Silly questions about applying passport, need advise.

[tbbcuk]

I am applying my first British Passport soon.
I am going to use a A4 envelope to send my application as I don’t want to bend my certificate to fit their own small envelope. I wonder when they return my certificate, will they still fold it?? If I provide a return A4 envelope inside, will they send my certificate with my enclosed A4 envelope?

2nd question: in Part 4A: I born after 31 Dec 1982, the form then ask you to fill in parent detail, do I need to tick the box that 'I born outside UK' even the previous answer does not lead to this question??

3nd question: Do I need to send my Birth Certificate? Mine one is in my home country and I don't know I can even find it.

Last question, I am planning to send the application on my own rather than using check and send, as I was told check and send actually take longer to arrive. If I use Next Day Special Delivery, at least I can check online that the application has arrived safely. Anyone against doing this way?

[tbbcuk]

could anyone give me some quick advise, I know some questions may sound silly.

[Jambo]

1. Maybe yes. Maybe not. You can try.
2. No. If born after 1983, place of birth is not required for parents details section.
3. No need for birth certificate if you were not born British or in the UK.
4. I don't think C&S is delivered much later. Some PO might not send the application the same day but it would not more than 1-2 days difference. The main difference is in the processing time of the application and that depends on the number of the applications pending in that particular passport office.

[tbbcuk]

Thank you for your reply Jambo.

Is there more than one passport office? The envelope only have one address, which is Muillburngate House, Durham?

Once my application arrive Durham, will they re-send it to other passport office?

[geriatrix]

There are 7 regional passport offices and 35 passport interview centres.

[tbbcuk]

There are 7 regional passport offices and 35 passport interview centres.

Just want to ask, can I choose which one to send to?? (so to avoid London one as its always busy)

[Jambo]

You can just pick up another envelope. IPS distribute envelopes with different addresses to spread the demand. London might be busy (for interviews) but might have more staff so process time might be quicker. You are over thinking this too much. Send the application. It normally takes about 2-3 weeks to get an invitation for an interview.

[kindred_1st]

tbbcuk just so you know, I sent my appl via C&S and insisted that my cert not be folded and sent in the A4 Do Not Bend envelope I provided. The lady put up a brave fight but lost in the end.

My docs and cert came back today, in the envelope I sent them in (which had the pre-paid postage)