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People hoping to travel abroad this summer may miss their vacation due to an “unprecedented increase” in passport applications.
Those who need to renew their obsolete passports must apply “as soon as possible,” a government minister warned, as the Passport Office is facing huge backlogs.
Interior Minister Kevin Foster told lawmakers that the department reviewed one million passport applications last month alone.
“To put this in context, we usually have to deal with seven million for a whole year,” he added.
Some families face a broken heart as their passport applications are delayed, which prevents them from traveling.
Commons heard of a woman who had been waiting more than five months to receive her daughter’s new passport, with services labeled “either really good or absolute ruin.”
The government has advised people hoping to travel abroad this summer to obtain their passport applications as soon as possible. Credit: PA
SNP spokesman Stuart C. MacDonald said: “All our voters must cancel the holidays, miss funerals, reschedule visits.
He added that the goal of a 10-week treatment “routinely fails”, describing the situation as a “predictable mess”.
Mr Foster said people who have “necessary and compassionate circumstances such as a funeral” can get their applications expedited.
But he added: “This is a very, almost unprecedented jump in demand, and if people are planning to travel this summer, we would advise them to get their application as soon as possible.
Conservative MP Simon Hoare described the backlog in passports as “unprecedented, true, but predictable, absolute”.
The North Dorset MP added: “Certainly my constituents tell me that their experience is either really good or a complete failure.
Mr Hoar went on to say that voters who contact the Passport Office “do not pass (and then are lied to by officials when they succeed”.
Mr Foster agreed that a review of the hotline’s work was needed.
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Processing delays are “really disappointing,” said Heathrow Airport chief.
CEO John Holland-Kay said it was “vital” for people to be able to go on holiday this summer if the UK reintroduced restrictions on coronavirus travel.
“Usually the Passport Office is very smooth in processing passports. It’s really frustrating to hear (about delays).
“If it is not resolved, it will mean that people cannot get out.
After two years of blocking, we need to make sure that people can have a good holiday, because many of them have vouchers that they have saved, they have lifelong travel that they have postponed, and we do not know when things can be close again.
“Using summer is vital.”
And the delay in processing is not the only problem with the passport, causing festive pain.
A rule for visitors to European Union (EU) countries, which applies to holders of British passports after Brexit, also sees that hopes for a holiday return to the exits.
When the United Kingdom was a member of the EU, British passports remained valid until and including the expiry date for travel to other EU countries.
But after Brexit, holders of British passports who want to travel to most EU countries must meet two key requirements. If you are a non-EU citizen wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:
This means that you really need to look at the release date when checking if you need to renew, as well as the expiration date.
It may seem that your passport is on time, but if it has not been issued in the last 10 years, you may be stopped from boarding your flight.
Rory Boland, editor of which? Travel told ITV News: “There was confusion about travel guidelines for the EU. Passports must be issued within 10 years of entering your country of destination and remain valid for at least three months after the day you plan to return to the UK.
“It is essential to make sure that your passport is valid when you have to travel and return home. Otherwise, you risk losing money on your flight or vacation, as your provider will not refund your money and the insurance will not cover your mistake.
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