British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[BC_Applicant]

I got my interview letter this week and con confirm it comes via normal post.

How long ago did you send off your application?

sent it on 29th may received in Peterborough on 2nd june letter received this week and interview on Saturday.

[BC_Applicant]

I called them everyday like clock work...same answer of 6-8 weeks minimum...and every day they say that they will send the e-mail to processing team, getting really worried that I may miss the vacation planned in Aug 1st week.

Now the direct no. to peterborough is not working - 0845 601 5549, is there any other no. we can try...?

I tried the direct number too without any luck. Involve your MP if your application has been there for more than 4 weeks and you haven't yet been contacted for an interview.

[MP1982]

Type of Application:2 x Adult First (Naturalizations) and 1 Minor
Method of Application: Post Office check & send
Date of Application: 16/05/2014
Date of SMS Received: Never received a SMS
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 03/07/2014 (for both adults)
Date of Return of Documents: 04/07/2014 (for both adults)
Receipt of Minor’s passport: 04/07/2014
Date of Interview booked: 09/07/2014
SMS received passport printing: 10/07/2014 (for both adults)
Date of Passports received: Waiting

Can finally see light end of the tunnel in this immigration journey…..
Good Luck to everyone still waiting! I know you run out of patience when waiting for a simple process like this but the advice is keep calling the help centre. I rang 3 times before getting the interview letter.

[antouk]

I called them everyday like clock work...same answer of 6-8 weeks minimum...and every day they say that they will send the e-mail to processing team, getting really worried that I may miss the vacation planned in Aug 1st week.

Now the direct no. to peterborough is not working - 0845 601 5549, is there any other no. we can try...?

Better to talk to ur MP office, Only after recving a call from MP office they took my application for processing. Explain them abt ur travel plan.

[lea123]

I got my interview letter this week and con confirm it comes via normal post.

How long ago did you send off your application?

sent it on 29th may received in Peterborough on 2nd june letter received this week and interview on Saturday.

So im around 3 days behind you.. There may still be hope!!

[Wrightfamily]

Thanks, my husbands app was received on the 02/06 as well...so hopefully we get an interview letter shortly....I seem to spend my life waiting for the poor Postman

[BC_Applicant]

So im around 3 days behind you.. There may still be hope!!

Don't think it necessarily works like that as my application only got picked up when I got in touch with the MP. Infact the very next day the letter was sent out!

[lea123]

So im around 3 days behind you.. There may still be hope!!

Don't think it necessarily works like that as my application only got picked up when I got in touch with the MP. Infact the very next day the letter was sent out!

I contacted my MP about 2 weeks ago and they said to contact them again the middle of July if i have not heard anything, so going to email them the beginning of next week.

[RE_G]

[quote="RE_G"]Passport for: Adults (Wife and Self)
Application Type: First Adult (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check & Send (Glasgow)
Date of application: 30/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 04/06/2014 (wife - Belfast); 06/06/2014 (self - Peterborough)
SMS received: 06/06/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/07 (wife); waiting (self)
Date of return of documents: waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: 14/07 (wife); waiting (self)
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

[dayana173]

Application Type: First Adult (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 23/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 29/05/2014 (Belfast)
SMS received: 30/05/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 02/07/2014
Date of return of documents: 10/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 07/07/2014
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: 08/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 09/07/2014

Good luck to everyone and I am very thankful for all the help I've received from this forum.

[marsenal]

Application Type: New
Method of application: Check and Send
Date of application: 29/05/2014
Date SMS Received: 03/06/2014
Date of return of documents: 08/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 08/07/2014
Date of interview appointment: 08/07/2014
Date of SMS that Passport is being printed: 09/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 10/07/2014

Updated above

Some further notes:
My application was with Belfast office and I had requested my other passport back ASAP as I was travelling which I did receive mid June (but not the citizenship certificate which only came 8 July). I then got in touch with my MP on Monday (7 July) asking if she can help and her office replied with the interview appointment reference number and I was able to book an appointment for the following day in Portsmouth (I asked about London, Luton, Crawley, Bristol, Swansea and Reading as well but this was the earliest anywhere). I don't think the MP influenced a faster turn around time as by the time I sent the email, my interview letter had already been printed (dated 4 July).

[spike_UK]

Hi guys, I've only applied for passport yesterday and they should have received it today! How is the process now, how long should I expect before I get an interview or all the process. Just don't want to frustrate over the time frame. Thanks

[spike_UK]

Hi guys, I've only applied for passport yesterday and they should have received it today! How is the process now, how long should I expect before I get an interview or all the process. Just don't want to frustrate over the time frame. Thanks

[MP1982]

Hi Spike,

Based on my exprience I started chasing when I didnt hear after 5 weeks but got the interview letter straight on 6 weeks. So I think its better to chase if you dont hear any response after 5 weeks. And mention a travel date to them.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

MP

[BC_Applicant]

Hi guys, I've only applied for passport yesterday and they should have received it today! How is the process now, how long should I expect before I get an interview or all the process. Just don't want to frustrate over the time frame. Thanks

It takes a minimum of 5-6 weeks for a new passport. You may or may not receive an sms to confirm the receipt of your passport application. You will get contacted after 4 to 5 weeks regarding arranging an interview. Once the interview is done you get the passport usually within a week and by then you should also receive your documents which you submit.

