British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[mustafa.hamdani]

I have received the interview letter after a wait of bit over 6 weeks but now I'm struggling to find any interview date in London. London Victoria has no slots available. Although I managed to get interview appointment in Chelmsford but that is on 8th of Aug. Is there any specific time (or trick) to call to get an appointment at London Victoria? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

[pat208]

Hello everyone. I have applied for my naturalisation last month and awaiting decision. I have a query regarding first time passport application if someone could be kind enough to answer please. I have a very important trip to make abroad in coming months and I was wondering is it necessary to send your current foreign passport along with your uk passport application and if yes then when does passport office return your current passport? Also what happens after you have applied for passport, I believe you get a letter asking to book an appointment and you have to call to book an appointment for interview. Am I right in thinking that? Also is this letter delivered by recorded delivery or ordinary delivery? and is it also a brown envelope? Is there any time limit in which you need to call and book an appointment for interview after you receive the letter?
Please post your replies they will help me a lot in deciding my course of action as at the moment I can not plan my trip abroad with so much uncertainty. Thank you all.

[BC_Applicant]

I have received the interview letter after a wait of bit over 6 weeks but now I'm struggling to find any interview date in London. London Victoria has no slots available. Although I managed to get interview appointment in Chelmsford but that is on 8th of Aug. Is there any specific time (or trick) to call to get an appointment at London Victoria? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Call them again tomorrow and and a few other times. Appointments become available all the time. I rescheduled mine thrice.

[vnadgir]

Timelines
Date of appln. 20-06-14
Date of SMS receipt. 27-06
Date of interview letter 27-07.
Interview --- awaiting

Not bad considering I didn't follow up.
Apparently not many interview slots available at London Vic.
Will update once interviews are done.

[mustafa.hamdani]

I have received the interview letter after a wait of bit over 6 weeks but now I'm struggling to find any interview date in London. London Victoria has no slots available. Although I managed to get interview appointment in Chelmsford but that is on 8th of Aug. Is there any specific time (or trick) to call to get an appointment at London Victoria? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Call them again tomorrow and and a few other times. Appointments become available all the time. I rescheduled mine thrice.

Thanks @BC_Applicant

[ooloncolluphid]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 12 June 2014
Date application received : 17 June
Date of return of documents: 25 July
Date of receipt of interview letter: 25 July
Date of Passport Appointment: 28 July
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: 29 July
Date of Passport Receipt: 29 July

I wrote to my MP's office after 6 weeks (23 July), since I wasn't getting much out of the enquiry/interview helplines. I managed to get my interview reference number, an interview AND my passport in hand within just a week of getting in touch with my MP, who was incredibly helpful. Read into that what you will. Thanks again to everyone on this forum, and good luck.

[akash08]

@pat208

Yes, you have to submit your existing passport along with the application. You can get them back at various times. Earliest along with the interview letter , latest probably a week after receiving your british passport like my case. The interview letter will come in ordinary delivery. Not sure how the colour of envelope can be relevant and hence not trying to answer that. Rest all the things you have written about the process is correct. I do not remember there was any time limit to book the interview but i may be wrong.

[Ahem]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Self Recorded Post
Date of application: 21 June 2014
Date application received : 23June
Date of return of documents: 31 July
Date of receipt of interview letter: 30 July
Date of Passport Appointment: 2 August


Interestingly made a call to customer center on 29th July (when the passport interview letter was already printed) and the guy on phone said there is no update yet...

[CD_April2013ILR]

Update from previous post

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: 31/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: Waiting
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

[ali_asad_pk]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 30/07/2014
Date application received by IPS:
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

[pat208]

@akash08

Thanks.

[ABT]

Just called the general phone number 03002220000, not very helpful staff , I guess they work long hours. I decided to wait until the 6 weeks gone and contact my MP, i'm sure it will be helpful. Not bothered to speak to anyone who is not willing to help. Good luck to everybody here xxx

Application sent: 28/06/14
Application method: PO check and send
Arrived office: 01/07/14 (Durham)
SMS: 02/07/14
Interview letter: waiting
Interview date: tbc

Still examination process...

[Impatient1]

Hello All

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 15/07/2014
SMS Received: 17/07/2014
Date of return of documents: Waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: Waiting
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

I am now moving house and need to change address urgently.

Please can anyone advise what I should do.

