U.K. passport renewal question

[Andrew Dwyer]

So, on Feb 18th I traveled to Bangkok ( VFS ) to apply for my U.K. passport renewal.

All went well, the lady gave me my receipt and an estimate of 4 weeks.

 

A week later the fee ( which i had authorised via my U.K. debit card) was debited from my U.K. account.

Another week passed and i received a text from “ HM Passport “ stating that they had received my application and would contact me if any more information was required, plus a reference number.

 

So, all well and good , and still early doors.

 

Yesterday i received another text from HM Passport stating “ we have emailed you about your passport application “, plus the same ref number.

 

These messages do not accept a reply and i received no email. ( checked junk mail folder also ).

 

Checked VFS tracking passport application by logging in using reference number ( tried both the ref number on receipt from VFS and on text from HM Passport ) and email address only to get “ something went wrong “ message various times.

 

Yep, i know it is far too early to panic but wondering if any other recent recipients of a U.K. passport renewal got the HM Passport text or succeeded in tracking their passport application ?

[brianburi]

Did mine in October last year and it took 17 days to come back.  I just got an email back saying come and collect it.  I was not aware you could track it.

I thought that new VFS set up in the Shoppes was good, much improvement on Trendy.....

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, brianburi said:

Did mine in October last year and it took 17 days to come back.  I just got an email back saying come and collect it.  I was not aware you could track it.

I thought that new VFS set up in the Shoppes was good, much improvement on Trendy.....

 

Thanks.

You didn’t get any text or email from HM Passport then ?, only VFS ?

[Andrew Dwyer]

So this is the text I received ( presumably from the U.K. office) and my failed attempts to reply:

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

The VFS passport tracking form which only gave a “ something went wrong “ reply.

 

 

[brianburi]

28 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Thanks.

You didn’t get any text or email from HM Passport then ?, only VFS ?

No, I didn't, all my comms were with VFS.  I searched my gmail messages but had deleted all messages from 2024.   Apparently there is a helpline....   

[email protected]

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, brianburi said:

No, I didn't, all my comms were with VFS.  I searched my gmail messages but had deleted all messages from 2024.   Apparently there is a helpline....   

[email protected]

 

Thanks, just got an automated reply that it was only concerned with the visa side of the business, despite the name 🙄, and steered me towards the Gov.uk site for passports which only accept phone call queries unless you applied online or using Royal Mail in which case you have a specific reference number.

 

Going round in circles, will leave it a few days and see if there is a way to contact them or the passport tracking function decides to work !

[proton]

I do renew mine when at home, 4 hours same day service, no waiting or buggering about

[brianburi]

32 minutes ago, proton said:

I do renew mine when at home, 4 hours same day service, no waiting or buggering about

What home?? Thailand is my home........ further more how many hours does it take to get to this home.....

FTB.......

[proton]

9 minutes ago, brianburi said:

What home?? Thailand is my home........ further more how many hours does it take to get to this home.....

FTB.......

 

If you are not a Thai citizen it is not your home, you are an ' alien' 

[Andrew Dwyer]

3 hours ago, brianburi said:

No, I didn't, all my comms were with VFS.  I searched my gmail messages but had deleted all messages from 2024.   Apparently there is a helpline....   

[email protected]

 

Somehow i got to fill in a request on GOV.UK and told them the whole story, they should reply within 72 hours !!

[Andrew Dwyer]

Remarkably quickly the HMPO replied and cleared up the mystery, although they do still claim they sent the elusive first email !

 

As i have two valid passports i have to supply an accompanying letter from my employer explaining why i need two, where i will travel and for how long etc 

or

return the “second “ passport to HMPO.

 

I had made it known i had two passports on the application form, section 3, and supplied a photocopy of every page of BOTH passports but the lady checking the docs at VSF had failed to notice the missing letter .

 

One could say that I should have read the guidance notes more carefully but no lets blame it on her 😟

 

Anyway i chose to write an accompanying letter and post passport 2 back to Blighty .