Passport for son born in Canada

[banjo]

Background: I was born in Scotland, our son was born in Canada, and we are residents in the US. I haven't had a British passport in 35 years. Son will be applying for his 1st British passport.

1) According to the gov.uk website the application will take at least 6 weeks and"you may have to attend an interview for a first adult passport". Does it really take this long? My understanding is that original documents must be sent so I'm concerned about being without them that long. Is an interview likely? We are 800 miles from the nearest consulate.

2) Son's Canadian passport is expired. Does he have to get a new Canadian passport and send that (and be without it for at least 6 weeks) or can he send the expired passport?
"If you are applying from a country that is not the country where you were born. - please provide the passport or travel document that you used to travel to your country of residence"

3) Is vitalcertificates.co.uk a safe/reputable way for me to get a copy of my Scottish birth certificate?

[Just Wondering]

Most passports are applied for in the UK and take 2-4 weeks. When you add in international mail systems, you are looking towards the 6 week mark. Furthermore, there are busy/quiet times for processing. I would take the 6 weeks as a good guide.

If the HMPO require the passport in which your son entered into the US then you should submit the expired passport.

I cannot comment on vitalcertificates.co.uk as I have never heard of them nor have I used them.

If you are concerned about submitting the originals then read the guidance notes to see if you can submit certified copies instead. Considering your son has an expired passport and you don't have your birth certificate, I query why you cannot live without these documents for 6 weeks now.

[CR001]

Background: I was born in Scotland, our son was born in Canada, and we are residents in the US. I haven't had a British passport in 35 years. Son will be applying for his 1st British passport.

1) According to the gov.uk website the application will take at least 6 weeks and"you may have to attend an interview for a first adult passport". Does it really take this long? My understanding is that original documents must be sent so I'm concerned about being without them that long. Is an interview likely? We are 800 miles from the nearest consulate. All new adult passports require an interview, regardless of whether you apply within the UK or through a British Consulate/Embassy and originals have to be sent. It can take less than 6 weeks, depends on the volume they are processing and the time of year.

2) Son's Canadian passport is expired. Does he have to get a new Canadian passport and send that (and be without it for at least 6 weeks) or can he send the expired passport?
"If you are applying from a country that is not the country where you were born. - please provide the passport or travel document that you used to travel to your country of residence" Expired is fine and send his birth certificate as well.

3) Is vitalcertificates.co.uk a safe/reputable way for me to get a copy of my Scottish birth certificate? Please be very careful about using non official government websites (such as the one you have stated), they charge ridiculous amounts and often you get nothing or have to pay extra. For birth and marriage certificates etc, please use the http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ government website and they are very good at processing and providing what you ask for in a short space of time if you provide all the detail. I have used them many times and never had any problems or hassles.

[Just Wondering]

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ is apparently for E&W only. Scotland has a separate GRO: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk