When leaving the UK (Heathrow) this year, I was advised by a member of the UK Border Force to renew my passport because my picture was not representative of my current facial look.    I acted upon that advice and attended an interview at the VFS(HMPO) (Bangkok) office on 9 September 2022.  I was subsequently advised that HMPO Liverpool received my passport via courier (DHL) on 12 September 2022 and my Credit Card was charged by them on 13 September 2022/

 

On Wednesday 2 November I checked the progress of the renewal by calling +443002220000 and was informed that HMPO Liverpool had not received an application from me.  I was then passed to a second office who confirmed that there was no record of an application in my name being received.  When I was told that there was no trace of my application, I did waste a call to speak to the Consular Officer (Passports) at the British Embassy Bangkok. to seek advice.     However, after my initial exchange with the Consular Official, I realised I was wasting my time, simply because when I was asked where I was calling from and replied Khon Kaen, the next question 'where's that'!  If Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to make savings he could start with this particular Embassy!    Doubtless, there will be a response to say that they have no mandate in this area.   

 

On Thursday 3 November I obtained a copy of the DHL docket for the delivery to HMPO Liverpool which contained the name of the person receiving the application at HMPO Liverpool.  I then called the same telephone number, and was eventually put through to a 'Specialist Unit' and the very polite lady confirmed that HMPO Liverpool had indeed received the application and it was currently being processed.

 

I now understand that VFS (HMPO)(Bangkok) is advising that the current processing time for passports from Thailand is 16 weeks.   This presents many travel difficulties to anyone seeking to renew their passport and is in my considered view, totally unacceptable.

 

Mine just took 14 weeks from them taking the $$$ to me getting the "please collect" email ???? 

 

I had a similar experience with the "lack of help line", then got cut off and gave up.

 

I agree, totally unacceptable, but what can we do other than put up and shut up?

 

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Mine just took 14 weeks from them taking the $$$ to me getting the "please collect" email ???? 

 

I agree, totally unacceptable, but what can we do other than put up and shut up?

 

I wouldn't renew my passport until 9 months of it running out or before just because of

some border force persons comments.

The govt sets it a 10 years so 10 years it is IMO. 

 

 

Currently ppears to be a mess but on the other hand renewed last year. Was advised it would take 11 weeks and it was back in 3!

Just spoken to HMPO Liverpool and they assure me that all overseas renewal of passport are being met within the 13 week time frame.

13 weeks, using VFS, recieved six weeks ago.

11-13 weeks is standard.  Not ideal but something it seems us Brits will have to get used to. I can't see it improving with the current abysmal state of the UK.

At this rate of decline, it will soon be faster to obtain Thai citizenship than renew a British passport. 

 

18 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

I wouldn't renew my passport until 9 months of it running out or before just because of

some border force persons comments.

The govt sets it a 10 years so 10 years it is IMO. 

 

 

It was a directive not a request.   

1 hour ago, Pompey Lad 1938 said:

It was a directive not a request.   

The UK govt directive is you have to renew every 10 years. 

4 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

The UK govt directive is you have to renew every 10 years. 

Okay pedantic one,  The Border Officer said.,  'This picture does not represent you as you present yourself here today,  Change your passport or you will not be allowed to enter the UK, because the EGate does not recognise you and I can see no resemblance comparing you with the Passport you have presented'.

19 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

At this rate of decline, it will soon be faster to obtain Thai citizenship than renew a British passport. 

 

At this rate of decline, the possibility will also eventually arise of our not receiving our new passports before their expiry dates!

 

Now that the rush for new passports back in the UK in time for summer holidays for the first time in 3 years should now be behind us, it is not, I think, unreasonable to be expecting the timescales for processing renewal applications to be now falling. But if anything they are going the other way if 16 weeks, as mentioned by the OP, is now the accepted norm as far as HMPO are concerned! What on earth are those masters of bungling incompetence and ineptitude in that particular organisation up to during their working hours these days, I wonder?? In serious training for a new UK Government Inter-Departmental Thumb Twiddling Competition, maybe??

 

5 hours ago, Pompey Lad 1938 said:

It was a directive not a request.   

 

4 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

The UK govt directive is you have to renew every 10 years. 

What I personally take strong exception to is HMPO's directive requiring those of us who don't live anywhere near Chiang Mai to submit ourselves to the masochistic "delights" of a cumbersome and bureaucratic passport renewal process entailing 2 trips in person to a dilapidated tower block in Bangkok with inconvenient conveniences which has consistently won The Silliest Office Building Name Of The Year award for each year since it was built way back when; or to fork out an extra 5,000 THB for an agent to make these trips on our behalf!!

 

Further my initial complaint about the time lag in applying and receiving a new passport, I am vry happy to report that dead-on 9 weeks I received today an email to tell me to go and collect the new one.

 

Works wonders to have the UK Home Secretary as your MP!

Did you put on the beef or lose the beef ?

 

Why do you look so different to old passport photo ?

57 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Did you put on the beef or lose the beef ?

 

Why do you look so different to old passport photo ?

Because I have become far more handsome!!!!

2 hours ago, Pompey Lad 1938 said:

Because I have become far more handsome!!!!

But I do just wonder whether the member of the UK Border Force who advised you to renew your passport because your picture was not representative of your current facial look would now be of that particular opinion as a result of the stresses and strains which you subsequently had to endure in getting your new passport!????

Well, I am still getting over the shock of having received 2 emails yesterday, one from VFS and the other from "HMPO Bangkok" (whoever they might be), informing me that my new passport was now ready for collection, a mere 7 weeks and 1 day after I had submitted my application in person!????

 

However the big unknown is whether this is indicative of some overall sustainable improvement in new passport waiting times, or whether current civil servant strikes could result in the clock being turned back in that regard. To the best of my knowledge, HMPO staff have not, so far, been specifically targeted by the PCS Union, but that, of course, could all change should they decide to ramp up their action in the New Year.

 

Of relevant interest:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/09/uk-passport-delays-affected-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-this-year