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."
