British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[CD_April2013ILR]

Passport for: 2 Adults (Myself and Wife)
Application Type: First time (Naturalised Citizens)
Method of application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 23/06/2014
SMS received: 30/06/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: Waiting
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

Thank you

[Somudro]

This seems to me ODD to contact MP. Why will HO speed up application process after getting MP's message? All should have the same priority and first come first serve basis. ODD tradition.

[BC_Applicant]

This seems to me ODD to contact MP. Why will HO speed up application process after getting MP's message? All should have the same priority and first come first serve basis. ODD tradition.

I agree with you but to be honest this is what it has come down to unfortunately! They are sitting on the applications and not providing enough information and only on MPs contact do they actually do something about it.

[etoklem]

Update

Application Type: New
Method of application: Check and Send
Date of application: 03/06/2014
Date SMS Received: Not Yet
Date application received: Did an online enquiry and got a response today saying it was received at Peterborough office on 05/06
Date of return of documents:16/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: Never (but got an email confirmation after chasing on 16/07/2014)
Date of interview appointment: 19/07/2014 at Reading Passport office
Date of SMS that Passport is being printed:21/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:22/07/2014

Called up the helpline again on 03002220000 this morning and told them this is my 6 weeks complete and have heard nothing. The guy was helpful and said I can call the interview line and book an appointment. I called up the interview line and they booked an appointment and sent me an email confirmation immediately. Looks like if I hadn't called them today - I would still be waiting
............

Update: Got back my supporting documents today - 16/07/2014 at my work address via DX Secure as I had requested both docs and passport at work address.

Update: received passport 22/07 thanks everybody!

[Daymohktim]

I attended the passport interview today.

Make sure you memorise the information you put on both passport application and naturalisation.

There is nothing to worry about the interview itself. The atmosphere is friendly and there will be othe people like yourself who are there for interview as well.

[nickduk]

Passport for: Adult x2
Application Type: First time (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: Check and Send
Date of application: 10/06/2014
SMS received: 13/06/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 22/07/2014 (came with returned docs)
Date of return of documents: 22/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 09/08/2014 (earliest appointment available in London area [Crawley])
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting

So it was 42 days from the start date to the receipt of passport invitation.

No intervention from MP, no telephone calls to the Passport office. I just left it alone hoping it would just be dealt with and it was.

[Betitoo]

[quote="Betitoo"]Date of Application: 03/06/2014
Date of Application Received by IPS: 06/06/2014 (Liverpool Office)
Date of SMS Received: 09/06/2014
Date of Fees deduction: Check and Send at post office
Date of Receipt of Interview Letter: 16/07/2014 (15/07/2014 - Had a phone call from Liverpool office for interview ref number )
Date of Interview booked: 17/07/2014
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: 18/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt:23/07/2014 ( received my first UK passport with supporting docs)

Thanks forum for very valuable informations here.... This journey ends here for me.. I wish you luck guys..

[Jav13]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 17.07.2014
Date application received by IPS: text received 23.07.14
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

[BC_Applicant]

[quote="nickduk"]
Date of Passport Appointment: 09/08/2014 (earliest appointment available in London area [Crawley])


it might be possible to get an earlier appointment by phoning again as appointments keep becoming available after cancellations. I rescheduled mine thrice!

[phospholipid]

Interview complete! Journey over Good luck to the rest

[ABT]

Today I sent an email to track my application. I did get an answer after couple of hours saying that my papers are in Durham office since 01/07/14. (22 days now)
Next week I plan to call them to enquire about the interview reference number.
I wish all the best to everyone who booked holiday...

[chavade]

Hi, as i sent my application almost 4 weeks ago i recently sent an inquiry by mail.
They reply me yesterday (1 day later) by asking my birthdate and when did i sent my application .
I'm worried , why they ask that? Do you think they lost my application or have doubt about me?
Thanking you in advance.

