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UK-Yankee Forum > Moving and Immigration > Visas & Citizenship (Moderators: Ashley, Marlespo, balmerhon) > How to apply
D ec ember 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 , 0 9 :4 3 :2 0 A M
for your British passport after naturalising
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Author Topic: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising (Read 3980 times)
VMC How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « on: Ma y 29, 2011, 11:18:04 AM »
Although relatively simple on the surface, the instructions for applying for your first passport can be
vague. That in itself can be a bit annoying, but because even the most minor mistake can mean redoing
your application (including bothering your referee again) AND the internets seem to be rife with people
giving bad advice on it, I decided to make this simple, UK-Y guide. It can be used for people who are
applying for their first passport as Brits by decent, but the requirements and the actual form filling will be
slightly different.
What you need:
Passport appropriate photos (2 identical)*
Any current passports from other countries
Any expired passports from other countries which haven't been replaced by a current one.
However, you must include the passport you used to enter the country even if it is not your current
one.
Naturalisation certificate (the official one and not the ceremonial one that some councils give
out.)
Marriage certificate or deed poll documenting your name change if your name has changed from
your other passport
One professional referee (UK passport holder, professional or of standing in the community--can
be retired, known you for at least 2 years) Immigration
Money for the fee Visa Service
service.ukvisa.capit…
A black pen
We Provide UK
Immigration Service.
The form: Free Initial Advice On
0207 1001919
General advice:
Use black ink
WRITE IN CAPITAL, BLOCK LETTERS (unless instructed otherwise)
If you make a mistake, totally black out the mistake
If your referee makes a mistake, have him or her black out and initial the mistakes
Make sure that any signatures are within the borders of the signature box and do not touch the
edge.
Also make sure that the BLOCK CAPITALS in the other sections fall within the white boxes. If you
do not do this, the information might not get scanned correctly and it may delay your application.
If you are a naturalised citizen, you DO NOT need to fill out any information on your parents or
grandparents (section 8 ). This is for people who have citizenship by descent. Do not sweat this
section.
There are several sections that need to be dated. Don't miss them. If you're using check and
send, it will probably be picked up, but postal applications might be delayed if you miss these.
Be sure to consider checking the box for secure document return. (I think this is only an option with
check and send)
Make sure your referee writes the required blurb** on the back of one of the photos and uses
your FULL name including TITLE.
I think the form itself is self explanatory otherwise.

2. Using Check and Send:
Many post office branches offer this service. If you go to the Post Office website, you can find a branch
near you where you can basically have someone look over your form, photos, and documents and send
them off securely. They cannot guarantee that your application does not have errors or your photos meet
the requirements.
*Photo Requirements:
Most modern photo booths will take photos with the required background, of the proper size, and even
give instructions on how to centre your face in the frame. Photo shops will also usually know all the
current regulations. Some general advice:
Remove your glasses, if possible
Pull your hair back from your face
Keep your face neutral
The website actually goes into pretty specific advice on that, so it shouldn't be a problem for most people.
**The referee blurb on the back of one of your two photos
Quote
"I certify that this is a true likeness of [Miss, Mr, Mrs, Ms or other title and your full name] [signature of referee][date]"
Good luck!
« Last Edit: May 29, 2011, 01:07:48 PM by Legs Akimbo
» Logge d
VMC Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « Reply #1 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 11:23:20 AM »
If I've missed anything or if anyone else has advice, feel free to post. I will try to edit it in if appropriate
and possible. I may add information on interviews at a later date.
I didn't put costs down because these are subject to change too often. I am hoping to keep this as
relevant as possible for as long as possible.
Logge d
Mrs Robinson Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
British & Am e rica n « Reply #2 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 11:33:38 AM »
I Live He re !
Quote from: Legs A k imbo on May 29, 2011, 11:23:20 A M
I may add information on interviews at a later date.
I know we've at least a couple older threads out there somewhere with the passport/identity verification
R eputa tion: 95
interview info, but I think it'd be great for you to put up-to-date info about it when you've had your
O ffline
interview.
Gender:
Loca tion: Le e ds,
W est York shire
Posts: 14918
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In York shire 's
Gre e n & Ple a sant Ring the bells that still ca n ring
Forge t your perfect offe ring
La nd!
The re is a cra ck , a crack in eve rything
Tha t's how the light ge ts in...
- from Anthem, by Le ona rd Cohen (b 1934)
Anonymiss Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Junkie « Reply #3 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 12:20:50 PM »
As well as keeping your signature within the box, keep all other letters within the little white boxes. The
Re puta tion: 0
information is scanned and if anything falls outside of the boxes it could be rejected and hold up your
O ffline
application.
Ge nde r:
You must also include the passport on which you entered the country (if it is not your current passport)
Loca tion: London
should you be applying for a UK passport by naturalization.
Posts: 387
Logge d

3. MalcolmB Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
GoldMe m be r « Reply #4 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 01:04:32 PM »
Quote from: gretel44 on May 29, 2011, 12:20:50 PM
R eputa tion: 12 You must also include the passport on which you entered the country (if it is not your current passport) should you be applying for a
O ffline UK passport by naturalization.
Gender:
Loca tion: London
Posts: 624 What exactly does this mean? The first passport you ever entered the UK on, or the one you used most
recently?
Logge d
Anonymiss Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Junkie « Reply #5 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 01:23:06 PM »
I take this to mean the passport on which you entered the UK in order to settle.
Re puta tion: 0
O ffline
Ge nde r:
Loca tion: London
Posts: 387
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MalcolmB Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
GoldMe m be r « Reply #6 on: Ma y 29, 2011, 05:50:07 PM »
So...whichever passport you first entered with on your fiance/spousal visa?
R eputa tion: 12
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Anonymiss Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Junkie « Reply #7 on: Ma y 30, 2011, 01:14:28 PM »
Yes. Or work permit/visa.
Re puta tion: 0
O ffline
Ge nde r:
Loca tion: London
Posts: 387
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onetiger Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
O ve rlord « Reply #8 on: Ma y 31, 2011, 11:54:17 AM »
Thanks so much for this. I'm hoping to apply for my passport soon after I get my naturlisation (which
hopefully will be w/in two months), so this info will be invaluable!
R eputa tion: 2
O ffline
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Loca tion: London
Posts: 4032

