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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to get the rage trying to apply for passports?

83 replies

WexlerandMcGill · 21/04/2016 23:53

So,
We stupidly booked a holiday for 5 weeks time then realised the DDs don't have passports and that I have lost mine while moving house recently.
I have been trying to fill out the forms to DDs first passports and it is ridiculously difficult.
I need to find out all of the GPs dob, marriage date, place, etc. Then as I don't have a passport currently. Try to get their birth certificates.
We are not even in touch with these people.
I want to scream!!

OP posts:
TrashPanda · 22/04/2016 11:51

I have just applied for 1yo DS first passport. Didn't need grandparent details as DP born before 83, so just countersigned photos & BC plus our passport numbers on form. Sent it recorded but not check and send on 8th April. Text on 13th to say received. Text on 14th to say done and sent. Received on 18th along with BC. 10 days, I was so impressed.

whatyouseeiswhatyouget · 22/04/2016 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PurpleTraitor · 22/04/2016 11:57

I Was born after 1/1/83 but only just. DP was born before 1/1/83 but only just. Neither of us have passports. Neither of our kids have passports

Am I right in saying that means I have to provide all the documentation for me but no one else does for them?

Ironic because I am the only one who can't provide all that information (I have no parents and no contact with family)

Brummiegirl15 · 22/04/2016 11:58

I did check and send with post office 2 weeks ago for my DD. Gave to post office on the Tuesday and I had it through my letter box on the Monday. Didn't even pay for week service. Was dead easy

DataColour · 22/04/2016 12:01

I renewed 2 passports a couple of weeks ago and it only took 6 days through check and send.

LindorBunny · 22/04/2016 12:14

Purple traitor, if you try doing an online app it will show you what you need to provide.

It's fairly simple to provide the request info regarding family as most of it can be found online and you can get copies of birth certificates easily, although it's an irritating extra expense.

Original poster
WexlerandMcGill · 22/04/2016 12:47

Purple I would advise getting passports for yourselves before applying for DCs. As it will save you having to spend a lot of time and money researching and getting birth certificates for grandparents.
We are in a similar position. It's giving me so much stress I have been eating squirt my cream directly from to nozzle into my mouth Grin.
I am going to fast track mine when my certificate arrives then do DDs as soon as mine comes back.
I see the extra cost as my penalty for being so stupid!

OP posts:
PurpleTraitor · 22/04/2016 12:50

But I will have to get birth certificates for my parents in order to apply for my own passport, is that correct?

One is dead and the other has not been seen in 25 years. But I have to get their birth certificates anyway?

Original poster
WexlerandMcGill · 22/04/2016 12:51

Have you ever had a passport before purple?
I will look on my forms for you now, seeing as I have them with me

OP posts:
Arkwright · 22/04/2016 12:52

Give them a call purple they are very helpful.

Original poster
WexlerandMcGill · 22/04/2016 12:53

The parents details thing is only if your parents were born after 1982. So you should be fine with out

OP posts:
Ricardian · 22/04/2016 13:02

The parents details thing is only if your parents were born after 1982. So you should be fine with out

If you were born after 31/12/1982, then your right to a British passports requires that your parents be British citizens, hence the need for their birth certificates in order to get a first passport for yourself if you are under 34.

I Was born after 1/1/83 but only just. DP was born before 1/1/83 but only just. Neither of us have passports. Neither of our kids have passports

Is that "have passports" or "have ever had passports"? First adult passports when you haven't held a passport as a child and are now over 16 are a whole other world of pain.

www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/who-can-apply-how-long-it-takes

You may well need to attend an interview.

HidingUnderARock · 22/04/2016 13:17

Would I be a fool to pay the premium for the 1week service? I am seeing they can have a very fast turnaround
No not at all!
Recently had to renew DC's passport in a hurry (about 5 weeks) and everytime I rang and checked they said it would easily be back in time.
However, without going into the detail, they required another new full application, and then (after more reassurance) wrote to the photo witness without telling us there was any problem.
So the 6th time I rang, the story changed from "yes there will be no problem getting it in time" to "well we are still within our 6 week target (of 2nd form) and no you definitely won't get it in time"
It was all extremely stressful, and after sorting it out we had to pay the extra premium anyway to get it in time.

In case you think you don't have any of those issues, we are nth generation British, it was a renewal for which we returned DC's old passport, we had and included every single detail they required, told them the date of travel in the box, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with the photo witness and what he provided, the same as 5 years ago, same witness. They just misread it.

My friend also applying the same time, Feb this year, paid for the Post Office to check the form, but still got it returned as not good enough, and had to do it all again and pay the premium.

They can have a fast turnaround, but that doesn't mean they always do.

sportinguista · 22/04/2016 13:21

Just done DS online, a matter of days to get back, I was very happy!

Original poster
WexlerandMcGill · 22/04/2016 13:31

Hiding how incredibly stressful that must have been for you.
That's really is a passport horror story.
1 week service it is!
It's sickening how much it all costs.
My mum only became British 10 years ago, I hope that doesn't cause me any problems.
I had had 2 passports before.
Isn't it horrible being a grown up having to be responsible for yourself

OP posts:
NotCitrus · 22/04/2016 17:08

I'm told they now always phone or write to the countersignatories for first child passports - certainly they have for everyone I know.

Luckily even though ours was out of the country for 3 weeks, the Passport Office emailed to say that was the reason for the delay, and within 48 hours of him confirming to them, we had their passports - ours had been turned round in under a week.

Now planning first family foreign holiday!

PurpleTraitor · 22/04/2016 17:46

I have never had a passport than was just my passport.

I have only been out of the country on group passports. I am under 34 (by a whisker)

This is why I get confused

Original poster
WexlerandMcGill · 22/04/2016 17:54

Thank you citrus I will choose the countersign wisely so as to avoid delays.
I am being paranoid aren't I?
DH and myself are in a huge panic about it.

OP posts:
ilovesprouts · 22/04/2016 17:58

I did check n send good job as had to go back to ds1 headmistress twice but wen they went the came back in a week.

Homeriliad · 22/04/2016 18:13

Re the countersigning checks for children; it's not random - if you live in certain postcode areas they check the countersigs, if you don't then they won't check unless something seems suspicious. (I worked there until recently).

Ricardian · 22/04/2016 20:30

if you live in certain postcode areas they check the countersigs

Hmm, let me guess. I have my tarot cards spread out, and I"m feeling...oh...let me think...B12...hmm, another turn of the cards...hmm...E1W and E14...hmm...cards again...S60...it's coming to me now...OL11.

LIZS · 22/04/2016 20:38

£30 for a birth certificate Confused last time I needed one it was less than £10. Are you using the .gov websites?

IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst · 22/04/2016 21:27

We've always been lucky with British passports (DH and two kids) - best one was renewing DH - posted Thursday, new passport arrived in our letter box Monday morning!

Mistigri · 22/04/2016 21:54

There have to be appropriate checks in place for people applying for first passports - the passport office has to check that the applicant has a right to a passport (this is not always a simple question to answer - my British children will not have the right to pass on their British citizenship to their own children).

However, after the awful mess of a couple of years ago, the passport office seems very efficient right now - we live abroad and it just took me a whole 9 days to renew a passport. (That's 9 days between posting the application form and photos from France, and receiving the new passport by courier - so the passport office actually turned the application around in under a week - I was very pleasantly surprised).

MissMooMoo · 22/04/2016 22:00

can't your dp/dh apply if he has a current passport?

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