Passport application - need urgent advice!

[yachtingcrew]

Hi guys,

I need advise, please!!

I have submitted my first adult passport application on July,1st
However, my mother is very ill and I am trying to get my passport (new UK or my Russian one - doesn't matter, any!) back as soon as I can so that I can visit her.
I contacted Passport Office and after a while / speaking to all sorts of managers and thinking of escalating this to my MP they offered to send me an interview letter straight away...
They told me that once I get that interview letter & book an interview, I will be able to get my UK passport within 5 days.
This is still a very long wait (I would really fly tomorrow if I can!)...

Now, I would appreciate if anyone help me to understand the following:

1. What interview office should I contact to get the interview as soon as possible. Do you think it is possible to arrange interview for, say, next day? (I am happy to travel to any office, say Leeds or Manchester)

2. Is it true that I normally get passport back 5 days after the interview (I checked passport tracking forum here but still can't answer this question)

3. IS IT not just possible to cancel the whole application and return my Russian passport as soon as possible so that I can travel urgently? Passport Office can't answer this question - they send me to Peterborough office (where my passport application is) but Peterborough never called me back (even though they should within 20 hours)!

I really appreciate if anyone can comment on the above 3 questions

[akash08]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your mother, hope she gets well soon.

If you are ready to travel anywhere for interview, you should be able to get an interview next day. Why did not you ask the team for your interview reference number? You should not wait for the letter to come, call the passport helpline again and ask for the reference number and book your interview immediately using that number. Keep calling the interview booking office throughout the day, many a times cancellation slots come up and you should be able to get one of them.

You should get passport on the 2nd day after your interview. Worst case the next day. It should never take 5 working days, 3 maximum.

However remember that there are always exception to everything, there are always unlucky people who get delayed for no reason. So, do not take my words as guaranteed.

Finally do not you need your Russian passports back also or you can travel only with your UK passport? Return of your documents sadly is not a good service and i had to wait a week after I received by British passport.