Backlog of Passports in the UK

[nichola]

There are some temporary changes to the passport system to ease the backlog of passports in the UK including for applicants for overseas, urgent travel and emergency travel documents for children.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/additional-measures-to-meet-high-passport-demand

[JohnF]

I was in the Glasgow passport office on Wednesday - truth be told I expected it to be complete zoo.  Pleasantly surprised, it was really quiet with only four or five booths out of twelve manned.  We were in and out in 20mins and were actually seen 10mins before booked appointment.  When booking the appointment there was a decent choice of dates and time for both the seven day and premium one day service.

Last time I was there a few years ago it made the Emniyet in Aksaray look civilised!

JF

[Scunner]

Not all bad news, I sent mine off on the 14th May and the new one arrived on 5th June. Almost exactly 3 weeks.

[LeeGlo]

Overseas applicants can apply at the local Consular office for a 12 month extension - oh great - but not much use when your passport renewal application is already sitting in the backlog in the UK. Sent ours with a friend - posted in the UK on May 19th, just hope they come back before our RP's run out at the end of August.

[MarKar]

The back log wouldn't be because of a certain ban on taking children out of school would it , all of a sudden 5/6wks before the kids break up there's a massive backlog. I have to ask backlog or sudden case of can't cope with unexpected demand  it had not anticipated, who would bother to renew kids (or own) passport until you need it. I could of predicted this last year along with how long will it be before our Uk seaside towns are all bankrupt from trying to survive on 6wks of trade!.
 
Karen

[cef]

Overseas applicants can apply at the local Consular office for a 12 month extension - oh great - but not much use when your passport renewal application is already sitting in the backlog in the UK. Sent ours with a friend - posted in the UK on May 19th, just hope they come back before our RP's run out at the end of August.

When I saw this thread, I wondered if the fairly recent passport application processing changes originating from ex-pats in foreign countries, maybe a significant contributory factor in the back-log?

[LeeGlo]

It obviously isn't helping matters that all expats all over the world now have to get their renewals in the UK. But I do think "new" applications and staff cutting measures are more the culprit.

[nichola]

New passport extensions not being accepted in Turkey among other countries...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663777/Fresh-travel-chaos-ministers-admit-emergency-passport-extensions-useless-dozens-holiday-hotspots.html#ixzz35CRTSK8Z

I have just word to sum up what I think about all of this - pathetic!

[Div67]

My son sent his off last week in May and is due to travel 4th July so panic was on, I was advised by my brother (a local Councilor) to contact my MP and get them on the case, so on Monday there, I contacted them. They advised it was sent to Durham from Glasgow but they had chased it up!!!  Yesterday I got a phone call from the Passport office to advise it was being processed and should be with us by the start of next week at the latest,, well done MP, not here yet but phone call is saved, lol, thing is we leave on the 7th and it was killing the holiday buzz in the home. So this is another option for people if they are close to their departure date.  Hope this can help someone else   

[Div67]

Update..... Passport arrived this morning, how good is that!!  this MP palava really does work with the Passport delays,,, Happy Days in the household,, maybe we can all look forward to the holiday now, lol,