New citizen - now trying to get first UK passport

Ok all, here's my followup.

I made a massive error in how I answered the questions leading up to the section about parents/grandparents.

The application is very straightforward, if you don't mess up like I did. I went back and read everything very carefully. I had chosen a 'yes' when I should have chosen a 'no'.

Once I chose the right thing, I still had to answer some questions about my parents, but it no longer asked me about grandparents and it did not ask me to send anything related to my family.

In the end, I sent my application off and paid the fee. My identity information was sent to the person who was a referee for my citizenship application, who confirmed my identity online. I had to provide a few details to him, which HMPO asked me to do anyways.

He did that within 1 day, and I mailed my documents off to HMPO Special Delivery. It arrived yesterday around 11am (less than 1 day later), and is in processing.

I had to submit only:
- USA passport I entered on (and any non-cancelled/expired passports, but I had none of those)
- Naturalisation certificate

I also included a cover letter, asking them to return my certificate in the 'Please do not bend' envelope I included. We will see if they do this. I wanted them to return my certificate unfolded!

Mine got sent back to me in a paper envelope that had been ripped and rained on.  So my nice new certificate is all wrinkled and looks like it's 40 years old.

Mine got sent back to me in a paper envelope that had been ripped and rained on.  So my nice new certificate is all wrinkled and looks like it's 40 years old.

That's horrible! Put in a complaint!

If we are able to do the application online - how does it work with the person who verifies your ID? For some reason, I thought we had to print out a form and have them sign a photo for it, all to be included with the US passport and certificate? But trying to read the instructions on the government website, I can't tell if we need to do this or if the physical form only needs to be done if you do a paper application???
How did it work for people on this thread?

Your give the name and email address of the person you want to use to verify your identity, and they are contacted via email. They have to affirm that the picture you submitted is a true likeness of you, verify how long they've known you, and confirm your address. It's all done online, no paperwork or anything for them to sign.

Your give the name and email address of the person you want to use to verify your identity, and they are contacted via email. They have to affirm that the picture you submitted is a true likeness of you, verify how long they've known you, and confirm your address. It's all done online, no paperwork or anything for them to sign.

Do you have to give their DOB, residence for past 3 years and passport number like with the citizen app? Or just name and email???

Do you have to give their DOB, residence for past 3 years and passport number like with the citizen app? Or just name and email???

Whatever they ask for on the application, but I don't believe I had to give their DOB.  I think when the person verifying your identity goes to the link, they might have to provide some personal information (such as DOB, passport number, etc), but I don't believe I had to give anything other than their name and e-mail address.  It was a few weeks ago though and I tend to forget things so I wouldn't swear to it.

Whatever they ask for on the application, but I don't believe I had to give their DOB.  I think when the person verifying your identity goes to the link, they might have to provide some personal information (such as DOB, passport number, etc), but I don't believe I had to give anything other than their name and e-mail address.  It was a few weeks ago though and I tend to forget things so I wouldn't swear to it.

Earlier this year I  validated the identity of my next door neighbor’s young daughter who was applying for her first passport. (Well, her mother was applying on her behalf). I’m pretty sure she didn’t have to provide my DOB. When I logged onto the application to validate the identity I did have to enter informational about myself including my passport number.

Whatever they ask for on the application, but I don't believe I had to give their DOB.  I think when the person verifying your identity goes to the link, they might have to provide some personal information (such as DOB, passport number, etc), but I don't believe I had to give anything other than their name and e-mail address.  It was a few weeks ago though and I tend to forget things so I wouldn't swear to it.

Thanks for that.
Question about timeline....I just did my ceremony today and the info pack they gave me had passport info. But it says that if you do the online form, they the passport office will print out and mail you the form so that you can sign it and send it back with your supporting documents.
I've not heard anyone mention this. Mostly people have said you do the form online, your referee does their bit, and then you are told you can send in the supporting docs. (I've not heard anyone talk about an interview, but I know it's possible.)

Did anyone have to wait for the passport office to mail them a print out of their form to sign? Or is this maybe an outdated thing that they just can't be asked fixing?


