First time applicants passport interviews
 

I've never travelled abroad before so never really owned or needed a passport, but I will be travelling abroad towards the latter end of the year soon, so obviously I am applying for a new passport.

Whilst reading and filling in the forms over the last few days - I noticed last night that and the very last page in a small paragraph that since March 2007, new first time applicants for passports are required to have an interview.

This interview will apparently help the IPS, confirm my identity.

Can I ask how this will help them as such, they already have as much information through the form you hand in to them? They already have a photo, declaring that this is a true likeness of me, signed and dated by a upstanding member of the community, I ask what is the point of the countersignatory, now that these interviews have come about.

The other thing which gets my goat is the part of the following paragraph in bold and underlined.

Taken from the IPS website:

To me I find it a little suspect that they are making applying for a passport, an extremely awkward process. Are they doing this so that people will find ID Cards more accepting? :rolleyes:

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Well applying for a passport should obviously be a controlled process as difficult to abuse as possible. There has been a significant amount of fraud going on when it comes to passport applications and presumably the powers that be feel this new process will reduce it. I'm in favour of making the whole process as watertight as possible and would support anything reasonable which achieves this aim. Relying on a countersignatory is open to abuse unless the ID of that person is verifiable. Whether these measures will work and/or there are additional motives behind the scheme, however, is another question altogether and nothing would surprise me frankly.

Given all the hassle people are having getting acceptable passport photos done these days due to the tougher rules, I wonder why they don't just combine the interview with a photo session.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Is that one hour at peak time, or one hour at off peak I wonder.

Presumably they have decided that it's now quite easy to forge paperwork, but not so easy to fool someone in person.

I wonder how they interview children.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

They are probably looking at ways of tightening the whole process up and this is possibly the simplest and cheapest way they have found at the moment.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

I understand the need for making applying for a passport water tight but why is there such a need for it being a inconvenience to travel?

Not to mention the cost implications, I am already paying the £66 passport fee (Which rises to £72 from Oct 4th 2007) plus £7 for the check and send service, with these interviews, I will have to pay travelling costs and more than likely parking costs.

Sorry but I find the whole thing just a tad cheeky of the IPS.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Well as I understand it more regional centres will be opening in order to reduce travel times. As for the costs, well sadly it's the price we're all having to pay in these days of global terrorism and the like. Whether we pay directly or indirectly, it's always the public who foot the bill.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

On Monday, I am doing the IRIS registration, that replaces passport checking all together. Has anybody done it? How long does it take?

I am a bit concern that my iris and fingerprint will be on a global database but I am fed up queuing at airports

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Mick, this might give you an idea what to expect in your interview.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/idcards/st...rc=rss&feed=11

Good Idea.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Not sure how that is going to avoid queues at airports tbh. Heard an immigration guy on the radio the other day explaining how new passport scans on entry to the UK are taking twice as long as the 'cursory glance' system previously used. Apparently previously when long queues built up officers would just waive people through without a care (hardly secure that eh!). Now that isn't possible but as usual no more resources or officers have been employed to deal with the additional pressure so queues are increasing greatly apparently. They interviewed a guy who arrived with his wife and 2 young children back at Heathrow at midnight 2-3 weeks ago who claimed the queues even at that time were huge and they were forced to wait for well over an hour to have their passports scanned.

Not looking good is it?

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

:omg:

---------- Post added at 09:33 ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 ----------

Don't you just loathe the arrogance of Home office officials. :rolleyes:

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

because the IRIS checking is a seperate lane, which is almost always empty since ( i assume ) very few people have gone for it.

Picked up a leaflet the other day about this, they claim it takes 5-10 mins to register + you need to take satisfactory evidence of you immigration status IN addition to your passport - not sure what exactly that means

edit #1 :You could start here

edit #2 : Seems web site and leaflet differ, web site says "You will need your passport, which provides proof of your immigration entitlement or status, and your boarding card"

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Agreed. Even if the total cost was, say, £100, this is £10 per year for a 10 year passport. 20 pence per week. 3 pence per day.