Many thanks

[Wrightfamily]

OUR JOURNEY IS NOW COMPLETE

[quote="Wrightfamily"]4 Passport applications as follows:

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 30/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 02/06/2014
Date of return of documents: 15/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 16/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 24/07/2014
Date of Passport Receipt: 29/07/2014 (printed 25/07/2014)

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: Change in name
Method of application: Postal
Date of application: 30/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 02/06/2014
Date of return of documents: 24/06/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: n/a
Date of Passport Appointment: n/a
Date of Passport Receipt: 20/06/2014

Passport for: Minor
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 28/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 29/05/2014
Date of return of documents: 07/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: n/a
Date of Passport Appointment: n/a
Date of Passport Receipt: 07/07/2014

Passport for: Minor
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 28/05/2014
Date application received by IPS: 29/05/2014
Date of return of documents: 09/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: n/a
Date of Passport Appointment: n/a
Date of Passport Receipt: 09/07/2014

[CD_April2013ILR]

Update from previous post

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: 01/08/2014
Date of return of documents: 31/07/2014
Date of Passport Appointment: 11/08/2014
Date of Passport Printing SMS received: Waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: Waiting

[smarty12]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 09/07/2014
Date application received by IPS (sms): 14/07/2014
Date of return of documents: waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting


Other Updates: changed address after application has been made, do I need to inform PO?

[secret.simon]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 11th July 2014
Date application received by HMPO: 18th July 2014
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt:

[runie80]

Looking at the timeliness here it appears that waiting times are somewhere from 6-8 weeks. We had few quick processing weeks when home office hit headlines in need but now again I think delays are growing.

6 weeks to get a 1st passport in this modern day age I think is very unfair. We live in modern era of 24 hour processing

Wonder how much is is costing the UK economy in productivity.

[ABT]

[quote="ABT"]Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalized Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send or Postal
Date of application: 28/06/2014
Date application received by IPS: SMS on 02/07/14
Date of return of documents: 02/08/14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 02/08/14
Date of Passport Appointment: TBC
Date of Passport Receipt: WAITING

FINALLY INTERVIEW STAGE...
Funny enough I called the general phone-number yesterday and they did not see any progression on my case although my interview letter has been printed and was on the way. Don't call them...waste of space really. More updates later...

[Impatient1]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 09/07/2014
Date application received by IPS (sms): 14/07/2014
Date of return of documents: waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: waiting
Date of Passport Receipt: waiting


Other Updates: changed address after application has been made, do I need to inform PO?

Any luck smarty12 on how to change address once application is made. I applied 15 July and am moving house too. Thanks

[myfinalidy]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalized Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send or Postal
Date of application: 28/06/2014
Date application received by IPS: SMS on 02/07/14
Date of return of documents: 02/08/14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 02/08/14
Date of Passport Appointment: TBC
Date of Passport Receipt: WAITING

FINALLY INTERVIEW STAGE...
Funny enough I called the general phone-number yesterday and they did not see any progression on my case although my interview letter has been printed and was on the way. Don't call them...waste of space really. More updates later...

Which Passport Office was examining your application?

[ABT]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalised Citizen)
Method of application: Check & Send
Date of application: 28/06/2014
Date application received by IPS: SMS on 02/07/14 (Durham office)
Date of return of documents: 02/08/14
Date of receipt of interview letter: 02/08/14
Date of Passport Appointment: 09/08/14
Date of Passport Receipt: TBC

FINALLY INTERVIEW STAGE...
Funny enough I called the general phone-number yesterday and they did not see any progression on my case although my interview letter has been printed and was on the way. Don't call them...waste of space really. More updates later...

[mcaj]

Passport for: Adult x 2 (me and wife)
Application Type: New (1st British Passport)
Method of application: Self Recorded Post
Date of application: 8 July 2014
Date application received : 11 July 2014
Date of return of documents: waiting
Date of receipt of interview letter: waiting
Date of Passport Appointment: waiting
Date Passport Receipt: waiting

[absane]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (overseas... citizen by descent)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: May 13th 2014
Date application received by IPS: May 19th 2014 @ Liverpool office
Date of return of documents: Haven't received
Date of receipt of interview letter: Nothing
Date of Passport Appointment: Nothing
Date of Passport Receipt: (waiting)

As an update... I had my Uncle contact his MP and he said he would contact the Liverpool office to see what is going on with my application. It's been 53 days, or 7.5 weeks, and not a single word about my application from Liverpool aside from when they received it and that it is in the "examination process".

Update: Liverpool wrote me an e-mail saying that I need to fill out an application form. They said that the form I sent in (which came from the online submission site) had a signature on it that wasn't 100% inside of a box. They didn't specify if it was my signature or the signature of my counter-signer. Needless to say this is frustrating. Almost 8 weeks now and the first thing I hear from them is that I should do it again.

Another update: I contacted the Liverpool office and today (August 4th) they said:

Code: Select all

We received your new form and have now issued your new passport.
 
Please note that your will receive your supporting documents back under separate cover.

So it looks like I will finally get this thing in my possession! I'll check the mail every day!

[urstop]

Application Timeline
Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New (Naturalized Citizen)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 16/06/2014
Date application received by IPS: 17/06/2014 (Peterborough)
Date received post asking to resend missing Parent Details: 26/07/2014
Re-sent application received: 29/07/2014
SMS Received: 30/07/2014
Date of receipt of interview letter: 02/08/14
Date of return of documents: 04/08/14
Date of Passport Appointment: 07/08/2014 (London)
Date of Passport Receipt: WAITING