Passport applications are currently suffering serious delays as a result of backlog issues at the passport office.
A backlog of 500,000 documents has meant Britons have been left waiting more than 10 weeks for renewals, with some complaining it took up to four months to get hold of their new passports.
Applications can take some time to submit, on top of the application approval time – as the passport office often require a cosignatory to approve your identity before the passport process can move ahead.
Who can sign for a passport?
The Government will sometimes require a countersignature to confirm your identity.
They are rather specific about who can sign for your passport. The person in question must:
- have known you for at least 2 years
- be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague
- be “a person of good standing in their community2 – that is, work in a specific profession.
Examples of recognised professions include:
- accountant
- airline pilot
- articled clerk of a limited company
- assurance agent of recognised company
- bank or building society official
- barrister
- chairman or director of a limited company
- chiropodist
- commissioner for oaths
- councillor, for example local or county
- civil servant (permanent)
- dentist
- director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
- engineer with professional qualifications
- financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
- fire service official
- funeral director
- insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
- journalist
- Justice of the Peace
- legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
- licensee of a public house
- local government officer
- manager or personnel officer of a limited company
- member, associate or fellow of a professional body
- Member of Parliament
- Merchant Navy officer
- minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
- nurse (RGN or RMN)
- officer of the armed services
- optician
- paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
- person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
- pharmacist
- photographer (professional)
- police officer
- Post Office official
- president or secretary of a recognised organisation
- Salvation Army officer
- social worker
- solicitor
- surveyor
- teacher or lecturer
- trade union officer
- travel agent (qualified)
- valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
- Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers
How long will my passport take to arrive?
The Government advise that you allow up to 10 weeks for your passport to arrive, however some people have reported waiting up to 15 weeks for a new passport in light of the passport office delays.
In March this year, more than one million new passport applications were processed, 13 per cent more than the previous record in March 2019.
And around 9.5 million million people are expected to apply for a new passport this year, up from an average of 6.5 million.
There are different turnaround times if you’re applying for a passport from a country outside of the UK.
In some cases you might need a passport to travel urgently.
This could be for important medical treatment, or if a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died.
If you cannot wait weeks for your passport then call the Passport Adviceline.
If you’ve already applied for your passport you can check the application status online.
Credit: Source link