Seems a small price to pay for security.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

And can we trust the UKPA employee with our valuable ID data??

<Insert conspiracy theroy here> :)

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Is it heck a small price to pay - its a bloody rip off IMO, to go with the 'rip off' status that is attached to living in Britain today.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/...038442,00.html
Which do you prefer? 20mins inconvenience or 10,000 faked passports?

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Neither.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Sounds reasonable to me. I'm sure most people travel more than 20 miles to get to an airport to use their passports, people wouldn't say that's inconvenient

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Don't think its a rip off.

Canadian passports cost more, my wife just has had to renew hers. It cost $100 canadian but it only lasts for 5 years. So over the 10 years that a UK one lasts it will cost $200 canadian or £96 compared to £66 at the minute for a UK passport.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Well they wouldn't would they because they are going away for more than 20 minutes. You are missing the point - going 20 miles just for 20 minutes is a waste of my time and very inconvenient, what else could they possibly know about me that they need to confirm with me, they have my information, birth certificate etc etc and a declaration from an upstanding member of the community.

What are they going to ask me when I get there... For example

Is your name Joe Bloggs?

A: Yes. (It said so on the form)

Do you live at address B

A: Yes.

How can me saying yes in person show and prove and confirm my true identity?

Great - but I don't live in a Canada. So this information is irrelevant and I do think its a total rip off.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

I was thinking that too.
I mean, people are able to use the birth certificate of others etc to obtain fake passports in the past, with a photo on them which looks like them.
So how is having someone sat down and asking you the same information going to make a difference other than pretending to the public that the government are doing something about passport fraud... aahh there you go.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Good for you.

You quote mentioned living in rip-off Britain. I was pointing out it costs more in other countries. Sorry if it didn't suit your agenda.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Presumably because they will be asking additional questions about you that an ID fraudster probably wouldn't be able to answer. Yes they have your information and they need to know the individual in front of them applying for the passport is the person that information relates to. It's not going to be foolproof but still better than relying on documents which can be easily forged or obtained illegally. How do they know the person you claim signed your picture a) did sign it and b) is upstanding unless they've checked up on him/her independently (which I believe they do not always do).

Oh and BTW 20 mins of your time and 20 miles will pale into insignificance when you start travelling overseas :)

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

What it costs in other countries doesn't interest me in the slightest as I don't live in those other countries, so I am not bothered if it costs more or less. This is me not having an agenda, if you don't mind. :rolleyes:

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

I think that it's just another unreasonable burden on the average citizen that will have little real effect in the long run.

I've got local radio on at the moment. Of the last 5 ads:

One was threatening to crush my car if I didn't pay my car tax on time

One was threatening me with a fine if I watched TV without a licence.

One was threatening me with a fine if my business doesn't display no-smoking signs by the time the ban comes in.

One was threatening me that I'm committing an offence if I leave my child with a friend for a few weeks and don't let the local authority know.

What on earth is happening to this country.

---------- Post added at 13:11 ---------- Previous post was at 13:06 ----------

According to the Guardian article linked above they ask questions that they already know the answers because their government databases contain the info like when and where your parents were born.

I'd be screwed because I don't know actually know that info. I'm not adopted or anything - I'm just no good at remembering that kind of thing. You can guarantee that anyone who is trying to get a passport fraudulently will have found out all of the info that they need about the person that they're trying to imitate though.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Well I'm no ID fraudster (I promise :) ) but obtaining genuine passports fraudulently has been a big problem for the authorities. Whilst a fraudster could relatively easily obtain sufficient documents to obtain a genuine passport under false pretences it is much less likely that same person would also have the additional personal information the authorities will be asking for. There would also of course be the benefit of the interviewer being able to assess the body language and overall demeanour of the applicant (in the same way that immigration officials already do at points of entry) which might also assist greatly in revealing the true reasons behind an application.

In an radio interview I heard a few weeks ago on this topic with a senior official, it was pointed out that interviewees could be asked questions relating to a fairly wide range of information and wouldn't be expected to know all of the answers.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

But Osem, what additional information do they hold that you haven't already told them?

