FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW FOR PASSPORT

[tezz7628]

just heard on working lunch programme face to face interviews are coming at the end of 2006 for people applying for new passports

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4379367.stm

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/press_240305.asp

==============

17 feb 2007

just heard this morning the above will start in april 2007 and from 2009 will also be used for renewals of passports

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6370627.stm

[Lyn]

How do you do a face to face interview with a baby[msnscared]

[Cruella DeVilla]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lyn
How do you do a face to face interview with a baby[msnscared]
[/quote]

[laugh][clap]Yeah how do you?

Luckily mime expires June 2006 so I will miss this if it happens.

[steph_goodrum]

It obviously had to happen sometime. I would guess it is when they are expecting to introduce biometric passports (or if not prepared by then in readiness) as you obviously can't just send off a form in future to apply if they need to take a digital photo or fingerprints.

I would imagine it's not actually an interview as such but an attendance at the UK embassy or one of it's appointed partners to collect the data required.

[blott]

Ah, it's people who are applying for passports for the first time ever.

Be interesting to see how they deal with babies and children but, presumably if their parents themselves already have a passport, hopefully this won't be a problem?

[tezz7628]

its saying the biometrics at the end of this year [msnwink]

[trevlad]

this is a good move in my book. only once every 10 years but should slow a few scamsters

[wilfy]

no doubt they'll add another tenner to the price for this priveldge.

[Jill]

I would like to know why the government has accepted a contract for the chip in the biometric passports to only be guaranteed to last 2 years when a passport is valid for 10 years.

If the chip fails after 2 years but before 10 years are the government going to renew the passport free of charge or are we going to have to pay out constantly every 3 years for a new passport?

[Pegasus928]

I heard a report on this on the radio yesterday. Apparently the human rights crowd are up in arms as it is likely to impose an unfair restriction on those on a low income.
Personally I would say that if your income is so low that you cannot afford to travel 20 miles for the interview then why would you need a passport in the first place. I see it as just another excuse for the do-gooders to jump on the bandwagon.
Pegasus