[nickduk]

it might be possible to get an earlier appointment by phoning again as appointments keep becoming available after cancellations. I rescheduled mine thrice!

It's ok, my holiday is booked at the end of August so no rush. I'll leave the earlier appointments open for people who really need them.

[nickduk]

Today I sent an email to track my application. I did get an answer after couple of hours saying that my papers are in Durham office since 01/07/14. (22 days now) Next week I plan to call them to enquire about the interview reference number.
wish all the best to everyone who booked holiday...

If you take a look back in this thread, you will see that the Durham office is taking the full 6 weeks (40-43 days on average) currently to turn applications around. At 22 days, you still have a good 3 more weeks to wait for your letter.
No point calling them as they will just tell you to wait until 6 weeks have passed.

Don't worry, you will get it around week 6.

[northstar212]

Hi all! I am so eager to share my journey to British citizenship. Hope these can be helpful...

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 4/6/14
Date application received by IPS: 9/6/14
Date of return of documents: 22/7/14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 17/7/14
Date of Passport Appointment: 23/7/14 (Chelmsford)
Date of Passport Receipt:pending

Note: You can choose the passport office where you want your interview, as Victoria, London can be fully booked at times or you may need to find availability.

Best of luck!

[19eggs]

Passport for: Adult First Time
Application Type: New
Method of application: Camden Post Office C&S
Date of application: 5th June 2014
Date application received by HMPO: 10th June 2014
Date of return of documents: 24th July 2014 (DX tried to delivery on the 22nd)
Date of receipt of interview letter: 19th July 2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 23rd July
Date SMS Received: TBC
Date of Passport Receipt: TBC

Update (24th July):

Yesterday, went to for an interview at London Victoria, but my profile was not transferred to them. When I asked why, they said some people who booked the appointment on certain date(s) and time, have not had their profiles transferred to them and they don't know why. It could be a glitch, they reckon, so a manual interview would take place. They took a photograph of me and the interview took about 10 mins.

The interviewer was a nice lady and she was given what looked like a checklist. She asked questions from there and ticked as I answered.

All she asked were:

1. My address.
2. If I was known by any other name.
3. My and my parent's full name.
4. My and my parent's place of birth.
5. My and my parent's date of birth.
and then we talked about the opening times, on how other's have been asked invasive questions..shes smiled and said, it is a short interview..and I should hear in the next 10 working days.

When I enquired about my application online last week, they said it was received at the Durham office. However, yesterday, just before the interview at the reception office, they wrote a note --"Peterborough Office" on the form while filling my form.

Today, I received my document via DX courier, even though they tried to deliver it on the 22nd

Update (19 July):
Got the appointment letter and booked the interview at London Victoria on the 23rd

Update (17 July):
Got a call from the team. They said to wait till 22nd July to receive the appointment letter. I called in later in the day and they could not get through to the Progression Team.

Update (16 July):
HMPO received on the 10th June. I wonder why it took that long to reach them. I thought the Post Office would send it as "Next Day Delivery", so they should have received on the 6th of June which is a Friday.

Anyway, called the 0300 number and was answered almost immediately. The agent told me that since it has been more than 3 weeks, he will contact the "progression team". Was put on hold for another 15 mins and then he told that he cannot get hold of them so he will email them and they will contact me within the next 24 hours.

[Dassie]

Passport for: Adult First Time
Method of application: Post
Date of application: 12th June
Date application received by HMPO: 16 June
Date of return of documents: -
Date of receipt of interview letter: 25 July
Date of Passport Appointment: 26 July (Plymouth)
Date SMS Received: -
Date of Passport Receipt: -

Not sure why my documents haven't been returned yet - I paid extra for them to be returned securely.

[Daymohktim]

Final update.

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First time (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 04/June/2014
SMS received: 10/June/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 18/July/2014
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: 22/July/2014

Date of SMS passport printing: 23/July/2014

Date of Passport Receipt: 24/July/2014




I applied without previous passport and without any ID. When applying I included ILR and a hand written letter.

