When an applicant for the British passport wants to go for an interview, they must endeavor to make a copy of their completed application form before submitting it. This would afford them the opportunity of reviewing the answers which were stated in the form.
Additionally, the applicant must strive to be confident in his/her responses (This really is very important!). No matter how probing or intimidating the questions might be, the applicant must realize that the person interviewing is not really after accuracy of response but to detect if the applicant is providing false information. There is a huge difference between the two. In my case, one of the questions they asked was what is the middle name of the person who countersigned. I did not know the answer to that question, even though I knew it started with letter “J”. So I explained to them this and they were fine with that.
For example, if the applicant has given false information regarding his current place of residence, then they would obviously have a hard time trying to recollect the address. This is why it is advisable to first and foremost ensure that the completed application form is photocopied and reviewed several times before the actual interview date.
The best way to prepare would be by getting used to what you are going to face at the real interview. So get a friend or a relative to ask these interview questions below, from you as many times as possible, and practice answering these questions several times. Preferably setup several of these sessions with different people, so that on the day of the real interview, you are so well experienced and confident, because you have practiced with a wide variety of people. Get these mock interview sessions to last for about 15 – 20 minutes at a time, because that is how long the actual one would take. Now it does not matter who you get an an interviewer because you are confident on the replies and also you are comfortable answering these for up to 20 minutes.
In regards to this, it is necessary to state that it is imperative that the application form is filled with as much accurate information as possible. Do not try to change details which you know can be detected without necessarily probing deeply.
For instance, if a person’s year of birth was 1976, there is no point trying to appear younger before the interviewer by quoting 1986. You would need to submit supporting documents like your certificate of birth. And such details can be verified. Just endeavor to be as honest and truthful as possible in your application so as not to run into any problems with the interviewer.
Once again, endeavor to understand that the aim of the interview is actually to establish if one is sincere and honest, and not to discredit your application based on certain perceived criteria like the applicant’s age, religion, marital status, educational background, and so on.
The candidate for the passport application should realize that even though the questions might be many they are not a test of any academic or professional knowledge. In fact, they are all personal questions which any individual can easily answer.
The interviewers are not really concerned if you cannot remember every detail, as long as you can prove to them who you say you are. For example, you might not know your landlord’s name if you only deal with the real estate agent. So if a question is made in this regards, you simply state this fact. As much as possible, avoid falsifying any detail or out rightly lying.
With these points in mind, there is a list of questions which are normally asked at the interview.
1. Full name of the applicant, which is to be spelt out
2. Date of birth
3. Your previous and current residential address
4. How long you have lived at your current residential address
5. Who is the owner of your present place of residence.
6. Whether your place of residence is detached or semi-detached
7. The full names of your landlord and the estate agent.
8. A brief description of the layout of the house where you are currently residing.
9. Who is living in each of the rooms of the residence, if it is a multiple occupancy residence.
10. If the house has a garden, what is its size and where is it located – either in the front or at the back.
11. The nearest shopping centre to where you currently reside.
12. Your mother’s date of birth
13. Your father’s date of birth.
14. What my parents are presently doing for a living.
15. The date of your parents’ marriage
16. Your email address/addresses
17. Your mobile phone number and who is the service provider? is it contract or Pay As You Go?
18. The exact location of your place of work
19. The closest landmark to your place of work
20. Whether your place of work is located in a shopping centre or outside
21. The full name of your company or employer
22. Descriptions on how to get to where you work; also an idea of how long it would take to get there
23. When do you get paid, either weekly or monthly
24. State how many bank accounts that you currently have and use. Include savings accounts as well
25. The bank account that you get paid with
26. How you get paid at your present place of employment – by cash, cheque or wire transfer
27. How many credit cards do you possess
28. If you have any other siblings in your family, or if you are an only child
29. If you have siblings who are your brother/brothers and /or sister/sisters
30. If you are not living alone, who do you currently live with
31. If you have children, what their date of births and ages are. Where were they born (which hostpitals)? how old are they?. Which school/s they go to (names of schools).
32. If you are living in a flat or in a house, and on which floor.
33. You could be asked to give a description of a part of your residence, like the living room, or kitchen.
34. If you are paying rent or mortgage in your place of residence.
35. Which high school did you attend, and from what period
36. Which college, university, or polytechnic did you attend, and from what period
37. How do you know the counter signatory, and how old he/she is
38. Where does your counter signatory presently work, what is their profession?
39. What the nationality of your counter signatory is.
40. When did you first arrive in the UK
41. When did you get your first job, What is your current job?
42. The dates of your other jobs, and the name of your employers in each of those jobs.
43. How did you send your application for passport – post office post, or online
44. List the documents that were sent by you with your application for passport
45. Depending on which of the passport offices that the interview is to take place, you can be asked the distance of that office from your place of work or place of residence.
46. If you drive, they could ask you the model, registration number of the vehicle that you drive, and whether you bought it or if it was leased. When is the MOT due?
47. Names of your friends in the UK, and where they live.
48. What your hobbies are.
49. When did you get Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
50. When did you get British citizenship
51. When did you apply for Naturalization?
52. Date of my naturalization ceremony and description of the event, was it public or private?
53. Do you have Broadband Internet, satellite TV? if so with whom?
54. What is your council tax band?
55. If you are a business owner, then are you self employed or do you have a Limited company? what is the name of your company? How long have you had the company for?