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| Demand rises for passports as workers begin strike | Demand rises for passports as workers begin strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Passport Office works in Durham formed their own picket line on Monday | Passport Office works in Durham formed their own picket line on Monday |
| There has been a "temporary increase" in demand for new passports ahead of more than 1,000 Passport Office workers starting five weeks of strike action. | There has been a "temporary increase" in demand for new passports ahead of more than 1,000 Passport Office workers starting five weeks of strike action. |
| The Home Office confirmed a rise in applications but said the amount was "close" to levels estimated. | The Home Office confirmed a rise in applications but said the amount was "close" to levels estimated. |
| It said there were currently no plans to change its 10-week guidance for passports to be processed and sent out. | It said there were currently no plans to change its 10-week guidance for passports to be processed and sent out. |
| Members of the Public and Commercial Services union are striking until 5 May in a row over jobs, pay and conditions. | Members of the Public and Commercial Services union are striking until 5 May in a row over jobs, pay and conditions. |
| Workers will walk out across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from Monday. | Workers will walk out across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from Monday. |
| The PCS union has warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer. | The PCS union has warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer. |
| But the Home Office told the BBC while there had been an increase in demand, "the number of passport applications remains close to forecasted volumes". | But the Home Office told the BBC while there had been an increase in demand, "the number of passport applications remains close to forecasted volumes". |
| "There are currently no plans to change our guidance which states that it takes up to 10 weeks to get a passport," it said. | "There are currently no plans to change our guidance which states that it takes up to 10 weeks to get a passport," it said. |
| To mitigate the impact on services, the Home Office is deploying staff who have previously worked in Passport Offices during busy times of year. | |
| It is understood people who require a passport on compassionate grounds for urgent travel will still be able to get one. However, there will be a reduction in the amount of appointments available for other urgent services. | It is understood people who require a passport on compassionate grounds for urgent travel will still be able to get one. However, there will be a reduction in the amount of appointments available for other urgent services. |
| How do I renew my passport? | How do I renew my passport? |
| You can renew your passport online, at a cost of £82.50 (payable by debit or credit card) or by post, at a cost of £93 | You can renew your passport online, at a cost of £82.50 (payable by debit or credit card) or by post, at a cost of £93 |
| To apply online, you will need your existing passport and a digital photograph | To apply online, you will need your existing passport and a digital photograph |
| To apply by post, you will need to fill out a form, which you can get from any post office, which has a check and send service, or by calling the Passport Adviceline | To apply by post, you will need to fill out a form, which you can get from any post office, which has a check and send service, or by calling the Passport Adviceline |
| The Passport Office says you should apply for a new passport 10 weeks before you are due to travel | The Passport Office says you should apply for a new passport 10 weeks before you are due to travel |
| If you can't wait that long, you can pay extra to get it sooner | If you can't wait that long, you can pay extra to get it sooner |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| The Home Office said it was disappointed by the strike action, and was working to manage the disruption and continue the service through "comprehensive contingency plans". | The Home Office said it was disappointed by the strike action, and was working to manage the disruption and continue the service through "comprehensive contingency plans". |
| More than 4,000 people are employed by the Passport Office across the UK, which means that according to union figures around one in four workers will take action. | More than 4,000 people are employed by the Passport Office across the UK, which means that according to union figures around one in four workers will take action. |
| The union has said the walkouts are being targeted to cause mass disruption and involve members working in departments which examine passports - more than 1,300 people. | The union has said the walkouts are being targeted to cause mass disruption and involve members working in departments which examine passports - more than 1,300 people. |
| The offices affected are Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough, Southport and Belfast. | The offices affected are Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough, Southport and Belfast. |
| At peak times - including the month of April when the strike will take place - the Passport Office can receive 250,000 applications per week, travel expert Simon Calder has previously said. | At peak times - including the month of April when the strike will take place - the Passport Office can receive 250,000 applications per week, travel expert Simon Calder has previously said. |
| He added that means more than one million applications could be sent during the strike period. | He added that means more than one million applications could be sent during the strike period. |
| Current waiting times for first adult passports are just over 18 days while renewals are just over 14 days, according to Passportwaitingtime.com, an independent crowd sourcing website which relies on people inputting their own application wait times. | Current waiting times for first adult passports are just over 18 days while renewals are just over 14 days, according to Passportwaitingtime.com, an independent crowd sourcing website which relies on people inputting their own application wait times. |
| But there are fears the strikes could lead to passports not being processed in time for some people's holidays. | But there are fears the strikes could lead to passports not being processed in time for some people's holidays. |
| A UK adult passport is valid for 10 years, but if it is due to expire you may be refused entry into some countries. Guidance for each country can be found on the government's foreign travel advice website. | A UK adult passport is valid for 10 years, but if it is due to expire you may be refused entry into some countries. Guidance for each country can be found on the government's foreign travel advice website. |
| In December last year, the National Audit Office (NAO) watchdog found hundreds of thousands of people were affected by passport processing delays. | In December last year, the National Audit Office (NAO) watchdog found hundreds of thousands of people were affected by passport processing delays. |
| It said some 360,000 customers waited more than 10 weeks to receive their passports in the first nine months of 2022 and warned that up to 10 million applications could potentially be submitted this year. | It said some 360,000 customers waited more than 10 weeks to receive their passports in the first nine months of 2022 and warned that up to 10 million applications could potentially be submitted this year. |
| 'No meaningful talks' | 'No meaningful talks' |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka has previously said the strike action was over the government refusing to increase a proposed 2% pay rise and added ministers had "failed to hold any meaningful talks". | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka has previously said the strike action was over the government refusing to increase a proposed 2% pay rise and added ministers had "failed to hold any meaningful talks". |
| Inflation, which is the rate at which consumer prices rise, was 10.4% in the year to February.A strike fund worth millions, funded by a levy from PCS members, has been built up to pay staff in full during the course of the five-week walkout, the union has said. | Inflation, which is the rate at which consumer prices rise, was 10.4% in the year to February.A strike fund worth millions, funded by a levy from PCS members, has been built up to pay staff in full during the course of the five-week walkout, the union has said. |
| The government has urged the union to "recognise what is reasonable and affordable, as the whole country faces these cost of living challenges". | The government has urged the union to "recognise what is reasonable and affordable, as the whole country faces these cost of living challenges". |
| Are you waiting for a new passport? Are you a passport office worker striking? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you waiting for a new passport? Are you a passport office worker striking? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Travel | Travel |
| UK government | UK government |
| Passport Office | Passport Office |
| Passports | Passports |
| Strike action | Strike action |