Childrens Passport Question

GobbledyGook

peachyprice wrote: »

No I don't thnk they do, infact they don't even ask if it's the childs main residence, all it says is the address you provided will only be used for correspondence and return of documents .

All you put on the forms is name, DOB, address (which you don't even have to tell them when you move), parents names, DOB and passport numbers, date of marriage nothing else. I even got my ex's DOB wrong last time which they didn't pick up on. They don't even ask if you've divorced.

I'm quite shocked by that. I mean I know they can't do as many checks on child applications as they do adult ones, but you'd think they'd at least check the main residence is the same on things like benefits as on the application. Seems strange to me.

Lunar_Eclipse

rileydog wrote: »

My friend is currently going through the process. The child lives solely with her and has done since she was around a year old (8 or 9 yrs old now). There are no formal arrangements with regards access but the child does see her Dad once a week. Mum went to get a new passport for a forthcoming holiday and it's been rejected by passport office as Dad refuses to give the old expired passport or sign the form to say he is happy for Mum to apply for a renewal as it was him that applied for the first passport the child had.

Only one parent is required to sign the application form and it can be a different one to the original passport (I'm looking at an application form now!) I therefore suspect the reason it was not renewed was solely because the old passport was not surrendered with the renewal request. Unless it is lost, it has to be sent in with the application form, otherwise the application is incomplete and will get rejected.

If Mum cannot persuade Dad to surrender it, I would tick the 'old passport is lost' box on the form (although you do need the issuing place and date info.) There must however be a lot of people who do not record this information somewhere safe, so I suspect they will be able to work without this info (but will probably treat the application as a first time round one requesting the original supporting documents such as birth certificate etc and it will take slightly longer.)

Lunar_Eclipse

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I'm quite shocked by that. I mean I know they can't do as many checks on child applications as they do adult ones, but you'd think they'd at least check the main residence is the same on things like benefits as on the application. Seems strange to me.

It doesn't matter where in the world you live though. The right to a British passport is purely based on whether you are a British Citizen or not.

Whilst we generally think of passports as something we need to go on holiday, they actually prove our right to re-enter the UK, if we leave.

peachyprice

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Only one parent is required to sign the application form and it can be a different one to the original passport (I'm looking at an application form now!) I therefore suspect the reason it was not renewed was solely because the old passport was not surrendered with the renewal request. Unless it is lost, it has to be sent in with the application form, otherwise the application is incomplete and will get rejected.

Yes, this is my feeling too. It certainly isn't the norm for this to be the case, quite the opposite. And certainly not something the vast majority of divorced parents need worry about.

Thinking about it logically, either parent can sign the form, they just have to have PR, you don't have to tell the passort office when you move and you don't have to tell them when you divorce, so really there's no way they can tell that when either parent applies for the passport they are no longer together, unless of course one of the parents has been in touch with the passport office to request a restriction on the issue of further passports, which also may be the case with Rileydogs friend.

rileydog

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Only one parent is required to sign the application form and it can be a different one to the original passport (I'm looking at an application form now!) I therefore suspect the reason it was not renewed was solely because the old passport was not surrendered with the renewal request. Unless it is lost, it has to be sent in with the application form, otherwise the application is incomplete and will get rejected.

If Mum cannot persuade Dad to surrender it, I would tick the 'old passport is lost' box on the form (although you do need the issuing place and date info.) There must however be a lot of people who do not record this information somewhere safe, so I suspect they will be able to work without this info (but will probably treat the application as a first time round one requesting the original supporting documents such as birth certificate etc and it will take slightly longer.)

The problem with this is that the passport is not lost, my friend asked the Dad for the expired one not expecting to have any issues. Dad is aware why it is needed and that my friend cannot obtain a renewal without it hence why he is refusing to surrender it so if my friend reported it as lost (which she wouldn't anway as she is not prepared to lie on a government form!) the Dad would know that she has lied to obtain the passport when the child jets off to the sun and, knowing him, would probably report her!

The 'lost passport' form even says "this form should not be used where there is a parental dispute over the possession of a child's passport".

I'm not saying this is a regular occurance, I was just pointing out to the OP the possible risk in letting the non resident parent apply for the first passport.

Jinx

rileydog wrote: »

The problem with this is that the passport is not lost, my friend asked the Dad for the expired one not expecting to have any issues. Dad is aware why it is needed and that my friend cannot obtain a renewal without it hence why he is refusing to surrender it so if my friend reported it as lost (which she wouldn't anway as she is not prepared to lie on a government form!) the Dad would know that she has lied to obtain the passport when the child jets off to the sun and, knowing him, would probably report her!

The 'lost passport' form even says "this form should not be used where there is a parental dispute over the possession of a child's passport".

I'm not saying this is a regular occurance, I was just pointing out to the OP the possible risk in letting the non resident parent apply for the first passport.

In this case I would report the passport as lost. Lets face it, no responsible parent would deprive their child of a holiday and cost their ex a lot of money for malicious reasons now would they??? Additionally lots of parents lose touch with their children, it could just be that couldnt it?

I think it is disgusting that parents use their children in this way. IMO the parent with most care should hold the passports regardless of who pays for them.

shiprob195

UPDATE:

I have just spoken to my exH regarding the childrens passports.

I asked him last week if I could have a photocopy of them. He agreed.

When I asked him today he is refusing to give me a photo copy unless I pay half the cost of the passports.....I guess I will have to stump up the money:mad:

I don't even need the passports. Its just I want to safeguard the renewal process in 5 yrs time.

peachyprice

How on earth can he justify that!

The photocopies will be useless for anything other than your records, it's not as if you can get any use out of them, silly man.

didodo

Have you already handed over the expired passport? If you haven't I suggest you hold it to ransom: price = photocopies LOL.

shiprob195

didodo wrote: »

Have you already handed over the expired passport? If you haven't I suggest you hold it to ransom: price = photocopies LOL.

Yeah...he handed me the expired passport for DS1 and the birth certs for both DS.

I will see how much money I have at the end of next week....I may write him a rubber cheque.....ha ha