I'm desperate after being without a UK passport for 12 weeks

I am a 54 year old Spaniard who recently became a naturalized British citizen after 25 years living in England. In March I applied for my first British passport.

I had to send my Spanish passport and my certificate of naturalization as supporting documents. When I applied on March 21, there was an average processing time of five to six weeks and a maximum wait of 10 weeks.

I have now been without a passport for 12 weeks and it affects my work as an interpreter because I cannot accept paid jobs abroad. I was offered a mission in Germany last week, but I couldn't travel and had to cancel a vacation planned for the beginning of this month.

I have desperately tried to resolve this and over the past month have spent hours on the phone with the Passport Office.

The staff are generally helpful and agrees that I should have already received my passport. They offer to “move my case forward” or to send an email on my behalf but nothing changes; my online application has been listed as "in process" since April 21.

I have repeatedly explained that I was desperate to get a passport so I could travel for work. I suggested canceling the application so I can get my Spanish passport back, but they tell me it might take longer (three to four weeks) than waiting for my new UK passport.

RP, London

Another passport hell story. After writing to us, in desperation, you decided to go in person to the passport office in London, armed with your plane ticket and proof of overseas posting.

< p class="dcr-3jlghf">It worked and you have your passport. It was incredibly stressful and you found the passport information line to be a waste of time and started filing a formal complaint. of applications were processed within 10 weeks.

"As of April 2021, we have made it clear that individuals should allow up to 10 weeks to apply...the small percentage of those taking should call the Passport Information Line on 0300 222 0000 if they need to expedite their application,” it says.

Have you suffered a loss of income due to a delayed passport application?Let us know.

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