IPS Interview

Passport interviews Passport interviews are a new measure to protect an individual’s identity. Anyone aged 16 or over applying for a passport for the first time to have an interview as part of the application process. The interview will confirm that the passport application we have checked actually belongs to the applicant and that they are the rightful owner of that identity. Why interviews are being introduced Interviews are being introduced to the passport application process because: * Passport fraud and forgery are serious crimes that are becoming more sophisticated and more organised. Illegal immigration, ID theft and benefit frauds are often carried-out with the use of false or stolen passports. * The Identity and Passport Service has a vital role in reducing identity fraud, which is a major growth area for organised crime. Identity theft is particularly hard to detect as an individual may not realise it has happened to them until it is too late. * Banks, building societies and other organisations are now seeking photographic proof of identity prior to transacting business, with a valid passport increasingly being accepted. A misappropriated passport therefore can open the way to bank accounts, mortgages and many other services. * Confirmation of identity and entitlement to a British passport is at the heart of our operation. * Passport interviews are a major IPS initiative aimed at improving the integrity of the identity authentication and passport issuing process. * Working with others in Government and private-sector organisations, IPS is seeking to develop and share database information, building on the success we have had with our Lost, Stolen and Recovered passport database. * We work closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that individuals who apply for passports fraudulently, or use forged documents are stopped and do not profit from their crimes. Who will be interviewed? Only adults who have never previously held a British passport in their own name will need to have an interview; it will not apply to people who held their own passport as a child but it will apply to those whose names were included in a parent’s passport. The interview process Passport applications can be made using the standard application form, as now. Applications can be sent directly by post or by using the Check & Send service available at selected branches of the Post Office and Worldchoice travel agents. Regional passport offices will establish that the applicant’s identity exists and that they are entitled to a British passport. This will include checks with independent sources such as the electoral roll and address histories. This verifies a “biographical footprint” of identity and will be used later in the identity interview. At the end of this initial verification process, the applicant will get a letter asking them to telephone us to make an appointment for an interview at one of our 69 interview offices. Applicants will have a free choice of office in which to be interviewed, subject to availability of appointments*. The interview process will take about 30 minutes and will be conducted in a friendly manner, consisting mainly of asking applicants to confirm facts about themselves, which someone attempting to steal their identity may not know. All personal information used in the interview is destroyed shortly after the passport is issued. When will interviews start? The requirement to attend an interview is to be introduced gradually, starting with a limited service in April - not all first-time adult customers will be called for an interview initially. IPS will increase the number of interviews progressively throughout 2007. Customers not contacted by IPS within eight working days from receipt of a completed application form will not need to have an interview. *We will start with small-scale interviews in a limited number of interview offices and during this period customers will not have a choice of interview office. However, the location of the interview will be within one hours travelling time.