More info here: http://www.immigrationboards.com/britis ... 65087.html


And the best of luck to you all!

[keerthi]

Applied on June - 16th ( Appln reached Peterborough )

Today I received the 1st SMS saying that it has been reached the passport office

I have been calling the call center everyday like clock work with every time promising they will send an e-mail, Travel booked for 1st Week of August...escalated to MP also...no response....God Help me...

[akash08]

Passport for: Adult First Time
Method of application: Post
Date of application: 12th June
Date application received by HMPO: 16 June
Date of return of documents: -
Date of receipt of interview letter: 25 July
Date of Passport Appointment: 26 July (Plymouth)
Date SMS Received: -
Date of Passport Receipt: -

Not sure why my documents haven't been returned yet - I paid extra for them to be returned securely.

I received my documents 1 week after getting my passport and my wife's documents came 2 weeks after her passport receipt.

You will get it someday!!

and yes, I also received my interview letters on the same day I got my passport. The whole system is a joke. So, do not worry.

[phospholipid]

I thought I'd share my interview experience:

Was asked:

My name and spelling
DOB
Mothers name and spelling
What I study
Plans for after my study
How long I've been at my current address - when did I move in
Why did I come to the UK
Siblings
Who lives at my current house
What university I go to
How my summer has been
What I've done this summer
What grades I've gotten at university
Countersignatory information
etc etc

Was hardly an interview, we just spoke about our lives and he told me a few stories of his university days and it was over in about 15-20 minutes. Expecting the passport tomorrow or next week Monday/Tuesday. Hope this helps someone!

[sancsan]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First time
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 13-June-2014
SMS received: None
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of return of documents: 24-July-2014
Date of Passport Appointment: Waiting
Date of SMS passport printing: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

I've received my documents today however not yet received interview letter. Is that the normal process??

[veenas127]

[quote="veenas127"]Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First time (naturalised citizen)
Method of application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 07/06/2014
SMS received: 12/06/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 19/07/2014
Date of return of documents: waiting - received the documents on 22/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 23/07/2014 - London Victoria
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: 24/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: not yet received

My interview experience:
My appointment was at 9.45am, but I reached London Victoria office by 9.15am. Normally they would not allow before 15mins from the allotted time, but the security allowed me to follow the queue. I went to information desk, they took my details and asked me to wait. Surprised that I was called within 5 mins for the interview. It lasted for 10 mins. So I finished my interview at 9.30am even before my allotted time slot.

The questions were as follows:
1. How do you commute to work?
2. What do you see on the way you walk from your home to the station? Not a difficult one though..
3. My full name with spelling, my DoB, PoB
4. My husband's name & DoB
5. My children's name & age & which school they go to
6. How long I have been living at the current address and whom do I live with
7. How do I know the countersignee, where does she work, what is her age, what is her profession
8. How many bank accounts & credit cards & loans I have
9. Am I registered on electoral register?
10. My parent's full name, DoB & PoB.
11. Where do I work currently and since when
12. When did I first come to UK & when I got the indefinite leave to remain.
13. When did I get naturalisation, who accompanied me to the ceremony and what happened during the ceremony.
14. Is finding HM passport office today easy or difficult?

[nickduk]

Today (24/07/14) I received the 1st SMS saying that it has been reached the passport office

I have been calling the call center everyday like clock work with every time promising they will send an e-mail, Travel booked for 1st Week of August...escalated to MP also...no response....God Help me...

Sorry, but I don't think you will even receive an interview time before the first week of August let alone your passport!

You should probably cancel or amend your holiday and not book anything until you have your passport.

[muzammil1124]

Hi, something which I have not read yet on this forum.

I called up the 0300 number and asked for status. They said they can try and upgrade my application by sending an email to the passport office.

If the passport office agree to upgrade, they will charge me an upgrade fee.

Is this normal, any idea how much will they be charging?