Also, do we need to send old US passports, or just the current/most recent one? All my UK immigration history is on my current passport, but its my 2nd one. Do I send in my first as well?

Thanks for that.
Question about timeline....I just did my ceremony today and the info pack they gave me had passport info. But it says that if you do the online form, they the passport office will print out and mail you the form so that you can sign it and send it back with your supporting documents.
I've not heard anyone mention this. Mostly people have said you do the form online, your referee does their bit, and then you are told you can send in the supporting docs. (I've not heard anyone talk about an interview, but I know it's possible.)

Did anyone have to wait for the passport office to mail them a print out of their form to sign? Or is this maybe an outdated thing that they just can't be asked fixing?


Also, do we need to send old US passports, or just the current/most recent one? All my UK immigration history is on my current passport, but its my 2nd one. Do I send in my first as well?

No, there's no paper form or anything involved. I filled out the online application, paid, supplied the email for my referee and just gave him a few pieces of info about me. Everything was done online. He confirmed, I sent my documents (naturalisation certificate, any unexpired/not cancelled passports which in my case was just 1 USA passport).

Any previous passports you held which expired, or were cancelled (e.g. your name changed and now it has holes punched in it, corner clipped, whatever) is not considered a current valid passport. So you should only need to send current, valid passports. Now, depending how you entered the country/what passport the visa in/how long it's been, it's possible you need to provide older expired passports, but you should really just follow the checklist given to you when you apply.

I did not have an interview, and I got my approval this afternoon. I have read somewhere (I actually think it was an official Home Office guidance for staff document) that naturalised citizens don't need to attend an interview, unless they can't confirm their identity.

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

Under the heading 'UK and overseas customers we will not interview'
"were naturalised within the last 12 months and UK Visa and Immigration service’s records confirm the customer’s photo identity and personal details (unless there have been changes to their name since they were naturalised)"

Thanks for that.
Question about timeline....I just did my ceremony today and the info pack they gave me had passport info. But it says that if you do the online form, they the passport office will print out and mail you the form so that you can sign it and send it back with your supporting documents.
I've not heard anyone mention this. Mostly people have said you do the form online, your referee does their bit, and then you are told you can send in the supporting docs. (I've not heard anyone talk about an interview, but I know it's possible.)

Did anyone have to wait for the passport office to mail them a print out of their form to sign? Or is this maybe an outdated thing that they just can't be asked fixing?


Also, do we need to send old US passports, or just the current/most recent one? All my UK immigration history is on my current passport, but its my 2nd one. Do I send in my first as well?

TwoWool answered everything exactly as I would have, so I would go with what he said. 

Thanks both. Although, the checklist provided me says to send the passport that I first entered the UK and ANY current or expired/non-cancelled passports.

So I think I'm gonna play it safe and send my old passport as well since it fits under "expired". I've put in a letter that I wasn't sure and was just sending it in case it was needed.

Thanks all. Congrats to everyone who has gotten theirs recently.

Thanks both. Although, the checklist provided me says to send the passport that I first entered the UK and ANY current or expired/non-cancelled passports.

So I think I'm gonna play it safe and send my old passport as well since it fits under "expired". I've put in a letter that I wasn't sure and was just sending it in case it was needed.

Thanks all. Congrats to everyone who has gotten theirs recently.

Yep, just follow the guidance.  Whatever you send them, they'll send back to you anyway so no harm done.

Shiny new British Passport arrived just now...only 8 days after I submitted my supporting docs.

Ya'll were right about the passport office being Jerks about how they Mail things though. Even though they say they will be mailing the new passport "securely" and I paid extra to them for "secure" delivery of my documents, neither if them required a signature. The new passport at least said not to leave in a safe place or with a neighbor, but my documents? Just basic tracked.
And while the fact that they ignored the return envelope I sent, they didn't even return the certificate in the plastic sleeve I had it in! They sent back the letter where I asked them to return things in certain conditions...but couldn't be asked putting those 2 pieces of paper back into the plastic sleeve that I provided.

Ugh. I will be putting in a complaint about what they call "secure" though.

Now just have to renew my American passport and no more paperwork like this for 10 years. Woohooo

Congratulations.

I hope your US passport renewal goes as smoothly.