First Passport at 70+

[Wrangler3]

A friend of mine who has retired to Turkey wants her 70+ year old brother to go and see her. He is keen to go, as respite care for his wife is available. However he has never held a passport before, though he was born and has lived in Yorkshire all his life. My friend wanted to pay for his passport but has learnt that as an over-70 and with no previous passport, he will have to make a visit to a passport centre in Liverpool to be interviewed which will entail the expense of an overnight stay and which is all but impossible for several reasons. Can this be true? What on earth is the reasoning behind such a daft ruling when they appear to dish out British passports to every thug and chav as can be witnessed in most Euro resorts and beyond? Is there any way round this if it is true?

[B00]

I dont understand your argument here to be honest.

What has his inability to travel to Liverpool for an interview got to do with who the passport office issue passports to?

I can assure you that if it was their first passport they'd have had to go to the passport office too.Just because your friend is unable to, that is hardly anybody elses fault is it?

[theshedman]

Hi, I don't think it makes any difference about his age. Anyone that applies for a first passport has to have an interview these days.

[redman41]

Tell him to Contact Liverpool Passport Office and they can advise him over the Phone.
Link below.

http://maps.direct.go...ude=-2.6807#mapanchor

[Wrangler3]

I didn't know that, thanks Shedman. I was led to believe that it was beause he was 'off the radar' as it were not having previously held a passport. And Boo, if the Passport Office insists on these absurd interviews which obviously serve no purpose, then they should make them easier to access. You might recall that under the old rules a Doctor or a minister or a JP etc etc known to the applicant would countersign the application, which was all handled by post.When his invalid wife dies he will be able to go to Liverpool as he can't get respite care for that.

[Wrangler3]

Thanks Redman - a helpful link. I shall forward it to my friend in Turkey

[theshedman]

Hi Wrangler, try going to the link below and click on whichever area is closest to him. That will tell him the nearest interview office he can go to. He should not have to travel as far as Liverpool for the interview and maybe that will make it easier for him to manage to get to.

http://maps.direct.go...sportinterviewoffices

[Old_Geezer]

After all, he might be a terrorist so he'll have to convince them it isn't so, so that he may be permitted to pay a fortune for a chipped right of passage, that should morally be his right anyway as a citizen of this country. Remember 711 changed everything, in that it gave authorities around the world the justification to have a field day.

[Wrangler3]

Thanks Shedman, thanks all.

[dzug2]

He's not a terrorist, fine.

But that's not the point. A terrorist (or more likely economic migrant) could be trying to steal his identity.

As a citizen of this country he does have a right to a passport (as do thugs and chavs BTW, you don't pick and choose who to gve one too). But just as they did he needs to prove he is who he is.

[Wrangler3]

Which is exactly the purpose of the JP, Minister, Doctor, Headmaster etc etc countersigning the application!

[Maydup]

THe countersignature still supports new or lost passports but the interviews were added a few years ago as an extra level of security. Beleive us, he's not being singled out,

Check the website to see if there are any exceptions or more local arrangements for disabled people.

[Wrangler3]

All answers have been helpful and I no longer think he is being singled out. though I admit at first, I was thinking that was the case. Thanks all.

[Dee Sa]

when my pal had twins she applied for their passports at six weeks old, their photos were rejected because their little eyes were closed so we had to keep poking them awake poor little mites until we could get the picture with eyes open, then she had to produce both boys for their interview for their first passport.Also didnt know until later that children's passports are for five years only not ten.