and send it to HMPO.

Most PO's wait 2-3 days so they have a few applications together to send. It is safer, cheaper and quicker sending the application by special delivery straight to HMPO.

That's what I thought also however I saw below on the website;

Using Check & Send is usually faster than posting your own application. Her Majesty’s Passport Office may still need to contact either you or your countersignatory to check details.

[Derivaz]

What check? That you have written your name on the form? What advice can they give you?

There exists no advice that they can give you.

For first passport after naturalisation the only documents that are required are uncancelled passport and naturalisation certificate. Apart from this, they cannot bring up some secret "advice" to offer to their customers.

How can it be faster? They do nothing apart from putting everything in a plastic envelope and send it to HMPO.

Most PO's wait 2-3 days so they have a few applications together to send. It is safer, cheaper and quicker sending the application by special delivery straight to HMPO.

Advice on the documents to send and how to fill in the form; but it's pretty basic stuff; so probably doesn't make a big difference.

I think that if you are relatively careful checking your stuff, it's probably the same thing, no difference.

[helen12]

Application Type :First Adult Passport
Method of Application: NO Help of post office, sent by recorded delivery
Date of Application: 17.10.2013
Date Monies take by IPS: 21.10.2013
Date of Return Documents: TBC
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter : TBC
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: TBC
Date of Passport Receipt: TBC

[Ayyubi72]

What check? That you have written your name on the form? What advice can they give you?

There exists no advice that they can give you.

For first passport after naturalisation the only documents that are required are uncancelled passport and naturalisation certificate. Apart from this, they cannot bring up some secret "advice" to offer to their customers.

How can it be faster? They do nothing apart from putting everything in a plastic envelope and send it to HMPO.

Most PO's wait 2-3 days so they have a few applications together to send. It is safer, cheaper and quicker sending the application by special delivery straight to HMPO.

[Derivaz]

I wonder why people are obsessed with post office check and send.

For first time applicants, it serves no purpose whatsoever, costs money and is slower than sending application by special delivery.

If post office check and send was like NCS that they copied all the originals to be sent with application then it was worth it. But for first time applicants, all they do is, put all the documents in a pastic bag and send it all to HMPO.

Don't they check your application and give you advice? although, it's a pretty simple application.

I thought it would be faster?

[Ayyubi72]

I wonder why people are obsessed with post office check and send.

For first time applicants, it serves no purpose whatsoever, costs money and is slower than sending application by special delivery.

If post office check and send was like NCS that they copied all the originals to be sent with application then it was worth it. But for first time applicants, all they do is, put all the documents in a pastic bag and send it all to HMPO.

[Derivaz]

Very true Ayyubi, it even costs more.

Derivaz, good luck for your ceremony.

Cheers; thats the main thing; if my certificate is ok, the rest is not a big deal

[neoseal]

Very true Ayyubi, it even costs more.

Derivaz, good luck for your ceremony.

[Derivaz]

Forget about right of abode sticker. No point to it. Takes longer than the passport. Plus right of abode sticker is useless for travelling around europe or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

I don't think a sticker on my current passport would make any difference; I have a EU passport, which allows me to travel more or less in the same places as an UK passport.

I just want to have a UK passport, because I live here and I'm going to be a citizen, so it makes sense; I'll defo get the passport in January

[Ayyubi72]

Forget about right of abode sticker. No point to it. Takes longer than the passport. Plus right of abode sticker is useless for travelling around europe or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

[Derivaz]

I don't think it will be that long, you have ample of time, if you can't get interview dates in nearby office at the most you will need to travel to get earlier dates.

Anyway as EU you can travel on your current passport so you may not want to apply for a passport at all but just to have right of abode sticker in your current passport.

yeah, thats the thing, i might have to travel to another city for an interview or take more days off; whereas, if i go in january; i can just book the first saturday available, without hassle

Right of abode? what's that exactly?

I don't need a UK passport, no; but I'll apply anyway; I'd like to have it; so as soon as I come back in January (providing there are no issues with my certificate) I'll apply

good luck with your interview

[shaik719]

[quote="neoseal"]Application Type: First Child Passport
Method Of Application: Post Office Check and Send
Date Of Application: 15/10/2013
Date Of Application Acknowledged By IPS: 17/10/2013 text message
Date Of Return Of Documents: 18/10/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Interview Letter: N/A
Date Of Passport Interview Appointment: N/A
Date Of Passport Receipt: 21/10/2013

[PontyGuy]

Application Type :First Adult Passport
Method of Application: Post Office Check and Send
Date of Application: 21.10.2013
Date Application Acknowledged by IPS: 23.10.2013
Date of Return Documents: 29.10.2013
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter : 29.10.2013 but was sent since
25.10.2013
Date of Passport Interview Appointment: 30.10.2013
Date of Passport Receipt: TBC

Is the British Passport usually sent via Courier?

