passport application delays

Hi, my wife’s first british passport application is shown as “documents received” status since last 1 week. On the timeline thread, i see generally status moves to “application approved” status in 2-3 days after documents are received. Do i need to worry about anything?

Difficult to know. If the HMPO need more information they will contact you, standard processing times for passports are 3 weeks, so you can try to call the helpline and ask, but they may not be able to say much.

My partner has the same issue. Is there any update on your side? Thanks.

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:21 pm

Hi, my wife’s first british passport application is shown as “documents received” status since last 1 week. On the timeline thread, i see generally status moves to “application approved” status in 2-3 days after documents are received. Do i need to worry about anything?

My partner has the same issue. Is there any update on your side? Thanks.

In this thread there are some helpful tips to chase late passport applications, though you probably need to wait a bit longer as you are still within standard processing times british-citizenship/lost-naturalization ... 43793.html

wadeday wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:31 am

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:21 pm

Hi, my wife’s first british passport application is shown as “documents received” status since last 1 week. On the timeline thread, i see generally status moves to “application approved” status in 2-3 days after documents are received. Do i need to worry about anything?

My partner has the same issue. Is there any update on your side? Thanks.

I called helpdesk number today. They only mentioned that all is good at the moment and we need wait for caseworker to complete checks.

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:57 am

wadeday wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:31 am

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:21 pm

Hi, my wife’s first british passport application is shown as “documents received” status since last 1 week. On the timeline thread, i see generally status moves to “application approved” status in 2-3 days after documents are received. Do i need to worry about anything?

My partner has the same issue. Is there any update on your side? Thanks.

I called helpdesk number today. They only mentioned that all is good at the moment and we need wait for caseworker to complete checks.

It's the same here, called and got the same response. Actually the documents were delivered on the 13th, marked received status on the 15th but haven't got any update after that.

almost same dates for me. Documents were delivered on 12th and status was updated as received on 14th. Lets keep connected and share info when we hear any update. Thanks.

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:56 pm

almost same dates for me. Documents were delivered on 12th and status was updated as received on 14th. Lets keep connected and share info when we hear any update. Thanks.

Still nothing changed today, and I have found that in the timeline post there’s no one posted in recent days. Very strange… any news from your side?

I called them once again today. They responded with very strange reasoning for delay. There is another person with same name and surname having UK passport hence they need to perform additional checks and they may need to contact HO also . Not sure what this means and if anyone else has faced such issue?

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:07 pm

I called them once again today. They responded with very strange reasoning for delay. There is another person with same name and surname having UK passport hence they need to perform additional checks and they may need to contact HO also . Not sure what this means and if anyone else has faced such issue?

I think the operators and the actual caseworkers belong to completely different teams. Basically every time I call, the updates given by each operator are different. Some say the case is already in processing, while others even say the documents haven't entered their system yet. So my advice is to take their words for reference/information only.

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:07 pm

I called them once again today. They responded with very strange reasoning for delay. There is another person with same name and surname having UK passport hence they need to perform additional checks and they may need to contact HO also . Not sure what this means and if anyone else has faced such issue?

You need to ask for a senior manager, when you phone the helpline you won't speak to a caseworker. It has happened before that applicants get incorrect advice because the call centre operators aren't experts on nationality law.

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 22, 2024 4:10 pm

Garrick58 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:07 pm

I called them once again today. They responded with very strange reasoning for delay. There is another person with same name and surname having UK passport hence they need to perform additional checks and they may need to contact HO also . Not sure what this means and if anyone else has faced such issue?

You need to ask for a senior manager, when you phone the helpline you won't speak to a caseworker. It has happened before that applicants get incorrect advice because the call centre operators aren't experts on nationality law.

It's been nearly two weeks since they received my documents. I see in timeline posts that it usually only takes 1-2 days from receiving the documents to approval. So, I don't know why it's taking so long this time. I need to get my passport because I need to travel urgently. I will try again to ask for a senior manager later today. Thanks for your advice.

See this thread for advice on how to escalate your case, do flag up that you need to travel urgently british-citizenship/lost-naturalization ... 43793.html

Thanks a lot for above info. I called them again and insisted to speak to senior manager. I was successful after 4 attempts. Senior manager told me that there is another person with exactly same name and surname hence it has taken longer to approve. Guess what!!! i received approval after 20 minutes . I will put all details in timeline thread.

That's great to know, glad it worked out for you. hopefully your experience helps other members.