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:

The interview process

Passport applications can be made using the standard application form, as now. These can be sent directly by post or by using the Check & Send service available at selected branches of the Post Office and Worldchoice travel agents. Regional passport offices will then establish that the applicant’s identity exists and that they are entitled to a British passport. This will include checks with independent sources such as the electoral roll and address histories. This verifies a “biographical footprint” of identity and will be used later in the identity interview.

At the end of this initial verification process, the applicant will get a letter asking them to telephone us to make an appointment for an interview at one of our 69 interview offices. An applicant can choose any office, but appointments are subject to availability*.

The interview process takes about 30 minutes. It will be conducted in a friendly manner and will consist mainly of asking applicants to confirm facts about themselves, which someone attempting to steal their identity may not know.

All personal information used in the interview is destroyed shortly after the passport is issued.
* As the interview scheme is rolled out, we will start with small-scale interviews in a limited number of interview offices. During this period, customers will not have a choice of interview office. However, the location of the interview will be within one hour’s travelling time.

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?

[Osem]

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.

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.

[Angua]

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.

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.

[Osem]

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.

[iglu]

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

[JackB]

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

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

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.

Good Idea.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by iglu

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

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?

From 2009, fingerprints will also be taken from each applicant.

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

The Home Office minister Joan Ryan told MPs that though the plan might be a little inconvenient, "asking people to travel something like 20 miles to a 20-minute interview to protect their identity is reasonable".

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

[bob_a_builder]

Not sure how that is going to avoid queues at airports tbh

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"

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by Osem

... I'm in favour of making the whole process as watertight as possible and would support anything reasonable which achieves this aim. ...

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.

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

<Insert conspiracy theroy here>

Originally Posted by TheNorm

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.

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.

[Chicken]

The Home Office minister Joan Ryan told MPs that though the plan might be a little inconvenient, "asking people to travel something like 20 miles to a 20-minute interview to protect their identity is reasonable".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/...038442,00.html

"An estimated 10,000 British passports were issued after fraudulent applications in the space of a year"

Which do you prefer? 20mins inconvenience or 10,000 faked passports?