Applications for a passport are administered by Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO). This executive agency of the Home Office was established on 13 May 2013. At the beginning of June 2014, it became apparent that there were delays in the processing of passport applications. Members of the public who did not contact their MPs were held in queues and their cases were not dealt with a sufficient level of service. All applicants should be able to receive details of their applications, regardless of whether they follow it up themselves, or if it is followed up by their constituency MP. A number of people have ended up out of pocket due to HMPO's inability to meet its service standard. HMPO should compensate all those people who made an initial application on or after 1 May 2014, who subsequently upgraded to the fast-track service and who met the criteria for the free upgrade which was later offered and the Home Office should remove the agency status from Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) bringing it back under the direct control of Ministers.

In 2007, following the implementation of new document requirements for travelers entering the U.S. from within the Western Hemisphere, the Dept. of State (State) received a record number of passport applications. In June 2009 further document requirements are scheduled to go into effect and will likely lead to another surge in passport demand. This report examined: (1) the extent to which State was prepared for the surge in passport demand and how its readiness affected passport operations; (2) State¿s actions to increase passport production capacity in response to the surge; and (3) State¿s readiness for near-term surges in demand and its strategy to improve passport operations. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.