HMPO

[NanLaew]

On 4/28/2022 at 3:10 AM, stratocaster said:

One million passport applications have been received in the last 10 days.

But probably only 25,000 of those have any immediate plans to go anywhere.

 

Wasn't there a similar "OMG!" panic moment maybe seven years ago that was coincident with a badly managed restructuring of the HMPO in the UK and the relocation of the VFS services in Bangkok? Loads of bandwidth was wasted over a bad situation that was exacerbated by a similar sudden rush to get a new passport for the holidays.

 

My understanding is that this current 'crisis' has been precipitated by the work from home edicts and more recently when the UK government changed their advice for those testing +ve for omicron just to stay home until they home-tested negative again. This latter drain on manpower and staffing levels has affected a lot more than just the HMPO.

[salavan]

On 4/28/2022 at 10:10 AM, thonglorjimmy said:

Not quite true, the EU have always had this rule for travellers from outside of the EU, or at least have done so for many years for third country travellers.

 

It's the UK that chose to be subject to this rule when they voted for Brexit, it's quite amusing how many "brexiteers" are now calling foul as they "weren't told this would happen".

Taking back control haha

Can't find a brexit voter anywhere now they have all gone to ground same as the coward Cameron 

[brewsterbudgen]

24 minutes ago, salavan said:

Taking back control haha

Can't find a brexit voter anywhere now they have all gone to ground same as the coward Cameron 

Too true.  Cameron deserves to hang his head in shame.  Brexiteers are thin on the ground!

[thonglorjimmy]

On 8/25/2022 at 7:00 PM, salavan said:

Taking back control haha

Can't find a brexit voter anywhere now they have all gone to ground same as the coward Cameron 

Didn't Cameron, along with his buddy Clegg, also introduce the 150% charge for Expats who need the services of the NHS when in the UK, I believe that Expat pensioners got free treatment until those two reprobates slipped that rule in. 

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, thonglorjimmy said:

Didn't Cameron, along with his buddy Clegg, also introduce the 150% charge for Expats who need the services of the NHS when in the UK, I believe that Expat pensioners got free treatment until those two reprobates slipped that rule in. 

It was also during the lifetime of the coalition government administered by those 2 reprobates that the cumbersome bureaucracy of the dreaded With-It Tower Passport Renewal Experience for those of us living in the sticks here in LOS in particular was abruptly inflicted on us with absolutely zero explanation or justification, thanks to what has subsquently turned out to be their cohorts of masterly brazen incompetence and ineptitude known as HMPO, whom this thread is supposed to be all about!