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squirrellypoo Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Guru « Reply #9 on: Ma y 31, 2011, 05:31:14 PM »
You might want to add in the photo section about not smiling...
Re puta tion: 35
Otherwise, perfect! And I'd wish this existed when I applied for mine!
O ffline
Ge nde r: Logge d
Loca tion: London
Sum m e r 97 - first visited frie nds in London
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Sep 07 - ILR!
Ma rch 09 - Citize nship!
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VMC Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « Reply #10 on: May 31, 2011, 06:03:30 PM »
Quote from: squirrellypoo on May 31, 2011, 05:31:14 PM
You might want to add in the photo section about not smiling...
Otherwise, perfect! A nd I'd wish this existed when I applied for mine!
I put "keep face neutral" and linked to an extensive list of requirements which list not smiling as one of
them. But, chances are, if someone is going for a passport after being naturalised, they've had several
photos sort of along the same lines, so I was less worried about the photo requirements and more about
the actual form.
Logge d
Qube Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Newcom e r « Reply #11 on: June 03, 2011, 11:47:11 AM »
Thinking ahead, is it possible to apply for your first British passport after naturalisation if you aren't in the
Re puta tion: 0
country?
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Posts: 16
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VMC Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « Reply #12 on: June 03, 2011, 12:04:52 PM »
Yes. I think there are a couple people who were naturalised after moving back to the US who then
applied for their passports. I am not sure if it's the same process as someone who has BC by descent or
not.
Logge d
VMC Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « Reply #13 on: June 23, 2011, 07:04:03 PM »
Some clarification from the interview dude: do fill out stuff about your parents/grandparent in the box.
So I guess that is definitive.
Logge d
VMC Re: How to apply for your British passport after naturalising
Gue st « Reply #14 on: June 23, 2011, 09:30:22 PM »

5. My passport interview:
This is not going to be everyone's experience, but since this seems to be a BIT exceptional, I wanted to
make sure that it's not repeated.
I filed my paperwork 2 days after my citizenship ceremony. I heard back a couple of weeks later. I called
and was told they were all booked up. I called back in about an hour to find out if they had appointments
outside of London, and suddenly a London appointment had opened.
The woman who booked the appointment said that I would receive a letter which would say to report to
the passport office near Victoria. She said to disregard this map as first time passport applicants are
being interviewed at Hannibal House in Elephant and Castle. They hadn't changed the letter for some
reason. She sent me a map via email of E&C and how to get to Hannibal House. My appointment was for
2:45, and I was to arrive at least 20 minutes early.
Since I am not very good with London transport (at least not the Tube) on my own and Elephant and
Castle always seems to confuse me, I left really early. I got there around 12:30 after a fairly smooth trip
there. I spent almost two hours browsing the shops, drinking tea, writing letters... I would soon regret
this.
At about 2:20 I went up to Hannibal House and the security guard told me to wait there and ran after
someone going into the lift without clearance. He then said, "I don't know why they keep doing this to
people..." and explained that I was in the wrong place. I said no, the woman on the phone had told me
that it was definitely at Hannibal House. He showed me a notice on the door. He suggested I go to the
Victoria office and explain.
I somehow managed to navigate the Tube on my own (surprising myself) in sheer panic. I made it to the
Victoria office a little after 3. I complained. They filed a report. I was sweaty, nervous, and my eyebrow
did the stress twitchy thing. I hope that didn't make the interviewer wonder. After navigating security
(metal detector, bag xray), checking in on the first floor, then verifying I was the same person in the
picture, spelling my name, I was told to wait for my number to be called and went to a big room
(compared to the little cubicles everyone else was going to) for my interview.
The questions (that I remember):
Full name and how it's spelt.
Address
Email I used on form
How I submitted form
My phone number (I memorised it just for the interview...I can never remember it)
Did I pay for special delivery of documents?
What documents I sent with application
Country of birth
Place of birth
Have I received my documents back?
Am I a dual citizen?
Date and place of naturalisation
Have I ever been known by any other name?
How long have I lived at my current address?
Who else lives there?
My DOB
Husband's DOB
What bank account do I hold? How long has it been open?
My referee's name, occupation, and how I knew him
My name is a slightly unusual spelling, so he asked about that in a round about way.
He asked about my parents, and then mentioned that I had left that bit blank, and I explained I didn't
know that I had to fill it out, and the C&S people said I didn't.
I think that is it (not all in order). I had to sign a digital pad. He said I should hear back in a week, but
the woman at the info desk said 4-10 working days. He then talked about getting regular credit checks to
make sure no one has stolen my ID.
Crazy amount of stress to get the passport. I have to say that this has been the weirdest part of my
journey to become British. It's a bit like that film Brazil. I do have to say that the people at Identity and
Passport service were friendly, even if one of their members sent me to the wrong place.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2011, 09:45:28 PM by Legs Akimbo
» Logge d
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