Anyone recently applied for a first time adult passport?

[happyinherts]

Just wondered what the current wait time is really, and did they send you for an interview being that you're a mature adult with no previous passport? Lady serving in the Post Office was a bit non-plussed about it. "Why have you left it so late?" Late as in age, rather than for booking a holiday! I'm wanting a passport for photographic ID, but just wondered how many hoops I'll have to jump through.

Why didn't you do it online as that's cheaper than using the post office?

Do you have a countersignature? You may or may not need an interview

I imagine there are quite a few people applying for a British passport late in life since Brexit. I have dual citizenship and have never bothered with a British passport, but I'm considering it now because the DC are British only and it might be handy to have the same passport as them. When I checked on the website it did say that an interview might be needed, I guess just to check that you really are who you say you are rather than a need to explain why you haven't had one before.

@dementedpixie I did in fact do it online after talking to the lady in Post Office. Yes, I did have a countersignature to online photo (code from Snappy Snaps). I can track it as having been received. Just wondered what the wait time might be.

I did it in March

Very easy to apply online, even the photo booth. Give you a code to input online on the application for your photograph

My friend was the counter signature she works in a recognised profession and has a UK passport

I had to put her information in on my online application, and it contacted her to confirm who I was, and then give her some questions on how she knew me and asked for her passport number

I then got an appointment for an online zoom or something like that interview

It was a Sunday morning about 7 am or 8 am

It lasted about 30 minutes and you can't have anyone in the room with you, or any recording devices like an Alexa

The whole process from application online to getting my passport through the door, took about eight weeks

No bother at all

There's also text message and email updates at every stage. They will tell you when they received your documents they will tell you when your counter signature has completed their part

They will tell you when your application has been fully signed off, and when your passport is being sent to you

Appointment by Zoom! That's interesting! Saves travelling to wherever, I suppose. Thanks for that.

I did this recently, online interview that was really more of a lovely chat. After the interview I got the passport very quickly.

I didn’t do it recently (but during COVID). I think it took 3 ish weeks. No interview. I’m a naturalised citizen hence first passport as an adult, so don’t know if that makes a difference.

My sons had to go to an interview in central London. They were also asked details such as date of their DF's death and details of their grandparents, prior to the interview. Once they were there, the interview was quite short. They got the impression it was to rule out anyone trying some sort of scam involving illegal immigration. Most of the other people being interviewed were ethnic minorities.

This website compiles data from people on the web who report when they applied and received their passports and I use it to get a ballpark idea of waiting times.

https://www.passportwaitingtime.co.uk/uk-passport-reviews-14-07-23/

@YouTubeIsYourMotherNow Thanks so much for that. My passport office is mentioned there - and some responses have been less than a week! That really is good. I'm at least a third generation Londoner so hopefully shouldn't have any problem now they have my documentation.

Hi... I applied for my first adult ever passport (and I'm nearly 31), in June.. I sent mines and my mother's birth certificates away and got an email tonight telling me my application has been accepted and my passport is being printed. I didn't have to go for an interview bearing in mind me or my mum has never had a passport, I guess I was just a lucky one.

My passport renewal was thankfully quite quick, post office was odd that when needed to renew it it fell before being printed in 2000's so it was an older one than there system could use, but used the gov website and got it processed.
All in all very much appreciated with the Gov service.

@Megh92xx - that's brilliant news.

I'm a first time applicant - but a lot older than you! I'm not bothered about a passport really, but I don't have other photographic ID and in today's world it's becoming more and more important.

I've had to book an online interview on Teams, which I have done for August 14th. Hopefully then they'll print the email and send it. I don't really like them having my birth cert and marriage cert for so long, but I've paid for recorded delivery, so guess they're safe.

Maybe I'll celebrate my first adult passport by jetting off somewhere !

Did they ask you to send an original copy of your current passport.
For example I have an Italian passport but was born in the UK. And so I want to know if I will have to send my original Italian passport.

Thanks

@mindutopia Did they ask you to send an original copy of your current passport?
For example I have an Italian passport but was born in the UK. And so I want to know if I will have to send my original Italian passport.

Thanks