Passport Dilema

[puternut]

A relative of mine has applied for her son (aged about 13) so he can go on a school trip.

They have a short birth certificate for him.

She currently lives with another man - not the boys father.

On her own and the boys birth certificate her christian name is spelt as TANIA. However since an early age she has used the name spelt as TANYA. Without realising this she used the 'incorrect spelling' on the application form.

She is concerned that the application will be rejected due to this error.

Does anybody know what she might be able to do to ensure it will be passed??

An added complication is that he trip leaves in about 14 days!!

[EDDIE51]

I don't think the spelling will be a problem, what might be a problem is that the last time I heard the waiting time for a new 1st passport was 6 weeks.

[Bazile]

Might need to make a trip to the Passport Office , in that case eddie

[237SJ]

Tell her to phone and ask them - they are quite helpful
https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line

[dzug2]

I think a bigger problem may be the boy's birth certificate - the short one is no good on its own for a passport application

Has she provided other evidence of her own or the boy's father's nationality?

[boxtops]

why not, dzug? I only had a short birth certificate when I applied for my first passport.

[dzug2]

How long ago was that Boxtops? At one time it was adequate on its own but now (depending on when you were born) full details of your parents is needed. A long form birth certificate will do but other things - such as one of their passports - can substitute

Basically tightening up on proof of eligibility for a British passport

[puternut]

UPDATE

As per advice, she called the so-called helpline who said that will not accept it and she needs to change her name by deed-poll before they will!!

Slightly better news is that school needs to check all travellers have passport in 14 days - trip goes 4 weeks later in early May.

Not sure what she can do in that time thoughAy

[Peter Pedant]

Blimey I was told BCs werent evidence of identity ...
have they come back ?
( no computer footprint apparently )

dont know what she can do in the short term

in the long term - it can cause long term trouble speaking as someone whose Dad had his Christian names reversed on one document.
and it wasnt John Joe Smith either. He learnt not to use that one for anything as the first response was 'is this yours?'.

[dzug2]

xBlimey I was told BCs weren't evidence of identity x

They aren't. They are evidence that a Joe Bloggs was born.

Other evidence is needed that you are Joe Bloggs - and possibly also that Joe Bloggs is British.

[spudqueen]

Depending on when your relative was born she may also have to provide her birth certificate. I think that she would have been better off paying for the check and send service they do at some Post Offices. Too late for her now, but you could advise anyone else you know in the same sort of situation to do this.