British Passport application processing timelines (only)

[Lukky]

Has anyone been to Portsmouth office for the interview? If yes, can you please share your experience? I have mine next week. Thank you

I went to Portsmouth Office for my interview on 3rd Dec. There's a receptionist on the ground floor and he'll direct you to the lift on your right and the passport office itself is in the 8th floor. You'll be asked to switch off your phones when you arrive there and your letter will be collected at the desk and you will be told what to expect at the interview and the reason for it then you will be asked to sit at the reception for few minutes depending on what time you arrived. Then you will be asked to come for the interview which is just on the right of the front desk. I was only there with one other person and it's not busy at all. My interview took only about 5 mins.

[babyjake]

Has anyone been to Portsmouth office for the interview? If yes, can you please share your experience? I have mine next week. Thank you

[babyjake]

First Adult Passport
Method of Application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 12/12/2013
Date of application acknowledged by HMPO: 17/12/2013 (SMS)
Date of return of documents:
Date of interview Letter: 19/12/2013 (Dated 17/12)
Date of passport interview appointment: 24/12/2013
Date of passport receipt:

[ELKA]

Had interview today at Dundee. Nice guy, normal questions. What bank r u with, is ur mobile pay as you go or contract, where is your town u r from( west, east...... of country) he did admit he struggled to find it on map, mums name and if we have any credit cards or store cards. I had baby with me and he knew her name and asked how old is she.

Been told will get passport in next 10 days, even with all holidays.

I don't think they tell u u r gonna get passport they say we will let u know in 10 days if u dont hear please call this no.

Exactly what he said" You will get your passport in next 10 days, if not then phone"

[akhan25]

Had interview today at Dundee. Nice guy, normal questions. What bank r u with, is ur mobile pay as you go or contract, where is your town u r from( west, east...... of country) he did admit he struggled to find it on map, mums name and if we have any credit cards or store cards. I had baby with me and he knew her name and asked how old is she.

Been told will get passport in next 10 days, even with all holidays.

I don't think they tell u u r gonna get passport they say we will let u know in 10 days if u dont hear please call this no.

[ELKA]

Had interview today at Dundee. Nice guy, normal questions. What bank r u with, is ur mobile pay as you go or contract, where is your town u r from( west, east...... of country) he did admit he struggled to find it on map, mums name and if we have any credit cards or store cards. I had baby with me and he knew her name and asked how old is she.

Been told will get passport in next 10 days, even with all holidays.

[Ayyubi72]

Your credit file is the main thing they look at, ask questions and cross check.

[akhan25]

I reckon u r right seems they had my financial information as they asked to tell them howany credit cards and that stuff I forgot to say I have sofa on credit amd she was like is there anything u forgot to tell me regarding credit agreements and I was no I told u all n then she said wat abt maybe some furniture u bought on credit I said yh remeber now a sofa so they must knew my credit file.

[Ayyubi72]

I wonder how many have been refused passport after interview

If they are not satisfied with the answers given at interview, then they will carry out further checks to ensure that the passport applicant is in fact ther person who s/he claims to be. They may ask for some other documents or attend a further interview.

Its not like a refusal of LTR or naturalisation applications.

Passport interviews are not there to test your knowledge or to check how strong your memory is.

[Ayyubi72]

The person doing a passport interview knows nothing about what might have caused the delay. They are just there to tick some boxes, nothing else.

I don't think Blackhole will every have problem again. Whatever they may have wanted to clarify has been done and dusted and passport issued. It took them 23 months, and eventually they are sure that Blackhole is not that "bad guy". I would think that even if someone by chance had couple of details matching with a terror suspect or a hardcore criminal, they would carry out extra checks. Somone might just studied at the same college as a suspect, or name was somewhat similar to a suspect, or by chance thier part of name and father's name matches with part of a suspect's and suspect's father's name etc.

It does not mean that an applicant had exact same name and dob as a suspect. A mere slight match with someone might have triggered extra checks by HO.

Now the passport number clearly distinguishes between the two, and it has been recorded that passport number 12345 holder is MR A the good guy, British Citizen, and not the bad guy who is a citizen of mogamboland who is on suspect list.

[akhan25]

I wonder how many have been refused passport after interview

[quantumscience]

Congrats

Its good to know that finally they know you are a good guy

But it might have been worthwhile to have asked them what was taking all this time, since there may be something behind all this (the HO guys are professionals and they do things for a reason!), maybe a mistaken identity or something, which can come and bite you over and over again (I sincerely hope not!) in future too.

So given he/she was interviewing you, with the benefit of having them before you, you could have asked them for any info on this unusual delay and checks, so that at least you can get it cleared formally for good for the future at least now?

Just a thought.

[Ayyubi72]

Finally my long journey is over:

Congratulations.

