johno5175

I read somewhere that if you are applying on behalf of your child you must include a letter declaring you have parental responsibility. I tried looking for it but couldnt find that info. Checking the passport application declaration it states "i here by declare blah blah" then one of those declarations is you have parental respons for the little 1. So you already declared it when you signed so sure does seem like a delay tactic.

johno5175

Well good luck. hopefully they can pull it off for you. Defo keep us updated with this.

JLA

I posted the Liverpool number, a few people on a forum who were applying from the UK said that they got through on it. It might depend on the time of day. When I asked my consulate they said that they can issue ETDs for children who haven't had a passport before but only in exceptional circumstances and a sick relative was not enough (!)

smithc

I've spoken to the Liverpool team. The guys who pick up the call are rude. Insist that you want to speak to their manager. The managers will give you the whole story of your passport.

Muheza

Hi kenya, sorry i haven't been online for a while either, i have been asked to attend an interview with my kid. Have been waiting almost 16 weeks now. Hoping this wait to be over now. Its taken too long. All plans of travelling have been cancelled. Completely stranded!! Were you asked to attend an interview?

Razakhtar

I'll try that number again on Friday and hope someone answers. Will they allow the call to proceed if it is an OS application?
The beijing consulate suggested that the situation I was in would qualify for an ETD application, considering that my passport application could be potentially lost, that me and my wife have a job to go to abroad, my visa is expiring and I would not be able to leave my son behind as I have no family here.

Razakhtar

Also just to keep it bumped the number JLA provided for the Liverpool office
0845 601 2058

Also I just found this number for the Liverpool office too, it was in the comments section for their official facebook page.
0845 601 5107

And yes a lot of people complaining, and venting. Including me!

Razakhtar

Finally got through to the Liverpool office using the number Posted. Had to wait for 35 mins before someone answered.

Spoke to a lady Mhari who not only found my sons application but confirmed it had been processed and sent yesterday. She told me the name of the office manager who processed it. Mrs C.Gallon

She said it would take 7-10 working days to arrive but guessed it would probably be quicker.

Do I feel sense of relief? No
While I know that my application is def not lost now there were still some failings that made me question how genuine this was....

1) she said for security reasons she couldn't give me a reference number. Why?
2) if the passport had really been processed and sent why have I not been contacted by anyone?

As happy as I should feel, I don't ...in fact I call BS.

JLA

I would be happy if I were you. When my daughter's passport was renewed, we weren't informed, we just got a text from dhl informing us about a parcel. I had a reference number because I had applied online but the tracker was still saying 'application received, processing' when we had the passport in hand! It only changed to dispatched the next day.
From what I can gather online, the people actually working in the Passport Office are true to their word as they have access to a lot more information than the advice line. If they say that it is dispatched I would imagine you will get it fairly soon.

pondhopper2014

I still don't understand why some applications are going to Liverpool when ours clearly said to send to Durham. Do different offices handle different countries' applications?

Dashie

Yes.

pondhopper2014

So this is basically a problem in the Liverpool office, not necessarily across the board... and that's probably why some people are having no insane delays and others practically have cases against HMPO. Okay, NOW it makes more sense. Thank you Dashie!

Razakhtar

There was a short period of time where you had to post your application directly to the office, most international applications went to Liverpool during this period of time.

That particular office got overwhelmed, as even uk passports are taking longer then 3 weeks. Glad I found the right number in the end.

Dashie

Canadian applications have all been going to Durham for quite a while now. Their estimated time last time I looked was at least 12 weeks. I think they're all struggling to be honest.

movingbacktotheuksoon

I just got ours back from the Durham office, it was between 5-6 weeks from start to finish for us. We were all first time applicants too which was a surprise to get done so fast... (mine was a renewal of my old UK blue one actually but was told that they treat it like a first time applicant apparently.) My kids were born in Canada. I was expecting to be called in for an interview as I was told by the passport office that, especially first time applicants overseas they do ask to see people at times, this is usually done at the nearest embassy or another location close to where you live, they told me.

I feel lucky that we didn't have any issues and I hope that everyone on here gets sorted out just as quickly. Lets hope so!!!