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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Why is applying for a passport so tricky.

118 replies

sarahd123 · 14/02/2017 10:39

Hiya, I've recently applied for passports for me, my husband and my 3 oldest dc, it's the first passports for all of us, I've just received a letter from the passport office asking me to send my birth certificate for my oldest dc (he's 9) and my husband got a letter asking him to send his mum and dads birth certificates and their marriage certificate...we don't speak to his parents so can't get these, is this normal? My brother didn't have to do this when he applied a few years ago. We were all born in the U.K. As we're our parents. Thanks for any help.

AIBU Why is applying for a passport so tricky.
AIBU Why is applying for a passport so tricky.
OP posts:
BertPuttocks · 14/02/2017 10:44

You should be able to order copies of the certificates you need, so your husband wouldn't necessarily need to contact his parents:

www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

It all sounds far more complicated than when I last applied for my passport!

paddypants13 · 14/02/2017 10:44

It is normal yes. I don't know whether you would be able to apply for copies of your pil's bcs. If they have an advice line give them a quick ring and see what you should do under the circumstances.

Cannot believe they have written you was born on an official letter. Appalling!

Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden · 14/02/2017 10:45

You can get the certificates from the local Registrars office. You just need the names and dates.

About £8 each.

allypally999 · 14/02/2017 10:47

Yes its horribly complicated these days. We plan to not renew next time and just stop going abroad ... easy!

notangelinajolie · 14/02/2017 11:10

Yes, it's more complicated but reassuring to know that they aren't handing them out willy-nilly. I remember the days when you could go and get a 1 year paper family passport from the Post Office. My dad used to get one every year for our annual trip to Spain. No kids photos, simple ID check - no security check whatsoever.

OP you can get anyone's certificates if you pay for them. You don't have to be the person named on it. Available online from Registrars' office. Google will find it.

Twistmeandturnme · 14/02/2017 11:14

This kind of thing is why I always use the post office check and send service: they go through everything before it gets despatched so the passport office generally whip them out really quickly.

Am I the only one wincing at the letter you have received 'If you was born.....' instead of 'If you were born...'

PhilODox · 14/02/2017 11:19

Shock if you was born?
Is this really from UK passport agency? Or one of those online conshops that charge you a fortune to do the application on your behalf?

drivingmisspotty · 14/02/2017 11:21

Are you sure that your DH filled in the original form correctly? It seems odd they need evidence of your PIL heritage. Your DH didn't tick that he was not a British citizen by mistake did he? Maybe he could give them a call is unsure.

We just recently applied for the kids and it does say clearly on the form and booklet that you need to provide the (long) birth certificate for the applicant. So not a surprise you need your DS's. How else are they meant to check who they are?

I didn't find it particularly complicated tbh. Less ID than you need for a DBS check or school application. Finding someone who qualified to countersign and I had known long enough was a bit tricky but ended up asking a colleague who qualified as an engineer originally.

dementedpixie · 14/02/2017 11:24

You don't automatically get British citizenship from being born in the UK so they are checking that you are British due to where parents/grandparents were born. It is only complicated for a first passport and renewals are much easier.

Glastonbury · 14/02/2017 11:26

It tells you exactly what to send on the form. It's only difficult if you don't fill it in properly of don't send the right paperwork.

dementedpixie · 14/02/2017 11:27

We're any of you born after 1st January 1983 as that's when rules changed about who could be a British citizen?

JaniceBattersby · 14/02/2017 11:28

shock if you was born?
Is this really from UK passport agency? Or one of those online conshops that charge you a fortune to do the application on your behalf?

This.

Gwilt160981 · 14/02/2017 11:29

What demented pixie Said. About being born after a ceretain time in 1983.

dementedpixie · 14/02/2017 11:29

The Web address at the bottom of the letter is the .gov one. Op hasn't provided what the application asks for

PuntCuffin · 14/02/2017 11:41

I applied to renew mine online last week (different from a first application, and dead easy).
The confirmation email for that is full of spelling mistakes too and that was definitely from HM Passport Office.

Have to admit that I have never found it hard or had an application returned. The instructions about what you need are pretty clear and easy to follow. If in doubt, the post office do a check and send service for a lot less than the online scam services.

Original poster
sarahd123 · 14/02/2017 11:42

Thanks everyone, it seems despite reading the booklet a million times I've missed out that I needed to send mothers birth certificate aswell. Will try and apply online for mil's. I applied online for my bc and it was £25 Next day delivey, it's £9 something but it's a 3 week+ wait. We were all born after 83. I know it's not super difficult to fill in, I just feel a bit sensitive about it as pils are non contact with us (their choice) and I have zero contact with my dad (again his choice) so needing all their info brings it all up..I also hate official forms but that's just me. Thanks for everyone's help.

OP posts:
IAmAPaleontologist · 14/02/2017 11:48

It isn't that hard. Fill in details, send documentation. The documentation list is pretty clear. The online forms walk you through it really clearly.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 14/02/2017 11:48

That letter is riddled with spelling and grammar errors OP - are you sure it's legit? You've definitely sent your application to the right address?

ally renewal is online now and is as easy as pie - took me 5 mins to renew mine yesterday.

Whathaveilost · 14/02/2017 11:58

Yes its horribly complicated these days. We plan to not renew next time and just stop going abroad ... easy!

There is nothing complicated about renewing.
DS sent his renewal form off on aThursday afternoon in November. He got a text Saturday afternoon saying it was being processed. It got hand delivered on Monday and his old one arrived in the post by Tuesday.

My expierence was the same but I renewed in July.

Meluzyna · 14/02/2017 12:49

I've been renewing my passport regularly for more than four decades and it has actually got easier - these days you don't even necessarily need to get photos signed.
However, I am jolly glad that i bothered to get my kids their UK passports as soon as they were born because it does seem to have got a whole lot more complicated if it's for the first one. Don't you have to go and have an interview these days if you've never had a UK passport before?
www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/your-passport-interview

So it looks as if the OP still has a long way to go before she can leave the country.

allypally999 · 14/02/2017 12:52

I'll check that out thanks vonny - we were rejected twice last time (once for the writing which was deemed not neat enough and once for my photo where my mouth was fractionally open - so now I look like a miserable convict for 10 years with grim mouth which is not how I look when going on holiday!)

BreconBeBuggered · 14/02/2017 12:54

Had a passport but it lapsed years ago and is still in my maiden name. In the unlikely event of being fit and rich enough to afford to travel overseas, how complicated is a renewal likely to be?

dementedpixie · 14/02/2017 13:14

You can do the renewal online in your married name and send your marriage certificate as proof of name change. Shouldn't be complicated

SquatBetty · 14/02/2017 13:16

Brecon - it's very easy if you renew BEFORE your current passport has expired. Just a case of filling out a form and emailing in a new photo. But I have a feeling it's not that simple if your passport has actually expired before you go to renew it. I expect the Gov passport site can give you the right info.

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