[lam85]

Application Type: First Adult Passport
Method Of Application: Post Office Check and Send
Date Of Application: 21/10/2013
Date Of Application Acknowledged By IPS: never texted me
Date Of Return Of Documents: TBC - STILL WAITING
Date Of Receipt Of Interview Letter: 25/10/13
Date Of Passport Interview Appointment: 29/10/13 Crawely as Victoria London had no time slots for two weeks
Date Of Passport Receipt: 2/11/13

[neoseal]

I don't think it will be that long, you have ample of time, if you can't get interview dates in nearby office at the most you will need to travel to get earlier dates.

Anyway as EU you can travel on your current passport so you may not want to apply for a passport at all but just to have right of abode sticker in your current passport.

[Derivaz]

I have interview tomorrow. They are very quick now a days, 2 weeks at the most, why don't you apply tomorrow itself, straight after ceremony.

I can't tomorrow, cos I haven't asked the referee to sign the app yet; I could ask one of them on Saturday and send it that day, but my concern is if it's delayed and comes after the 11th of December that I'll be away until the end of the month

[neoseal]

I have interview tomorrow. They are very quick now a days, 2 weeks at the most, why don't you apply tomorrow itself, straight after ceremony.

[Derivaz]

Who has? That must be child passport.

How are you getting on with the passport app? I'm supposed to get my certificate tomorrow; if I applied on Saturday 25th; it's still 6 weeks to my holidays (11th of December) I wonder if I should apply on Saturday or wait until January... it seems like most people get their passport in around 3 weeks, right?

[Derivaz]

Application Type: First Adult Passport (After Naturalisation) - 1 Adult
Method Of Application: Passport Check and Send
Date Of Application: 05/09/2013
Date Of Application Acknowledged By IPS: 10/09/2013 (By text message)
Date Of Return Of Documents: 18/09/2013
Date Of Receipt Of Interview Letter: 12/09/2013
Date Of Passport Interview Appointment: 21/09/2013
Date Of Passport Receipt: Redlivered 28/09/2013 (First attempt 24/09/2013)

I work in London and my home is up North of England, so had to chase through email. I live alone as Missus is in training post and lives elsewhere(with kids) so no one at home to collect the passport. The DX people left No card or tracking number at my flat when they came on 24/09

Also I requested the passport to be delivered to my Missus address and attached a separate document to explain my situation. The interviewer said he had no clue of the alternate address and made clear it will come to my home address.

I emailed them on Wednesday(25/09) thinking(guessing) they must have delivered and they indeed had, fixed delivery for today(28/09) in the same email (saying if you have please reschedule it for 28/09 rather than waiting for a response to say they had tried, they need 2 days for a reschedule date after you confirm I think) and all sorted else would have waited another Saturday for delivery.

Also they are pretty quick to respond with the email address as below trackin@... . The guy at reception(@interview) had told me that these days turn around was quick i.e. 4 to 5 days which gave me the clue.




chasedelivery@thedx.co.uk

tracking@securemail.co.uk

T: 0844 371 0000, ext 2321
E: CCSupport@thedx.co.uk
W: www.thedx.co.uk

are these emails and phone number for royal mail, to check if they have delivered your passport?

[akhurshid]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Child first passport after registration
Application Type: New/First
Method of application: Post office Check & Send Glasgow
Date of application: 17/10/2013
Date application received by IPS: (text msg) 21/10/2013
Date of return of documents: TBC
Date of receipt of interview letter: TBC
Date of Passport Appointment: TBC
Date of Passport Receipt: TBC

[GmanILR2012]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult First adult
Application Type: New/First
Method of application: Post office Check & Send Aldwych Street
Date of application: 26 September 2013
Date application received by IPS: (text msg) 02 October 2013
Date of return of documents: 11 October 2013
Date of receipt of interview letter: 08 October 2013
Date of Passport Appointment: 15 October 2013
Date of Passport Receipt: 18 October 2013

[neoseal]

Who has? That must be child passport.

[rajapatel]

how come some people on here have received passport without interview ?