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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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.

OP posts:

DesolateWaist · 15/02/2017 00:06

No it wasn't Punt. It was about 5 years ago, 8 at most.

seventhgonickname · 15/02/2017 00:07

Last time we sorted passports mine and exh had expired and we were getting DDS first one.All forms filled,checked by post office,all sent registered together.After 6 weeks hearing nothing phoned to see how much longer told we needed to send dds birth certificate.We had.Then were told they couldn't process it as mother had no valid passport (my old one had be sent).Then(after MP got involved)we found our passports had be filed as they needed to interview DD(then aged7).They lost dds birth certificate,tore mine(took4 more months to get that back).Our MP was brilliant and we eventually got our passport sent seperate as issues sorted though at 12 weeks they decided my photo was no good,I got others taken,sent registered delivery and they signed for them and lost them!The ones that they said were no good were used after all and the then posted it and it was posted to neighbours by mistake who were on holiday so was not found until they got back.
I was a nervous wreck when we finally went on holiday,we applied 5 months before and I only got my passport the day before we went.

DesolateWaist · 15/02/2017 00:08

Adult would be about 32/33. It's definitely possible.

I know..........I was being funny.
Lord above, do you now have to add 'lighthearted' to individual posts these days?

OwlinaTree · 15/02/2017 07:33

Sorry, desolate, add a smiley or ! then we'll get it!

Nightfall1983 · 15/02/2017 08:33

Lots of knowledgeable people on this thread so thought I'd ask if anyone knows/can help:

Applied for baby DD's first passport. DH and I (both born after the magical 1983 date) are both British citizens and both passport holders and I included our passport numbers. DD born in Britain and I sent off her birth cerntificate with the application form as asked. It's been showing as 'recieved, processing' on the website for two weeks now which seems a while at this time of year - are they likely to be asking for more details??

I included the DOBs of all GPs but didn't know any marriage dates - are we likely to be asked for certificates??? I don't understand why it matters - so what if GPs aren't British (they are but still). Surely if I am British (with passport no less) and her Dad is also, and she was born in Britain then there is no question of citizenship and it doesn't matter about the GPs? I don't remember if being this complex when I applied for DS's passport 4 years ago - I remember how quick it was, in my hand in less than a week.

NickyEds · 15/02/2017 08:44

Possum, the interviewer at mine was very friendly and open -he made it clear that they weren't trying to catch you out, just verify that the details were you. Some of the questions I was asked were:

what does your house look like? Is it detached? How many bedrooms does it have?
How far away is the nearest train station?

-What is your nearest hospital?

Patents full names? where and when were they born? (I got my mum's birthday wrong-it was fine), when we're they married? (Got that wrong too)

-What does your counter signatory do? Where do they work? How long have you known them? How do you know them?

Do you have a bank account? Who with?

Then several questions about dp. As I say it was friendly and conversational if that would help your dd? I'm not sure if you would be allowed to accompany her?

DameSquashalot · 15/02/2017 08:45

When my status was showing as 'received, processing' for ages it was because they needed additional info. (When I first applied for my passport myself I spelt my middle name incorrectly! but decided to correct it so they thought I had changed it and wanted proof)

Hopefully it will be something straightforward. When they have everything they need it is very quick (usually!)

MissMooMoo · 15/02/2017 08:48

I didn't realise all this info had to be submitted! Due DC1 in May and would like to get them a passport asap.
DH and I both born after 1983, he was born in the UK to a British mother,father not on bc and DH has never met him, parents not married. His mother died in 1993.

I am a naturalised British citizen but my father despite being born abroad is a British citizen through descent (his father) I am unsure if my Dad has ever held a British passport.

Sounds like a minefield!

Nightfall1983 · 15/02/2017 08:51

Ahh, thanks dame. It says 'no action required' but I guess I better phone them today (hate phone calls!) as I'd rather know and get it sorted. It won't be a handwriting/ correction error as I filled the form in online - could be a spelling error or something higher though I guess.

TinfoilHattie · 15/02/2017 08:51

The law changed in the early 80s - after that date simply being born in the UK wasn't enough to make you British. You can only get a British passport if your parent(s) were born in the UK or have a British passport.

When I applied for my kids passports I didn't have to send certificates though, probably because DH and I were both born in the 1970s, and have UK passports since we were kids.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 15/02/2017 11:23

I renewed my passport last year it was a complete farce. Did it online so allegedly easier. Aye right. Came back 3 times with spurious errors. Last one I sent I took a picture of it this time. Looked at the picture few days later realised there was an error. Totally my fault this time...guess what. That day got a text saying my passport was on the way. The letters I got were shocking in their spelling and grammar. It was really bad so that doesn't surprise me in the op.

ShotsFired · 15/02/2017 14:44

To everyone complaining about the responses from the Passport Office, this is because they have outsourced all customer contact to a bunch of idiots called TelePerformance.

It's akin to asking for a callback from your GP and getting the filing clerk to phone you back - they might have a scant awareness of the terms, but (a) don't really know the ins and outs and (b) aren't paid enough to care.

hungryhippo90 · 15/02/2017 15:13

I just got letters from the passport office.

My daughters change of name deed couldn't be accepted as I don't have her fathers permission. They've told me to get it.. like it's that simple

I have also received a letter saying to send in my mothers birth certificate, then another telling me to book my interview.

I called. I've had to ask them to commence the application in her birth name, and they've told me that they "found" mothers birth certificate so I am to discard that letter!

Whoremoan · 15/02/2017 16:10

Can I just ask, if a teenager (15 yr old) has an already out of date passport, issued when they were a child and they need a new one with new photo, do they have to go to the passport office for an interview - or is this just if they'd never had a child passport at all?

diddl · 15/02/2017 16:33

Blimey, the stuff you have to send now!

Parent's birth certificates FFS or old passport FFS!

Yup, coz everyone can just stroll on down to dear old mum/dad & ask to borrow such stuff.

I'd be reluctant to send off my BC for anything that wasn't for me tbh.

hungryhippo90 · 15/02/2017 20:11

Diddl! This exactly.
When I tried to apply for my first passport aged 17, I was told that I needed to send my mums birth certificate. She hit the roof, how could I be so presumptuous to think that I could use her birth certificate. She flatly denied that I could use it. I told her that they'd told me I could obtain a copy. She again hit the roof. I lost the money because it wasn't easy at all to get what I needed.

This time (only 9 years later!!) I've procured a copy of my mums birth certificate, my dads birth certificate, my own and my daughters. It wasn't cheap to get them!

It's not easy at all. I don't understand why we need the proof, then the interview. Surely they'd have knowledge of who peoples parents are etc?

diddl · 15/02/2017 21:55

Our kids were both born after 1983 but I'm sure we didn't send any of our parent'sBCs .

What's the criteria anyway?

Can't you be British in your own right?

I get that it might depend on parents-but GPs???

SingaSong12 · 15/02/2017 22:23

I haven't RTFT.

I just wanted to say that one of the reasons that the first passport is complicated is that a passport can be used to establish citizenship and identity in many situations. Although other ID can be used organisations will often ask for two or three other documents instead of one passport.

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