Passport Charges

[Dusty Bin]

I've heard that not only the charges for passports are set to go up at some point, but also you have to be interviewed rather than just filling out a form.

Is this true and when are any changes set to take effect?

[bekib86]

Hi, yes i heard it on the radio today also! you have to go for a formal interveiw where they decide if you are allowed to have a passport or not! Sounds a lot of hassle if you ask me!

[dzug]

This is (at least initially) for first passports only, not for renewals.

It starts in May and will be rolled out to all offices by the end of the year.

http://www.passport.gov.uk/news/news.asp?strAr eaNo=320&intelement=1374

[vehelpfulguy]

Passport fraud was all in the news a day or so ago.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idU KL208902520070321

It is estimated over 10,000 passports were issued last year to fraudsters.

This country has been so lax in the last 10 years in allowing in illegal immigrants, organized criminal gangs and so on that we now have thousands of people with UK passports who should not have them.

THAT is why you have to go for an interview.

Sugest you moan to Tony Blair for allowing so many undesirable people into this country.

[Dusty Bin]

Thanks.

The interview process will be phased in starting in May, I have gleaned from these two links, but when are the higher charges to be introduced?

[kempie]

If the Government is to be believed (ha ha) there should be no imminent increase in the fee due directly to the introduction of these extra security measures because they were planned (and costed) years ago.

These extra background checks and face-to-face interviews were first proposed and reported in 2005 (and meant to be active by Oct 2006), with all required extra funding coming from a two-stage fee increase. In Dec 2005 the full adult passport fee increased from �42 to �51 (+�9) and in Oct 2006 it further increased to �66 (+�15) to meet that requirement; this (it was said) would lead to no further increase 'til 2008.

These fee increases follow those implemented in Oct 2003 (+�9), Dec 2002 (+�3), Jan 2002 (+�2) and Dec 1999 (+�7) to fund machine readability, biometric development and incompetent management.

Of course, I don't believe the Government.


Is it really just over 7 years since a passport only cost �21?

[Dusty Bin]

Mmmm....

...no extra charges from the government. Surely not?