Passport interviews

[mads]

Just been for my interview, the receptionist had a broomstick up her a****. I had to sit still and look up so that she can verify my photo. Wanted to know why my foto is different to the way I look now, how long ago was it taken etc (all I did was straighten my hair ).

She said: " The rules are as following:
you cannot leave the building, ( Iwas tempted to ask what happens if there is a firedrill but kept my stum)
cannot read any paperwork you might have brought with you
switch your mobile off right now
and please be seated where you can be viewed (what is that all about?)

Any ways, got called for the interview and it took about 15minutes.
He asked me:
spell my full name and surname
Have I changed names recently - (well if you could call getting married 10 years ago recent)
Where was I born country and city
Husband's full name
Current address
Previous address
Who lives at this address with me
House bought or rented
Contact numbers on form (including area code)
If I put down an email address and if so what is it
How did I send the form
What did I post with my application
How did I send it
How was it paid
Have I got my documents back
On which basis am I applying for BP
When did I have naturalisation ceremony and where
Full name of mother (including previous surname), DOB and where she was born
Full name of father, DOB and where he was born
Name of sponsor and age
How do I know her and how long.
How many accounts/loans/credit cards/mortgages and where held

and that was it, my whole life summed up in 15 minutes.

I had to laugh, he said thank you for coming to the interview (like I have a choice).

all the best to anyone who still has to do it. I hope my journey to being british is now completed to BIA's satisfaction

[BLK235]

Thanks for sharing.

Very useful information.

[taliska]

mads that's quite funny those questions. I would need a cheat sheet as i can't let alone remember my own birth date far less for the year my parents were born. Thanks for the heads up

[momer79]

Hi mads,

In which city you had an interview?

Regards
momer

[mads]

It was in Leeds.

[momer79]

How long it takes to get interview letter after submiting passport forms?

[batleykhan]

About 6 weeks in total.

You get your passport a few days after your interview providing you are succesful

[mads]

Hi Momer
My letter arrived about two weeks after I applied for my passport.
I rang up and got a booking the following week. I will update when I receive my passport.

[Filipinas]

Mads,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I know that it might have been annoying for you to go through such an officer - but I must say that you have made it appear comic in someway. Great detail of what were asked- I just had my interview and generally asked the same questions that you had but in a very very friendly way (I'm lucky I must say). First of, I received my document and interview request letter on the sameday w/c is one week from the time it was sent through check and send. Great that when I called them up the immediate Saturday appointment was open.

I suppose before, applicants are just asked about one or two questions -but as how the interview flowed awhile ago, it appears that it's getting to be a bit of a longer standard procedure, to go through levels of questions. The officer asked me in a very structured way by defining each level as follows: - personal detail (name, dob, place of birth), home information (address, phone, email add), application procedure(how, where, when was the naturalisation, what were included), parents' information, countersignatory info, and lastly signature.

After the interview I realised that my life is 5 minutes shorter than yours- so that's how short my life is - hahaha.

They did tell me to expect to hear from them after 4-5 working days if not call them up if by 10 days there is nothing.

Thanks again and hope that you receive what you are expecting for early next week.

Filipinas

[mads]

Just a update, got my passport today it was issued on the 1st October which means it was authorised straight after my interview !!

[sidster007]

All,

Sorry to post this question in this forum but I didn't quite know where else to do so..so pls excuse me.

Is there a fast track process for the 1st British passport applications after you get naturalised and attend the citizenship ceremony??

I've been told that the process takes 4-6 weeks by itself as you need to attend an interview for your first passport application. Is there a way to do this quickly by paying extra??

Cheers

Sidster007

[keshgrover]

All,

Sorry to post this question in this forum but I didn't quite know where else to do so..so pls excuse me.

Is there a fast track process for the 1st British passport applications after you get naturalised and attend the citizenship ceremony??

I've been told that the process takes 4-6 weeks by itself as you need to attend an interview for your first passport application. Is there a way to do this quickly by paying extra??

Cheers

Sidster007

Sid, one day in forum and 7 different messeges on different topics. You have worked out yourself that it will take you between 4-8 weeks to get your BC. Once you got that sorted then you can apply for your British Passport and first passport has to be with normal procedure they do not do fast track for first time passport. So calm down and relax. Hope fully you will not miss your holidays in India which you are planning in December. BTW once you got your application approved for BC you can ask one council to send your certificate to another if they can do your ceremony bit early.
hope it covers all your questiones. lol. good luck dost.

[Filipinas]

Unfortunately there's none. Everyone has to go through the whole process the same way. Well, 4-6 weeks is just a service level commitment from IPS, that could go quicker than one would expect.

Just a suggestion, when you're done with the ceremony be sure that your application for 1st PP is ready to be forwarded. Use the Check and Send and the moment you get your Naturalisation Paper the whole thing will get rolling. Once you've gotten your interview invitation you'd be given a lot of IPS centres to chose from and their schedules, shortlist some centres and when you call the appointment office you'd be able to check which of those has the earliest bookable appointment. And that's it- that's the best way to shorten the waiting process.

Again, good luck.

Filipinas