usual new passport question

[K2004]

Hello all,

I know that this question has been asked before, but i need to know what you think about my case, :


-Travel abroad 9-13/Feb (no visa required)
-Cremony on 16th/Feb
-Passport office appointment on 17th/Feb first thing in the morning

-Travel arrangment for business on 25th Feb (visa required unless British)

do you think I have a good chance in receiving the passport before 25th? the business arrangment is very important for me.

Thanks

[lemess]

K2004 - go for the guaranteed 1 week premium service and you should be OK. They usually turn it around in a day or two.

I was in a similar situation re: work travel - in fact I had to travel 3 days after my ceremony. I took a chance on the guaranteed one week service and got my passport in one day !


I would guess that it is quite possible that your passport arrives on the 18th or 19th provided it is a straightforward case.

[K2004]

Thanks lemess,,,

but when you say guaranteed one week premium service, is that something i can do in the passport office or only in the post office?
because as i said i have already a passport office appoitment for the 17th...

[mhunjn]

Didn't they tell you which one it is?... Normally for a passport office appt, you would have the one week service, which would cost a bit more ( £70 ? )... but would be useful for your case.

[ppron747]

Thanks lemess,,,

but when you say guaranteed one week premium service, is that something i can do in the passport office or only in the post office?
because as i said i have already a passport office appoitment for the 17th...

http://www.ukps.gov.uk/general_urgent_within2weeks.asp answers the question, I think...

[K2004]

Many thanks but they say:

"This guarantees that your passport will be received by first class post within one week (excluding bank and public holidays) of you bringing us your form and documents"

I guess I am worried about 1st class post, i wish they can send by special delivery...

[ppron747]

Many thanks but they say:

"This guarantees that your passport will be received by first class post within one week (excluding bank and public holidays) of you bringing us your form and documents"

I guess I am worried about 1st class post, i wish they can send by special delivery...

I think it was pretty clear from lemess's post that there's an element of risk. I can't help wondering whether asking them to do something different from their normal routine in "premium" cases might even delay matters, rather than speed it up. There wouldn't be any harm in asking them whether Special Delivery is a starter - the number is on the website - but my own inclination would be to let them do it as they want to - and are accustomed to doing - rather than asking for a special special.

[John]

I guess I am worried about 1st class post, i wish they can send by special delivery...

They don't use either of those! In fact they don't use the Royal Mail at all! Too many passports were getting lost in the post.

Instead they use a courier service ... that has turned out to be much more reliable than the Royal Mail they previously used.

[K2004]

many thanks guys,,,

I shall let you know the outcome ...

cheers

[ppron747]

I knew this is the case with routine applications - they use the same people who knock on my door and run away every time I have a replacement credit or debit card! I'm not sure that they use them for premium services, though. The promise is first class post, which has the advantage of being stuck straight through your letterbox, without fiddling around trying to arrange re-delivery...

[basis]

There is no option. They use that agency or courier service to deliver the passports. It is very efficient service - only issue is that it is delivered to your residence address as mentioned in the application. And if there is no one at your resi when they come (there is no way any one can tell when they will arrive) then you have to re-arrange the delivery. This will mean one more day. But I guess if it is that urgent you can be at home or have someone stay at home on the expected dlv day. Passport office guys and the courier people both help to their best to help.

[lemess]

Actually here is what I did. Like you I was a bit paranoid.

So I submitted the app at the passport office for a one week turnaround and then on the next day simply submitted the inquiry form on the UKPS website to inquire about my passport application. They replied almost instantly telling me that my passport had been printed and was on its way in the next 24 hours. Then I made sure I was at home when the secure delivery came.

They don't use first class post and secure delivery is a lot more reliable. My wife who applied using the post office check and send also received her passport within 4 days like this.

Bear in mind that the normal passport app for a recently naturalised person is very simple and has only a few fields filled in. With the supporting documentation like naturalisation certificate etc , it really shoudln't take them very long to process. And I have to say the UKPS are one of the more efficient agencies out there.

Bottom line I think there is a very high chance that you will get your passport well in time for your trip.

[Marie B]

My passport (and lots of bank / credit cards) have been sent via that courier service and they are rubbish!

Not only did they send my husband's bank card back to the bank who then destroyed it as he was apparently 'not known at this address' they did the same with my passport.

When I changed my surname I had to change all my cards, passport etc. and I was forever finding the yellow cards lying in the front garden after taking a day off work, sitting at home all day and waiting for them to deliver something that had been re-arranged once already. They never once rang on the correct doorbell, and rarely managed to put the card through the letter box prefering to drop it in the front garden. I ended up sitting in the front garden on one occasion and even then only managed to get my credit card because I spotted the guy on his motorbike in the road writing out another 'you were not at home when we called' ticket - without even setting foot through the gate, let alone actually knocking on the door!!

They will only re-arrange delivery twice and then your passport / card gets sent back.

I got a phone call from the passport office as my passport had been returned to Cardiff as after three failed delivery attempts I was 'not known at this address'. Very nice lady re-sent passport via special delivery. The good thing about that is you can collect at local post office depot if you're not at home when they call. Whereas with courier service they will only try to deliver twice (on many occasions not bothering to ring doorbell) and then you have to contact bank for new card / passport office for re-delivery with proper service. Very nice lady listened to my ranting on about completely useless service of courier company and agreed to send passport again but only after I faxed through a letter requesting that that is what I wanted, and yes I did still live at that address.

They drove me mad!!! The last time they attempted to deliver my passport I new I wouldn't be at home so had phoned to change the date. Said yes thats fine, and next day there is another card in the garden lying in the mud, I ring back and they no longer have passport it has been returned to Cardiff, no record of my phone call or change of delivery date, like talking to a brick wall.

I did complain but apparently all couriers are freelance - why this made a difference who knows, seriously would not recommend this service if you live in North London area where you may get same courier I did - that man nearly drove me insane!

[K2004]

ok guys, you can call me paranoid, but i dint want to risk 2500 pounds business ticket, so i have cancelled my tomorrow flight, and arranged for a private ceremony today, and a passport office appointment for monday 13...i know its only 4 days(originally had it on 17), and cost me 100 pound for private ceremony and the cost of my other flights ticket... but i just dont want to risk it...

sorry