Holidaymakers have been facing up to the prospect of long queues at Liverpool passport office as people from across the country assemble to receive their new papers. Prior to the pandemic, the Echo reports, people were advised of waits of around three weeks, but processing times can now take up to 10 weeks, according to HM Passport Office.
There has been an unprecedented surge in applications for passports as five million delayed applying during the pandemic. The huge backlog means people are struggling to get their passport in time for their travels.
Home Office minister Kevin Foster said anyone heading overseas this summer should submit new passport applications and renewals as soon as possible. He added: "We are making a range of efforts, staff are working weekends, incentivised overtime, and certainly we're confident we will not need to change the 10-week target."
Those urgently in need of a new passport can make an appointment to visit their local office to have one issued. There are just seven Passport Customer Service Centres dotted around the UK, one of which is based in Liverpool in Old Hall Street.
Sam Neill said she had travelled with her sister-in-law Claire Porter from North Wales who was waiting to get a fast-track passport in time for her holiday next Monday. Sam said she was also travelling to London to get new passports for her children for their holiday in June as she was "not taking any chances".
She added: "I am here with my sister-in-law and she flies on Monday. I am going to London for mine on Thursday for the baby and my daughter as it's the only place I could get an appointment."
Sister-in-law Claire added: "We have been here since 11.25am. We are due to fly Monday and we're waiting for my daughter's passport and have been waiting since February 23."
Megan, from St Helens, booked a hotel in Durham in case she was told she had to travel there to get a new passport. She said: "We sent all the documents here, but they have all been moved to Durham and we are due to fly on Friday to Greece."
The fast-track service to get a new passport costs £142 for an adult so, with fuel costs, people are spending hundreds to be able to travel. Under post-Brexit travel rules holidaymakers need to have at least three months validity on their passports.
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