So let me take you on a 'time to pull your hair out' stressful journey. Last year we booked a holiday for June 2020 and just before the pandemic sent us into lockdown we were pretty sure our holiday would be cancelled so the fact that we didn't yet have the kids passports was not a problem. I mean whose going to be thinking about applying for a passport to go on holiday when you can't go. How wrong was I! It turns out our holiday was cancelled but rescheduled for July. Our flights are confirmed, hotel will be open and quarantine on arrival there and back is no more. We are due to go in just over a week and we do now have all the passports, but getting to this point has been one hell of a ride. Here's my story and some tips for those of you who are sitting biting your nails while waiting for your passports to turn up. The waiting time for a passport is usually 3 weeks, but at the moment there is no waiting time. I have seen people that have been waiting for months and others that have very speedily arrived. The majority of people seem to be getting stuck on the passport progressing stage which is what happened to us. I was checking daily and getting the same message so decided to ring customer services for some more information. The advice was it takes as long as it takes there's nothing we can do. So very helpful! I phoned a few more times and was met with the same response. Some rude and others very understanding but unable to do anything. I delved a little deeper online and found that HM Passport has a Twitter page. There are some people that had found them more helpful online than on the phone so I thought why not give it a try. It took them a few days to reply as they are extremely busy, but I am so glad I messaged them. They asked for my application numbers, date of travel and proof of what I was saying was the truth. After i had sent that they said they would email the passport officer that had my applications sitting on her desk. So I held my breath and waited. The very next day the passport officer rang me and sent my sons passport out and it was here in a couple of days. My daughters took a little longer as hers needed some extra paper work, but I can not fault them. Her paperwork arrived in the next couple of days I got it signed sent it back special delivery and marked urgent and her passport was here in just over a week. Relieved was an understatement. Here are some things you might find helpful if you are waiting on your passports arrival -
All this advice only applies at the moment during the time when the pandemic has turned everything upside down. I am sure when things are a bit more normal it will once again be a much simpler process. This may not help everyone as everyone has different requirements when applying, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that you do get your passports on time and have an amazing holiday. Thanks for visiting my blog Just Holly Marie x x x
0 Comments
|