These interviews would not stop a genuine and true British citizen from acting in a dubious way by giving someone else their identity and their additional personal details.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

They have access to all sorts of personal data about us. Some of it given directly by us and a lot gathered elsewhere from other agencies. Whilst it's relatively easy for a fraudster to pretend to be someone else when answering questions in an application form it's not so easy to carry that off at an interview when the additional personal questions which are going to be asked are unknown and could cover a vast array of topics. My wife is foreign and if you'd ever seen the way in which IND staff question people they stop you'd know that they are very clever about the questions they ask, the way in which they interpret the answers given and how they detect/expose any inconsistencies. I guess they'll be doing exactly that.

Of course, this procedure won't prevent all passport fraud but it'll make it a lot harder than it currently is and that's the best they can do.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

But they will be known if someone acting in a dubious manner gives someone else their personal details.

I'm sorry but I just don't see how attending to an interview, in person, is going to prove who I really am.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

As I said earlier - I think that it's far more likely that I would fail this interview than someone who was trying to fraudulently gain a passport. You can bet that they will be a lot more desperate for the passport and will have probably put plenty of work in to prepare.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

As I said it's not foolproof but currently someone could probably obtain a passport in your name with the contents of your recycling bin if you don't shred personal stuff. That should no longer be possible.

Presumably it'll also be harder for internal fraud to take place within the passport service as more people will be involved in the verification process.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

If it isn't foolproof but causes more hassle for legitimate applicants then what is the point? The fraudulent applicants are always going to be willing to go the extra mile because they need it more.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

C'est la vie R1ch - sadly virtually everything we do is more complex, onerous and expensive than would be the case if everyone was honest. The majority always suffer due to the minority.

Found this btw:

http://www.passport.gov.uk/downloads...interviews.pdf

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Assume that the interviewer has done a small amount of research and the applicant (35 years old for example) seems to have been born in Bolton but moved away to Hull when he was 16.

A well researched fraudster might possibly be able to know that old address however if faced with the question ' what area of Bolton did you live in' would probably not be able to answer.

They might also have access to marriage certificates that show your fathers occupation. If he was a Electrician they could ask did you ever consider becoming a Doctor like your father? A non fraudulent applicant would answer, I think you have it wrong my father was/ is an electrician. A fraudulent applicant might be caught out there.

Simple questions that will easily identify a few fraudsters though I doubt it will be in this type of format.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

The IND have access to all database/information available about you so they will ask questions that only you, apparently, will be able to answer such as:

your bank account number & approximate balance
credit card provider
your mobile phone provider
who supplies gas/electricity/water
any county court judgements, when and how much
any outstanding loans/mortgages, the company and balance
what schools/colleges/unis you attended
your children/parents/brothers/sisters, birthdays, weddings
previous addresses over ten years or so
if you are a member of a professional institute, when you passed the exams and reg number
driving licence number and date passed

The plan is that they will eventually be taking your fingerprints, iris scans and DNA to register onto the new ID Card database as and when passports come up for renewal, and then when the database is compulsory.

The gov has a data sharing arrangement, although it seems to be only one-way, with the USA (not just for our citizens travelling to the USA), and the EU is currently approving the same for all EU countries.

This may not worry you, but the other "arrangement" in place is for inter-country extradition warrants. The country that wants to "nab" you only has to put in a request to the local police and they have no choice but to arrest you and take you to a court. The court has no power to examine the evidence against you - they must approve the extradition if all the proper paperwork has been filled in. So if your fingerprint looks a little bit like one that the american police have found at a crime scene, then beware!

