Is there a way round "photo ID" requirement in conveyancing?

p00hsticks

user1977 said:

GDB2222 said:

p00hsticks said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

user1977 said:

What's the current turnaround time for a passport renewal? Might be simplest just to bite the bullet rather than ask around other firms and then have to start from scratch with whatever else has already been done.

 If she has the ID to get a passport, that should be acceptable to conveyancer eh?

As I pointed out further up the thread, the id checks required for a passport (after 30 years it's going to be classed as a new application, not a renewal) is going to involve, among other things, an interview with the Passport Office. It's not simply the case of waving a few bits of paper at them.

I’ve had a passport for decades, but I don’t recall an interview before getting my first one.

No, it's only (now) a requirement for adult applicants who haven't previously had a UK passport. Given the OP's MiL has been abroad before, I presume that means she had a UK passport - in which case it's a renewal (even if a very late one), so no interview needed.

That may have been true at one point, but not any longer. the OP says that the MiL hasn't been abroad for 30 years. If that means that her last passport was issued before 1st January 1994 then it won't be possible to simply renew it - she'll have to go through whole 'first time application' process, which now includes an interview. 

Trust me, I've had to go through this myself - if you look on 

Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) it says that (my italics0

Who can apply

You can apply for a first adult passport if all of the following apply:

• you’re a British national
• you’re aged 16 or over (or will be in 3 weeks)
• you’ve never had a UK passport before

You must also apply if your last UK passport was issued before 1 January 1994.

user1977

p00hsticks said:

user1977 said:

GDB2222 said:

p00hsticks said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

user1977 said:

What's the current turnaround time for a passport renewal? Might be simplest just to bite the bullet rather than ask around other firms and then have to start from scratch with whatever else has already been done.

 If she has the ID to get a passport, that should be acceptable to conveyancer eh?

As I pointed out further up the thread, the id checks required for a passport (after 30 years it's going to be classed as a new application, not a renewal) is going to involve, among other things, an interview with the Passport Office. It's not simply the case of waving a few bits of paper at them.

I’ve had a passport for decades, but I don’t recall an interview before getting my first one.

No, it's only (now) a requirement for adult applicants who haven't previously had a UK passport. Given the OP's MiL has been abroad before, I presume that means she had a UK passport - in which case it's a renewal (even if a very late one), so no interview needed.

That may have been true at one point, but not any longer. the OP says that the MiL hasn't been abroad for 30 years. If that means that her last passport was issued before 1st January 1994 then it won't be possible to simply renew it - she'll have to go through whole 'first time application' process, which now includes an interview. 

Ah, fair enough - though confusingly there are exceptions to that including:

"If we have enough information from identity checks, we will not interview an adult customer applying for their first British passport when they:

• are 70 years old or over unless there are any fraud concerns"

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interviews-overview-of-the-interview-process/interviews-overview-of-the-interview-process-accessible-version#Passport-interview

Gers

It may be of no help with the time problems but she may be eligible for a free passport:

https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

You can get or renew a British passport for free if you're a British national and you were born on or before 2 September 1929. You can also use the Post Office Check and Send service for free and get free secure delivery.

Murphybear

Firstly I sympathise with your problems having had them myself.  My wrangling was with the DVLA who were a nightmare.

Not having a valid passport or photo driving licence is not that uncommon but these days causes major headaches.  Your conveyancer should have understood that a 92 year old person who is partially sighted would not have a photo driving licence.  It is also not that unusual for someone like that not to travel abroad any more.  I know quite a lot of pensioners in that boat.

The bus pass seems to be the best way round this if you can find a conveyancer with a bit more sense.  

My next experience might help.

When I was struggling with the DVLA they said they could accept an official letter from the DWP for ID if I were of pension age but not if I weren’t.  The DWP do a lot of their own ID checking I believe before sending out pension letters.  If they will accept that it might solve the problem.  

 I had changed my name by statutory declaration which was why I had so much trouble.

Getting a passport sounds a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut so hopefully it won’t  be necessary.

I wish you luck, hopefully you can get it sorted quickly

ps When I worked at a University I dealt with a number of overseas researchers who had been offered research work in the U.K.  one from NZ said it took him a few months to open a U.K. bank account and he said the U.K. was the most bureaucratic country on the planet 

danthemoneysavingman

Gers said:

It may be of no help with the time problems but she may be eligible for a free passport:

https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

You can get or renew a British passport for free if you're a British national and you were born on or before 2 September 1929. You can also use the Post Office Check and Send service for free and get free secure delivery.

Damn, a few days too young for this! unbelievable haha

canaldumidi

danthemoneysavingman said:

......
My wife has power of attorney (not yet enabled but the paperwork is there), don't know if this can be used in any way?
....

Surely this is the answer? Your wife sells the house (I assume your wife has a passport and/or photo driving licence)?
Sorted!

user1977

canaldumidi said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

......
My wife has power of attorney (not yet enabled but the paperwork is there), don't know if this can be used in any way?
....

Surely this is the answer? Your wife sells the house (I assume your wife has a passport and/or photo driving licence)?
Sorted!

As I said above, the solicitors will need ID for the client. The client isn't the wife, it's mum.

TBagpuss

The requirements if sor the solicitors / conveyancer to verify ID so they should be able to work round it - but it needs someone willing to look at the requiremnt and make a decision abotu whethher that are satisfied. COnveyancing is a bit stricter as they need to satisfy the lender as well but I know my solicitors have a standarad process and then the compliance peroson respeonsibleble for anti money laundering etc can authorise on a case by case bsis where someone doesn't have the standard docuemnts. It comes up with divorces sometimes where someone has moved back in with parents so doesn't have any proof of their address, or with older people who don't have photo id.
It really needs the lawyer to be willing to confirm that they are satisfied of her identity, and things like bank statements, bills, a void cheque (relying on the bank having verified her identity) a pension letter (based on the assumption the government knows who she is) and in some cases a home visit to satiosfy themselves that she exists and lives at the address stated etc.

sammyjammy

Drawingaline said:

Passports are taking an age atm. My daughter's took nearly 8 weeks, and hers was straightforward.

Whereas mine took less than 10 working days when they suggested a ten week wait, very impressed.

lisyloo

user1977 said:

canaldumidi said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

......
My wife has power of attorney (not yet enabled but the paperwork is there), don't know if this can be used in any way?
....

Surely this is the answer? Your wife sells the house (I assume your wife has a passport and/or photo driving licence)?
Sorted!

As I said above, the solicitors will need ID for the client. The client isn't the wife, it's mum.

I sold a house for my MIL who was in a nursing home (as deputy under the court of protection). I don’t recall having issues even though she would have had no bills whatsoever. So no photo ID and no proof of address other than paperwork from the nursing home.
just sounds like the conveyancer being silly about a blanket policy.
best to check these things up front.