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Lawmakers have warned travelers could face significant delays in getting new passports this summer, citing passport offices for failing to learn lessons from the surge in applications in 2022. criticized
His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) last year “disappointed hundreds of thousands of customers” who experienced “unacceptable delays” in obtaining new passports, according to a report by the Public Accounts Commission (PAC).
It criticized HMPO for “lack of curiosity” about the impact such delays had on people, and did not collect data on how many people canceled vacations or missed family events because of delays.
The disruption was attributed to “weak management” and poor contractor performance, as well as the weakness of the new digital application system, which was unprepared for the surge in demand.
Its members warned that there could be as many as 9.8 million applications this year, 1.3 million more in 2023 than in 2022, and warned those with expired passports to avoid delays. I urged you to apply as soon as possible.
These delays will be exacerbated by a planned five-week strike action at HMPO, which began on April 3rd and is scheduled to last until May 5th.
“There were no signs of [the HMPO] All lessons learned and ready to serve you better this year. Peter Grant, his SNP MP at Glenrothes and a member of his PAC, warns:
He said the commission “sees nothing to reassure us that even without industrial action, this surge and increase in demand coming this summer will be handled better than last summer. ” he said.
When do I need to renew my passport?
If your passport has expired or you do not have enough time left to complete your trip, you will need to renew your passport before travelling.
The amount of time you need to travel before your passport expires depends on the country you are traveling to.
You will also need a new passport if your name or gender has changed, or if your appearance has changed significantly due to plastic surgery, etc.
Adult passports are valid for 10 years and you do not need to apply for a new passport until your passport expires.
The Passport Office recommends applying for a new passport at least 10 weeks before your intended travel date.
How do I apply for a new passport?
can renew passport online £82.50, £93 by mail. For passports for children under 16, the fee is £53.50 for online applications and £64 for postal applications.
To apply by mail, complete a form available at most post offices, or passport advice line.
If you need your passport earlier than 10 weeks, 1 week fast track service Adult passports are £155 and child passports are £126.
again, Online premium service It costs £193.50 and you can book an appointment to receive your new passport just two days after applying.
Between January and September 2022, HMPO received 7.2 million passport applications. This was a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2019, and we processed 95% of these within our 10-week target period.
But a total of 360,000 people experienced “unacceptable delays” in applying, even though overall demand was lower than expected, the PAC report said.
It was originally projected that 9.5 million people would be able to apply for new passports in 2022 when coronavirus travel restrictions were lifted. The office said he received 53,305 passport-related inquiries from lawmakers seeking applications on behalf of voters.
“My mailbox was filled with anguish. I received dozens of emails from voters who feared canceling expensive vacations, missing family funerals, missing out on important employment opportunities… My team has been on hold for four hours trying to process one case,” said Nick Smith, a Labor Party MP at Brenau-Gwent and a member of the PAC. I.
He added that the cases mentioned by MP are just the “tip of the iceberg.”
He dealt with one woman who lost all of her £1,700 vacation costs because her passport didn’t arrive in time, despite applying more than 10 weeks ago.
Another MP reported that one voter was in constant contact with the passport office in the months after his father’s death so that he could travel abroad with his mother to attend a memorial service. MP said she emailed HMPO about this in June 2022 and did not hear back until January 2023.
One woman was forced to cancel her honeymoon and lost her deposit because she wasn’t sure her passport would make it in time. She applied in her March 2022 and her passport arrived in July 2022, a few days before her planned travel date.
In another case, parents were forced to decide whether to cancel their vacation or leave their child behind after the passport arrived, but the child’s passport was delayed.
“Previous performance metrics aren’t good, so you should take that as a risk and get your application in as soon as possible. Don’t leave papers on the mantelpiece or PC. Don’t do it,” Smith warned.
The HMPO, which is overseen by the Interior Ministry, estimates that as many as 3 million people did not renew their passports during the coronavirus pandemic, and expects to receive up to 270,000 applications per week during the busiest period.