Passport Application - How does it normally go down?

russell664

russell664

russell664

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So I applied for a renewal of an old passport to get my first Adult one as I am going abroad this year in April.
Did the usual, filled out the form, took some badman photos (I look like I have just robbed a bank :p) and sent it off. Now I have received a couple of texts from the Passport Office, the first being this:

"We've received your passport application. You should get your new passport within 3 weeks"

Great I thought, I got these two texts yesterday:

"You should receive your passport within a few working days" shortly followed up by (Within an hour) "Please sign your new passport now to validate it using black ink and a ball point pen"

Got back from work today, no sign of it as of yet. The last text implies that the passport has arrived does it not? :confused:
How long did your passport take to come after the second text, if you got one at all?
How have peoples experiences been of the passport office recently? I can't seem to really find much information about the text messages etc... so wondered if any of you fellow OCUKers knew anything. :)
 
When I ordered three new passports last year they were hand delivered at 10.30pm, so they could still turn up.I don't recall getting a second text either.
Think the whole process took less than a week.
 
Uther said:
When I ordered three new passports last year they were hand delivered at 10.30pm, so they could still turn up.I don't recall getting a second text either.
Think the whole process took less than a week.
Click to expand...

Is that you, 007? :p

My own renewal (this time last year) took a working week. Sent with check and send on the Friday afternoon, received the following Friday morning
 
russell664 said:
So I applied for a renewal of an old passport to get my first Adult one as I am going abroad this year in April.
Did the usual, filled out the form, took some badman photos (I look like I have just robbed a bank :p) and sent it off. Now I have received a couple of texts from the Passport Office, the first being this:

"We've received your passport application. You should get your new passport within 3 weeks"

Great I thought, I got these two texts yesterday:

"You should receive your passport within a few working days" shortly followed up by (Within an hour) "Please sign your new passport now to validate it using black ink and a ball point pen"

Got back from work today, no sign of it as of yet. The last text implies that the passport has arrived does it not? :confused:
How long did your passport take to come after the second text, if you got one at all?
How have peoples experiences been of the passport office recently? I can't seem to really find much information about the text messages etc... so wondered if any of you fellow OCUKers knew anything. :)
Click to expand...

The passport office have no way of telling whether your passport has been delivered or not, it's just a reminder in case it has arrived.
 
russell664 said:
"You should receive your passport within a few working days" shortly followed up by (Within an hour) "Please sign your new passport now to validate it using black ink and a ball point pen"
Click to expand...
Interested by this line; all new passports have your signature digitally printed already ?
 
I've very recently renewed my passport. From sending off the old one, photos and signed declaration to receiving the new passport took 5 working days. The new passport arrived yesterday morning at about 7:30. I didn't have to sign for it, it was posted through the letter box.

That's pretty normal though, have a read of https://passportapplication.service.gov.uk/help/html/pages/70.01_02_passport_delivered_en.html. I'll copy and paste the relevant bit:

In most cases the courier will not need you to sign for your passport. Couriers use technology that records the address, time and date of the delivery, and the courier will take a photo of the property where the passport was delivered.
Click to expand...
 
Hmmm. I received my new passport in Dec last year and there is nothing on the passport itself that I can actually sign. Only entries/sections that I could write on are the emergency contact details.

OH have I read this wrong; the passport needs to be signed for on receivership as opposed to actually signing the passport itself?
 
Last line seems to confirm the situation, at least in my case. My PP has a digital copy of the signature. I was under the impression all new biometric passports did! Evidently not.

The page above in my case is reserved for official observations only.
 
I just applied for my son's passport (under 12) I was surprised given that the expected wait time is listed as 3-4 weeks that I got it back within 5 working days. Got the text a few working days before post arrived
 
If you have a driving license then it will get the details from that for your passport. Helps speed up the passport process.
 
I guess it depends on age of photos and also you have that Government Gateway?!!? I think its called. My brothers Passport and driving license are linked to it. So he didn't have to submit new photos for his renewal.
 
mine was pretty quick last year did it on line ,did my photo at a photography shop about 12 quid and you get a code to enter that brings the photo up (also they make sure its going to be accepted totally worth a few extra pounds) also had to supply a contact of someone who recognises me in a list of certain professions,they email them with a link to your pic)
 
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