UK Passport interview

[PassportPanic1]

Not sure if I'm posting in the right place. I had an interview for my first passport and I'm worried I have screwed up. I was really nervous and had to think lots and correct myself. How will I know if I passed or failed?

I thought the questions were bizarre and I don't know how they are going to verify them. They asked for example:

How many train stops were there between your home and the passport office?

How long does it take to walk from your home to the High Street? Name the roads you walk along.

Name some of the streets near your house.

Describe the layout of your house.

How many people do you supervise at work?

Name the street your employer is based at.

What subjects did you do at school?

Will your parents move closer to you to help you with your baby?

I thought the questions were bizarre and I don't know how they are going to verify them.

I assume the questions are designed to make sure that you are the person whose name and address is on the application and that you're not stealing someone's identity.

Easy enough to look on Google Earth to confirm the ones about location/travel and check what kind of house your address is. If you said it's detached and it's actually a terrace, that would be a red flag.

They're not that bad. You should know the answers.

How can they verify what subjects I did at school and where my kitchen is in relation to my living room? And why is that important for my passport application??

I think it’s probably just your general manner that tells them whether it’s you or not. If you started reeling off the exact height of Salisbury Cathedral you might look a bit sus

Presumably they'll ask you similar questions at the interview and if the answers contradict that'll raise their suspicions and they'll need more to verify your identity.

Not sure I could answer them either, in my defence we have recently moved and I work remotely so only been to the office a couple of times in ten years. Lots of roads with similar names here too.

@2020cominatcha I hope you're right but I don't think I did myself any favours. They wanted to know eg the exact number of train stations from my house to the passport office and I didn't know, likewise they asked really detailed questions on admin processes at work and my answers can't have sounded convincing.

@titchy I don't know what you mean? I was asked these questions at my interview. Who else are they going to ask these questions as well?

I don’t know, I mean I couldn’t tell you how many train stations there are between my house and my MIL’s house, and I must have made that journey 50 times at least. I’ve just never counted them.

The worst that could happen is that they’re not convinced you’re you. If you ARE you (IYSWIM) then you’ll be able to do more to prove it. That would be a huge faff but they’re not going to flat-out turn you down or charge you with impersonation (of yourself?!?).

Ah sorry misunderstood! Maybe if you gave weird answers then you'd have had to have had an interview with someone else. A train expert perhaps?

Alternatively the person interviewing you is looking at a flat in the road next to you?

titchy

I applied for a credit card recently and for some reason it was flagged as potential fraud. I had to phone up and they asked the following
Name the 2 closest Primary schools to your house
Which is the closest supermarket?
Are there any large parks near your house?
Is the closest water source a river or pond?

Very odd but I passed

Maybe if you know all the answers you're flagged. If you look at them like 'wtf ' you're genuine.

Very funny @titchy maybe they were looking to move!

I'll try not to worry about it over the next few days and see if my passport turns up!

For me
Train stops - between 2 and 9 depending on the train
Walk to the High Street - 15 minutes but I have a free bus pass so I don't
Name the street your employer is based at - It isn't on a street it is in it's own land with it's own postcode.

I had similar questions offer where do you shop what's next door l look back and l got some things wrong but it was ok they don't say you got that wrong.
As someone said they are just trying to confirm you are who you say you are.

I remember mine. I literally answered "fuck, I dont know...oh apologies" to the question name the secondary schools in your area. 🤣

My panic is over - got an email to say my passport is on its way. Phew!

Congratulations