I know everyone says "If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to worry about" - but all this makes me a bit nervous.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

That assumes that the interviewers will have plenty of time to research backgrounds and come up with things like area names but the numbers in the document above don't work out that way. Even if you include all of the managers as well as the interviewers and assume that they all work a full 35 hour week (even though it says that most positions are actually part time) 52 weeks a year (although obviously it won't be with sick/holiday/parental leave and training etc) and they all do nothing other than these interviews then they get about 10mins to research and do the paperwork for each case. They're not going to be able to dig up much of use at all in that time and really, by the time you factor the other things in it looks like they'll struggle to fit in all of the interviews, let alone any research.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

[QUOTE=r1ch;34333180]That assumes that the interviewers will have plenty of time to research backgrounds and come up with things like area names but the numbers in the document above don't work out that way. Even if you include all of the managers as well as the interviewers and assume that they all work a full 35 hour week (even though it says that most positions are actually part time) 52 weeks a year (although obviously it won't be with sick/holiday/parental leave and training etc) and they all do nothing other than these interviews then they get about 10mins to research and do the paperwork for each case. They're not going to be able to dig up much of use at all in that time and really, by the time you factor the other things in it looks like they'll struggle to fit in all of the interviews, let alone any research.[/QUOTE]

Well I guess that ultimately depends on how good their systems are and how competent the staff employed.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

It's governmental bureaucracy so yes, we're screwed.

I guess that in a few years time we'll all get to do this when the ID cards come out.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Probably :mad: but all they're interested in is appearing to be tough on such things.

If it all goes pear shaped the taxpayer will foot the additional bill as always :(

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Oh this is just great [/sarcasm] my other half is going to spain for 6 weeks at the weekend as part of her uni course. I've been tempted to go out there in a few weeks time to see her for a few days, however I dont have a passport of my own and never have (used to be on parents one many years ago) as I
havent left the country for some 12 years now.

It was going to be touch and go to get one in time on the old system (being holiday time partly) as I cant afford to apply until early next month anyway.

If I now have to take time off work to goto an interview somewhere then its just not going to happen :( as I wouldnt book any flights / ferries until I had the passport in my hand and to get good deals i'd have to book them abit in advance.

Seems like leaving the country is going to have to wait till yet another year

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

At 17 would I need to go for an interview? I mean I can't even afford to survive for a week so getting to somewhere an hour away could be a problem. I think I'll need to buy one before prices go up you see.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

No worries Al' Jamelijama - you'll get one easy.... :erm: :D

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Well, since I'm guessing it means one hour by car, it could take me a lot longer to get there since I don't drive.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Before I decided to leave the rat race I worked for a government debt agency for some years and I could get all your addresses, employment details, Tax and sickness/unemployment records in a matter of minutes by just knowing your national insurance number. If I only knew your date of birth and address it could take a few minutes more.
As I had access to so much data the safe guards in place to stop unauthorised trawling for confidential information were strictly imposed but the portals to access the data held by different government agencys have been in place for some time.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Bloody big brother and labour AGAIN !!!!!!! ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!


My daughter is in the process of renewing her passport and she has to have an interview.

The only threat to the country from her is her cooking, and I can vouch for her being born "n" bred in England.

Whats next????? Health and safty police fining you for farting in a public place???????

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Why does she have to go for an interview if she is renewing? At present it is only for first time applicants?

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

I have no idea at all m8, she told me the other week that she has to go for one.

When I speak to her next i'll enquire.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

Yes please! Can we have patrols on the London underground?

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

I posted this thread a week ago, the day I sent off for my first ever Passport, and I was over come by complete surprise this morning. I now have my new Passport, its took one week and not the 'Up to six weeks', which I was told could be the time it takes. So I didn't have to attend any interview after all. Looks like they haven't got the resources yet to make these interviews compulsory.

So those who said they were going to apply for a Passport, do so, you may just get yours within the week. (Using the Post Office's Check and send service, which costs £7). :)

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

That's pretty good considering the time of year and that its a brand new passport.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

HHHmmm - I've been toying with the idea of getting a passport, not for travelling, but for ID, as I don't have a driving license I have trouble with ID when asked. Might well do it sooner rather than later then.

Re: First time applicants passport interviews
 

They'll have a way of profiling applications so the ones most likely to change their stories on interview will get targeted.

As for the time it takes to complete the process - if you say it'll take 6 weeks but do it in 3, you get loads fewer complaints than if you say it'll take 1 week but do it in 2 :D