passport interview questions

agarnett

bluenoseam wrote: »

NI number I remember easily, the bank account number & sort code I don't memorise due to being able to access them easily - and I only recall being asked one of those at my passport interview. I was however grilled on all sorts about my parents, including stuff which I don't remember anyway, I mean by the time I got my passport my Dad had been dead 15 years, how the hell was I supposed to remember his birthday!

Well if you were 15 when he died, then one might understand you surprise ! Otherwise, surely it is generally accepted that most people remember their parents' birthdays second only to their own ? And for passport applications, as a UK passport is itself the primary proof of ID in all scenarios once issued, and valuable primary proof of UK citizenship, obviously such things as being able to ID your parents to prove you qualify is important. Far more important than a NINo which simply matches you to a database of possible UK residents who have interacted with HMG for tax or benefit purposes. NINo's have been easy to get over the years. Bank accounts too. Passports are not quite so easy!

marleyboy

agarnett wrote: »

Otherwise, surely it is generally accepted that most people remember their parents' birthdays second only to their own ?

Not really. I have NO idea when my my Parents birthdays are, or indeed their age. My Dad left when we were kids and I could not care less when it is. My Mother I have to be reminded by the Mrs, which is appropriate as my Mother cannot remember when my Birthday is either. So not everybody knows their parents birthdays.

bluenoseam

agarnett wrote: »

Well if you were 15 when he died, then one might understand you surprise ! Otherwise, surely it is generally accepted that most people remember their parents' birthdays second only to their own ? And for passport applications, as a UK passport is itself the primary proof of ID in all scenarios once issued, and valuable primary proof of UK citizenship, obviously such things as being able to ID your parents to prove you qualify is important. Far more important than a NINo which simply matches you to a database of possible UK residents who have interacted with HMG for tax or benefit purposes. NINo's have been easy to get over the years. Bank accounts too. Passports are not quite so easy!

Nah I was 10 when he died, given my notoriously bad memory & the intervening time all I was capable of remembering was that it was at the end of April. Merely pointed out to the person interviewing me that while I couldn't remember his birthday I could tell them when he died - to which they just had a sheepish look on their face. They seemed relatively happy with that, it helped that I'd basically rammed it into my head when Mum's birthday was incase that was ths sort of stuff they'd answer.

That ladies & gentlemen is why I'm reminded of birthdays to which I'd normally offer a card/present around a month in advance - I'm actually that bad with them!

fierystormcloud

truthman007 wrote: »

I am amused by some of the questions

What's your account number, sort code, ni number

Do you think people can remember these detail.

N I number I can remember easily. Not my bank account number, or the sort code.

I cannot even remember my mobile phone number, and I have had it a year! :rotfl:

DCFC79

truthman007 wrote: »

I am amused by some of the questions

What's your account number, sort code, ni number

Do you think people can remember these detail.

I can remember them.

Rolandtheroadie

I know 3 bank account numbers, sort code and NI number. Also remember my Union Membership number.
I can remember a couple of mobile numbers too, but dont know the one i've had for 8 years.

pendragon_arther

I can remember all of my fourteen UK bank account numbers and sort codes, the three in the Cayman Islands and five in Switzerland, plus my twenty fake passport numbers in various nationalities. Strange, but I can't recall my mobile number.

photome

If you know the questions are coming why do you need to remember them, you take the info with you.

I remember my NI number but not my bank details but would always be in my pocket on debit card

bod1467

fierystormcloud wrote: »

I cannot even remember my mobile phone number, and I have had it a year! :rotfl:

In fairness, though - how many times have you had to call your own number?

agarnett

Actually, bluenoseam and marleyboy of course have a point - unless your parents have been around for you to celebrate their birthdays, then I can accept with hindsight that they won't be drilled in so to speak!

But naturally identifying your parents is important to prove your entitlement to a UK passport.

I lost a passport and was pleasantly surprised how fast I was able to replace it by post, but I was not only asked to provide my parent's dob's but their passport numbers too in the process! I felt a bit like a pensioner applying for a free bus pass which might only be issued if accompanied by both parents

I guess the more information you can provide to help them verify your bona fides, the more straightforward the application.

I was also told recently by a bank cashier that the rules at the bank have changed so that to open an account now, you need two forms of photo ID whereas 5 years ago a UK passport or UK photo drivers license were enough separately, I think?

The fact is that so much of our personal data has got into the wrong hands in the last 10 years (including HMRC tax credit claimant data - remember that?) that it was probably becoming too easy for crooks to get passports having created almost complete false identities by exploiting multiple identity security weaknesses in the banking, benefit, DVLA and utilities systems.

I noticed when I renewed my drivers license last year, that DVLA have aligned their renewal system with the UK passport office. Periodic drivers license renewals need updated photos, but as an alternative there is an option for you to tell them to use the current photo stored on the UKPA system for your new license.

Wouldn't it be awful if we had to assume that any Tom !!!!!! or Harry could get a UK passport as easily as they got a NINo for example ?

I think in some countries, that is indeed the case. I once met a long-term UK resident customer who had three passports as proof of his identity here in UK - none were British. I asked if he qualified for a UK passport and he confirmed that he did, but didn't need it!