Doc67 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:22 am

Freightdog wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 10:14 am Penang. Send a postcard

Yeah, I am thinking Penang too. I'm on Google Maps at the moment locating watering holes and curry houses, then finding a hotel within walking distance from them both.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:33 pm To the applicants who applied for a child’s first UK passport, I’d like to know how long the entire process took you, from the date the application was submitted at VFS, until you either received the passport, or were informed that the application has been denied.

For my son, the application was submitted 28 July 2022.
It wasn’t received in the UK until 3rd August, and they billed my account on 5th August.

Because the application had not begun processing, there was no way to check progress, which I discovered in late August when I called them to check on receipt of supporting documents.
The application then sat idle for 4 months before it was looked at mid November, at which point I was informed that most of the supporting documents were missing or incomplete.
So a whole new pack of documents was prepared and submitted.
I was then informed in mid January that they needed one further document, which was duly submitted.
Our invite for interview was received mid February, and we had the video interview 10days later.
We received a new request, mid March, for updated passport photos as the application was now more than 6 months old. Something that they didn’t acknowledge in January when it reached 6 months.
These were submitted to VFS on 20th March, and received around 28/29th March. But these have not yet been put on their system.

Yesterday, I was informed by email that processing will take a minimum of 31weeks once all documents are received, which potentially is going to be sometime mid/late August 2023, if the final final documents submitted in January start that clock running.

That’s 13months in total, and 4 months of that time with them doing absolutely nothing.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:35 pm Success, of sorts. After 9 1/2 months, I received an email today confirming that my lad’s passport has been issued. All it needs to do now is get to Cambodia. They quote 3-6 weeks, could be longer. What with national strike actions, cyber attacks on Royal Mail, and a largely lack lustre postal service, I wonder how long this will really take?
What breed of flying rat makes the best courier pigeon?

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:41 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:37 pm

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:35 pm Success, of sorts. After 9 1/2 months, I received an email today confirming that my lad’s passport has been issued. All it needs to do now is get to Cambodia. They quote 3-6 weeks, could be longer. What with national strike actions, cyber attacks on Royal Mail, and a largely lack lustre postal service, I wonder how long this will really take?
What breed of flying rat makes the best courier pigeon?

One attack. Last January...... But they use it as an excuse in every occasion. If I were Charles III I took the word 'Royal' back.

If I were him, I’d claw back the HM part from the passport office, too. Progress, as far as I can see, has only happened because actual formal internal complaints have been raised.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:35 pm Success, of sorts. After 9 1/2 months, I received an email today confirming that my lad’s passport has been issued. All it needs to do now is get to Cambodia. They quote 3-6 weeks, could be longer. What with national strike actions, cyber attacks on Royal Mail, and a largely lack lustre postal service, I wonder how long this will really take?
What breed of flying rat makes the best courier pigeon?

Bluenose wrote: ↑Wed May 17, 2023 7:45 am

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 5:35 pm Success, of sorts. After 9 1/2 months, I received an email today confirming that my lad’s passport has been issued. All it needs to do now is get to Cambodia. They quote 3-6 weeks, could be longer. What with national strike actions, cyber attacks on Royal Mail, and a largely lack lustre postal service, I wonder how long this will really take?
What breed of flying rat makes the best courier pigeon?

Did they say how it was being sent? It's normally with DHL which means it should be at VFS or wherever within a week.