Starting to panic about passport...

[BlueGiraffe]

We applied for DS's first passport in mid-May and still haven't had it back yet. I've logged on to the Gov site and it just says "Declaration form received. Being processed".

We leave on July 24th so we have 5 weeks to get it back, as we can't apply for the ESTAs until we have his passport number, and need to apply for those at least 72 house before we go.

The thought of having to miss the holiday, after these last couple of years of saving and planning makes me feel sick...

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We sent DDs renewal off mid May and it came back last week. I have heard of people who started phoning the passport office regularly and for some, it has speeded things along. You can email them, but don't just give them your application number, they need full details about the applicant name, dob, address etc. it took them three or four days to get back to me via email. Try that as your first port of call and if you get no further try phoning.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

We sent DDs renewal off mid May and it came back last week. I have heard of people who started phoning the passport office regularly and for some, it has speeded things along. You can email them, but don't just give them your application number, they need full details about the applicant name, dob, address etc. it took them three or four days to get back to me via email. Try that as your first port of call and if you get no further try phoning.

Thanks for the reassurance. I'll send an email

 

[ChelleFeegan]

Good luck x

 

[ninamouse]

Good luck!

 

[Vixster]

Good luck I sent mine end April got it in 2 weeks

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I too, am starting to get dispondant after the news this evening that the crisis at the passport office is more serious than was originally admitted.
I am lucky in that we have nothing booked, so do not stand to lose any money. What it looks like we may lose, however, is a rare and unexpected opportunity to join dear friends in Florida.
We did not expect to have the means to get to the happy place for at least a couple of years yet, but there has been a recent turn of events, which meant that we were suddenly able to plan a last minute trip in July. Both DH and I have leave from work which cannot be altered and so if this magical, surprise of a trip is going to happen, it has to happen in mid July. There is no other option this year.
Passport renewal applications were sent off for DS and myself nearly three weeks ago. The online service was used, and within a few days of my sending the declaration forms off, we had a message to say they had been received and were being processed. I started to plan our trip and research flights. A few days later, the news broke of the backlog crisis. I remained hopeful, but didn't book anything.
Now, with the latest gloomy news coming out of the passport office, I am beginning to accept we will not be going. I know that if the passports come, I can book up to a few days before, but being school holidays, fear all the flights will be either booked up, or so expensive as to be out of our budget. I have found perfect flights for us that are available just now, but dare not book for fear we won't have passports
I realise in the grand scheme of world events, this is no big thing, but just now I just want to cry for this (probably) missed opportunity

 

[PJB71]

I hope everyone's passport comes through in time

 

[flortlebap]

For what it's worth, I would also be totally freaking out if I was in your position too, but this "backlog" problem seems to rear it's ugly head every summer!

Sources do still seem to imply that three weeks is the average processing time so with a nine week window to play with I would hope it's almost certain your passport will be back in time. Worrying, yes, but I honestly hope you won't have a significant problem!

 

[BlueGiraffe]

I had a phone call from a very nice lady at the Passport Office this lunchtime to politely tell me how stupid I am (my words, not hers!).

It appears, somehow, that I managed to send off DD's birth certificate with DS's application, rather than his own!!!! I am kicking myself as I type.

She said that if I send it special delivery this afternoon so that it gets to her by tomorrow lunchtime, she can continue processing the application. She also assured me that it will be back with plenty of time before we go.

So, there you have it. I am officially an idiot. But a happy idiot, because I know it will be sorted in time

 

[mackay_j]

good at least you know that yours is not sitting in some pile somewhere. As someone is doing it now you will fine.

 

[Disbabe]

We sent my youngest DD application, which I completed online, back on the 10th May. Unfortunately the photo's weren't good enough for the passport so had to send more, but we got the passport last weekend so 5 weeks altogether, including the blip with the photo's.