Childs Passport Issue

[socket2008]

My dad recently booked a trip to Malta for the whole family as a memorial to my mum as her ashes were buried there last year.

We found out 3 weeks ago that my 11 year old nephews passport had just ran out. We went to the post office and did the renewal there.

Over two weeks have now passed and having contacted the Passport Office they say it is still being evaluated and they will phone Thursday 30th July (nephew due to go on 3 August). Is there anyway the process can be speeded up? (paying extra would not be a problem). We are even prepared to drive to the regional passport office in Ireland to pick it up.

Thanks.

[Beauj]

socket, best advise? If you've not gotten it by today, hammer on the passport office door!

If you live in NI, go along there and simply get one from them - should be able to handle fairly quickly - i.e. as you wait!!

Either way, don't let any of them put you off!

HAMMER HOME How URGENT it is needed!!

They can all get the finger out when need-be!!

Phone the ROI Passport Office TODAY & ask them what is happening before you proceed with any of the above.

Hope all goes well with Your Mums Service, RIP.

[factor-fiction]

It's not much use to you now but it may help others to know that there is a way to speed up passport requests which need to be made at short notice.

The normal postal process needs 3 weeks. The Check and Send service you used aims to get passports back in 2 weeks but they don't guarantee to do it in 2 weeks.

"This service is available through certain Post Office branches. Your application should take two weeks from the time the branch or agent accepts the application, not including bank and public holidays. This is not a guaranteed service and may take longer during busy times. IPS advises you not to book any travel until you have your new passport."

If you need it in less than 2 weeks there is a fast turnaround facility. Personally , given the problems that can occur, I'd use it if I needed it within 3 weeks just to make sure.

There's even a 24 hour turnaround service
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport /Passports/howlongittakesandurgentappplication s/DG_174149

Good luck.

[factor-fiction]

What a horrible layout. I'll try again.

It's not much use to you now but it may help others to know that there is a way to speed up passport requests which need to be made at short notice.

The normal postal process needs 3 weeks. The Check and Send service you used aims to get passports back in 2 weeks but they don't guarantee to do it in 2 weeks.

"This service is available through certain Post Office branches. Your application should take two weeks from the time the branch or agent accepts the application, not including bank and public holidays. This is not a guaranteed service and may take longer during busy times. IPS advises you not to book any travel until you have your new passport."

If you need it in less than 2 weeks there is a fast turnaround facility. Personally , given the problems that can occur, I'd use it if I needed it within 3 weeks just to make sure.

There's even a 24 hour turnaround service

Good luck.

[socket2008]

Thanks for all the advice. It arrived Saturday 1st just in time. Phoning the passport office every hour of the day may have done the trick.

Moral of the story is ......know when your/childs passport is due to run out and renew straight away.