[spike_UK]

MP1982, BC_Applicant, thanks a lot for your contribution, although it's a long wait but at least now I know what to expect. I'm just going to ignore it for 5 weeks from next week
Many thanks.

[kase]

Application Type: First Adult (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 29/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 04/06/2014 (Peterborough)
SMS received: -- never received but called advice line to confirm application submission
Date of receipt of interview letter: 04/07/2014
Date of return of documents: 07/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 09/07/2014
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: 10/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: -- waiting

[kase]

Hi guys, I've only applied for passport yesterday and they should have received it today! How is the process now, how long should I expect before I get an interview or all the process. Just don't want to frustrate over the time frame. Thanks

It takes a minimum of 5-6 weeks for a new passport. You may or may not receive an sms to confirm the receipt of your passport application. You will get contacted after 4 to 5 weeks regarding arranging an interview. Once the interview is done you get the passport usually within a week and by then you should also receive your documents which you submit.

This is exactly the time frame I experienced from my recent application.

[juliemjohn]

It appears that Peterborough applications are processed well within the 6 week period compared to other HMPO's.

I queried through online tracking about 4 times and each time I get the same response:

Thank you for your enquiry.

I can confirm that we received your application at our Belfast office on 08/06/2014. (twice it was the 09/06/2014).????
Your passport application is currently going through the examination process.
Correctly completed applications are generally being processed within the timescales of the service you have applied for:
If you posted your application the current processing time is approximately 4 weeks, allowing for postage. Please note this is not a guaranteed service time. Please note that if you are aged 16 or over and are applying for your first passport you will be required to attend an interview as part of the application process. We recommend that you allow 6 weeks for your application to be processed.
If you applied using the Check and Send service, available through selected branches of Post Office Limited, your application has a turnaround target of 3 weeks. This, however, is not a guaranteed service and turnaround times may exceed this during periods of peak demand. Please note that if you are aged 16 or over and are applying for your first passport you will be required to attend an interview as part of the application process. We recommend that you allow 6 weeks for your application to be processed.


I have seen the similar message on the timeline a few times now.!!!

[phospholipid]

Does anyone know how I can contact the Peterborough office?

[keerthi]

0845 601 5549 - Peterborough

Please update us if someone picks up, I called 4 times, waited 15 mins each, and gave up finally

[marrik]

Application Type: First Adult (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 07/06/2014
Date application received by IPS: 11/06/2014 (Peterborough) [Did not receive SMS so found out through online query. They responded within 3 days]
SMS received: Did not receive.
Date of receipt of interview letter: Awaiting
Date of return of documents: Awaiting
Date of Passport Appointment: Awaiting
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: Awaiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Awaiting

Since it has been more than 4 weeks since my application I called the 0300 this morning at around 9 a.m to check the status of my application. It went through almost immediately and the gentleman on the other side was very pleasant. When I gave my details he mentioned that it could take 5 to 6 weeks to get an interview letter and asked me to call back in a week's time to check on progress if I hadnt received anything. When I still pressed him to check status of my application, he put me on hold for a few minutes to contact the Peterborough office. However, he mentioned that he could not get in touch with anyone from Peterborough office but offered to drop an email to them asking for them to get back to me on my application status. He said I should receive a response within 24 hours. I haven't received anything yet. Fingers crossed!!

I had also applied for my child's passport along with my application which I received in 3 weeks time. Received her documents last week.

[maximux79]

Received the supporting documents today with a note. "Your application has been received and its being processed. Your supporting documents have been noted and are enclosed"...

Have anyone received supporting documents before interview letter? Or is it a sign of further problems?

Sent application on 31-May-2014, Received at Peterborough - 04/06/2014

Cheers

[longhorn1]

Passport for: Adult (Naturalised Citizen)
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 09/07/2014
Date application received by IPS: 10/07/2014
SMS Received: 11/07/2014
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: TBA
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

[keerthi]

After calling every day continuously, received a call.... only from the call center again stating that need to wait for minimum 6 weeks before escalating.

After lot of pleading, the agent told me that he will write an e-mail ....if what they say is true, from Tuesday, Peterborough should have received 4 e-mail regarding my case...

The sad part is 'they can't find my ref no. in the system' and the explanation given is that system updates may be going on, so call back on Monday to check on your application status!!

Its MP from Monday, tired of calling the call center