First passports

[icanbewhatiwant]

Has anyone else applied for a first adult passport recently? Will I really need an interview as it suggests?
When I started my application I ticked the yes box when it asked if I'd had a passport before as I had a one year passport in 1995 but then it asked what my passport number was, I threw it out 23 years ago so no idea on number. So I decided to just tick the "not had passport" box. Now I'm wishing I hadn't ticked it, now that I have read I'll need an interview.
I have been invited to France with my 9 year old in May. The flights are almost booked. I'm thinking it will be ages before I get a passport with interviews involved.
I'm tempted to just book the flights and hope the passports are sorted.
Has anyone done this recently?

Do you not go on and book the appointment online?

I got my first adult passport in October. I had to go for an interview before I got. It doesn't take that long, I received my passport within a few days of my interview.

I had to upload a digital photo. I think that is quite new, no option to print and send photos by post (I applied for my 9 year old at the same time and his was print out and send photos) I had to provide an email address for the person signing to say I'm who I say I am.
It didn't tell me till after that I may need an interview.

Mrswx was it long from first sending off to interview? I have 3 months till holiday. I think that's plenty of time. I'm tempted to book the flights. They aren't expensive.

I got a letter about an interview, after I had applied and they had received it. I applied online but had to print application off and send it away with my counter signatories, photos along with my birth and marriage certificates - did you not have do this?

Sorry crossed post, it was well under 3 months, should be plenty time.

Thanks mrswx
The new way is to upload digital photos. This apparently has just started in the past few weeks.
I did the print out way for my 9 year old. But I couldn't do that for mine. Both done the same day. Then I had to provide email address for the person signing my photos. He said it was a bit complicated his end.

When I say signing my photos, I mean not the actual photos. He was emailed a copy of my photo.

With interview mine only took about a month in total

I would just make sure you send all the supporting documents they need or it will slow down the process, I managed to have my interview and get passport, before I received my DD's as I hadn't sent the stuff I need to have 🙄

Thanks for replies.
Only birth certificate and marriage certificate for me..I hope. Then a birth certificate and parent birth certificate for my son. All sent off so I hope the documents are correct. My older children have passports as they've been away with school. No problems with theirs.

You should def get them within 3 month.
Have a lovely time away 😊

I just applied for MIL's passport and as her last one ran out in 1982 they said this application would be classed as a first passport. The new passport came through the same day that she received a letter asking her to go to an interview. Confused (as she now had the passport) she called and they said the interview letter was in error and she wouldn't need to go. Apparently it's a very quick and easy interview anyway. They have offices all over so getting to one should be simple.

Oh and it took about 11 days to arrive too.

Thanks mrswx I have a husband that won't travel. Myself and my youngest have been invited to France with the village twinning group. So it'll be a great opportunity for us.

Thanks for that info damon.

I read people born before 1929 don't need an interview either.

I thought I'd add on here, incase anyone wants to know the answer. Yes I did get a letter saying I need an interview.
The most annoying thing is...my nearest interview office is 45 min drive away. They won't tell me how often appointments get released at that office, but they will tell me no appointments available in the next 4 weeks. They have suggested calling each day to see if more appointments are released.
Otherwise my next nearest office is the main one at Peterborough. That is about 2.5 hours drive away. I don't really want a 5 hour round trip for a 20 min interview! So I'll keep trying my nearest office for a week or so. I may have to give in and make the journey 😩

Oh wow that's really shit. We're in a pokey little village in the middle of nowhere in Scotland and we still have a choice of three offices, the nearest being about 20mins drive away. 40 mins is the furthest of the 3.
I hope you get your interview very soon. I'd be making a complaint if I were you. If they don't have adequate appointments for 4 whole weeks then they need to look into expanding their offices!

Have you really got several offices? I just assumed there weren't many.
It's annoying me that they won't tell me when they release appointments for my nearest office. They just say keep phoning and that it's a very small, part time office.
I think I'll go to Peterborough. I can drive to the train station which is 45 mins. Then it hour and ten on the train. Better than driving all the way.

Having posted that last message above, I have now got an appointment at my nearest office in a few weeks. Phew. Apparently the interview will be via video link and will take an hour. I wonder what they will ask that is going to take an hour? 😯