Bit of a passport renewal crisis. Advice please
Discussion
Hey Everyone,
We are booked to go on holiday in 5 weeks (to the day) and I just realised my passport has expired. Yes, my fault!
The problem is I am not sure what the best option is to take now. I don't mind paying for the expedited services (premium or fast track) but I have been trying for several days to get a slot on either website but they are always gone instantly (or there are non available, you never can tell.)
Ringing the passport office, all they said was "Keep trying" but thats no use if none pop up at the time I happen to be looking. I have held off using the general online service because it says "Don't use online if intending to use fast track" etc.
I am really starting to get concerned but also unsure what to do for best. As for the passport, nothing has changed, it is literally just a renewal.
Can anyone offer any advice?
We are booked to go on holiday in 5 weeks (to the day) and I just realised my passport has expired. Yes, my fault!
The problem is I am not sure what the best option is to take now. I don't mind paying for the expedited services (premium or fast track) but I have been trying for several days to get a slot on either website but they are always gone instantly (or there are non available, you never can tell.)
Ringing the passport office, all they said was "Keep trying" but thats no use if none pop up at the time I happen to be looking. I have held off using the general online service because it says "Don't use online if intending to use fast track" etc.
I am really starting to get concerned but also unsure what to do for best. As for the passport, nothing has changed, it is literally just a renewal.
Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks for the reply. I did check that thread out before. I guess I am just being extremely pessimistic because I am the guy that is always the exception in these scenarios 
. I will give it a go. Re-reading the passport website again it does say if it gets to 2 weeks and you still haven't gotten the passport you can ask to upgrade but no guarantees.
. I will give it a go. Re-reading the passport website again it does say if it gets to 2 weeks and you still haven't gotten the passport you can ask to upgrade but no guarantees. CoffeeGuy said:
Thanks for the reply. I did check that thread out before. I guess I am just being extremely pessimistic because I am the guy that is always the exception in these scenarios . I will give it a go. Re-reading the passport website again it does say if it gets to 2 weeks and you still haven't gotten the passport you can ask to upgrade but no guarantees.
Get it done. Today. Mine even had the first photo I submitted rejected half-way through the process but still took less than two weeks.. I will give it a go. Re-reading the passport website again it does say if it gets to 2 weeks and you still haven't gotten the passport you can ask to upgrade but no guarantees. N.B. The Post Office walk-in check and send service.
"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
Panamax said:
N.B. The Post Office walk-in check and send service.
"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
Do people still use paper forms?"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
LimaDelta said:
Panamax said:
N.B. The Post Office walk-in check and send service.
"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
Do people still use paper forms?"You should take your completed paper application form, photos and any supporting documents to the Post Office.
"The Post Office Check and Send service will check you’ve:
filled in the right sections of the paper form
got the right supporting documents (including photos)
paid the right fee
They will send your application to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery.
"Using Check and Send is usually faster than posting your own application."
The missus did hers recently with a phone photo, got her new passport in 5 days.
I think the long ones are where people are trying to do something like change name/address at the same time as applying. If it's just a straight renewal, it'll be quick because there's limited interaction from people in the passport office anyway.
Applied for our renewals online after 6pm on Friday 17 March, they came back yesterday and one of those required a countersignature (albeit online) as it was a child's renewal. Also tried my photography skills and saved £25 by taking our photos. Max Spielman do passport photos for £13 and you can still do it online, they give you a code to enter on the renewal form online.
towser44 said:
Applied for our renewals online after 6pm on Friday 17 March, they came back yesterday and one of those required a countersignature (albeit online) as it was a child's renewal. Also tried my photography skills and saved £25 by taking our photos. Max Spielman do passport photos for £13 and you can still do it online, they give you a code to enter on the renewal form online.
I used Max Spielman last time round and the Passport office refused to accept the pictures due to the quality of them - in fairness MS gave me a full refund and apologised but I would be reticent to use them again for anything passport related.Just over a week for me. Applied online the weekend before last, sent my old passport recorded delivery last Monday, received the new one on Tuesday this week. All on the standard service with a SnappySnaps photo where they submit it online and you just put in the code (excellent idea and apparently a much lower chance of them rejecting the photo).
Edited by HappySilver on Thursday 30th March 15:28
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