[Heisgood]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt

Finally my long journey is over:

It took me 23 months to get my approval plus exactly 6 weeks to get the passport

Thanks to everyone who helped me, and good luck to who waits:


Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents: 16/12/13
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/12/13
Date of Passport Appointment: 14/12/13
Date of Passport Receipt: 17/12/13

I told you it would not be another 23mths ! Congrats, I also received my passport today as well...

[Heisgood]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Postal Self
Date of application: 30th Nov 13
Date application received by IPS: December 2nd
Date of return of documents: December 4th
Date of receipt of interview letter: December 4th
Date of Passport Appointment: December 14th | Very intrusive and fussy interviewer:shock:
Date of Passport Receipt: December 17th with Issued date Dec 15th


All the best to all applicants.

[moha1212]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt

Finally my long journey is over:

It took me 23 months to get my approval plus exactly 6 weeks to get the passport

Thanks to everyone who helped me, and good luck to who waits:


Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents: 16/12/13
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/12/13
Date of Passport Appointment: 14/12/13
Date of Passport Receipt: 17/12/13

Congrats , I genuinely feel happy for you

[viraj10]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: New
Method of application: Check& send (HOUNSLOW)
Date of application: 13th Dec13
Date application received by IPS:18th Dec 2013 (SMS received)
Date of return of documents:23rd Dec 2013
Date of receipt of interview letter: 23rd dec2013
Date Ref no obtained from IPS:23rd Dec 2013
Date of Passport Appointment: 31st Dec 2013( Crawley)
Date of Passport Receipt:03rd jan 2014 (printed on 31st dec 2013)

[Blackhole]

Passport for: Adult
Application Type: First
Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents:
Date of receipt of interview letter:
Date of Passport Appointment:
Date of Passport Receipt

Finally my long journey is over:

It took me 23 months to get my approval plus exactly 6 weeks to get the passport

Thanks to everyone who helped me, and good luck to who waits:


Method of application: PO Check & Send
Date of application: 6/11/2013
Date application received by IPS: 11/11/13 SMS
Date of return of documents: 16/12/13
Date of receipt of interview letter: 10/12/13
Date of Passport Appointment: 14/12/13
Date of Passport Receipt: 17/12/13

[SgtBellPepper]

First Adult Passport
Method of Application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 27/11/2013
Date of application acknowledged by HMPO: 03/12/2013 (received via SMS)
Date of return of documents: TBC
Date of interview Letter: 03/12/2013 (received 04/12/2013)
Date of passport interview appointment: 09/12/2013
Date of passport receipt: TBC

HMPO case officer called my wife and told her they're not happy with the fact that she submitted her application in her maiden name. So they asked us to resubmit in her married name (with marriage certificate enclosed), which we did on 11/12/2013 (special delivery). Got a text yesterday 16/12/2013 acknowledging receipt of the application. Let's hope it's all sorted out now and the passport isn't far behind!

[babyjake]

Method of Application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 12/12/2013
Date of application acknowledged by HMPO: 17/12/2013 (SMS)
Date of return of documents:
Date of interview Letter:
Date of passport interview appointment:
Date of passport receipt:

[!!!kartik!!!]

AN joint application
Eligibility criteria: HSMP(JR) 3 years + Tier-1 2 years + ILR (1 year)
Method of application: Post (first class recorded)
Date of application: 10/10/2013
Date of receipt by UKBA: 11/10/2013
Date of debit of fees: 31/10/2013
Date of acknowledgement : 05/11/2013
Date of approval: 12/11/2013
Date of receipt of approval letter: 15/11/2013
Date of Ceremony: 30/11/2013
Date of PP interview: 16/12/2013
PP receipt : 18/12/2013

[moha1212]

First Adult Passport
Method of Application: PO Check and Send
Date of application: 27/11/2013
Date of application acknowledged by HMPO:02/12/13 via sms
Date of return of documents: 12/12/13
Date of interview Letter: Never received one
Date of passport interview appointment: Booked over phone 13/12/13
Date of passport receipt: 17/12/13 printed on 13/12/13
Update : 13/12/13 a lengthy interview , about 50 questions took 20 mins , in a friendly way though , I was told that HMPO not busy at the moment , will hear from them in 4 days .
Immigration journey has ended today , took me 6 years 7 months and 2 days , It's been a slow excrutiating pain
I would like to thank everybody for help and support .

[jonjr023]

Hi All
Please can anyone explain what the passport interview is for ?
thanks

Mostly people will say just to identify you that you only applied the passport, though bit surprising?!

Sorry, this suppose to go to "General discussion after BC and Passport application"

okay thanks
because am applying for the First time application

[KMothPur]

Hi All
Please can anyone explain what the passport interview is for ?
thanks

Mostly people will say just to identify you that you only applied the passport, though bit surprising?!

Sorry, this suppose to go to "General discussion after BC and Passport application"

[KMothPur]

Hi All
Please can anyone explain what the passport interview is for ?
thanks

Mostly people will say just to identify you that you only applied the passport, though bit surprising?!