Applying for Child first UK passport from Thailand, do they keep the original docs?

[Millian]

Does anybody know if they keep all the original docs, including parents passports?

I also need to apply for wife's UK Visa, and wondering if we can apply at the same time? However, If they keep some of the original socs from Passport application, not sure if that's possible? 

[CharlieH]

Who is "they" that you are referring to ? Generally, if original docs are required, they are returned.

[Millian]

VFS Global, the company that processes Visa and passport applications on behalf of the UK government.

 

Are the original docs sent to UK, or are they returned at the time of application? 

[brewsterbudgen]

For the child's first passport, the originals are checked by VFS (Bangkok or Chiang Mai) and then returned, including any passports. 

 

Obviously for your wife's visa, they take her passport.

[KannikaP]

On 4/17/2025 at 2:43 PM, Millian said:

Does anybody know if they keep all the original docs, including parents passports?

I also need to apply for wife's UK Visa, and wondering if we can apply at the same time? However, If they keep some of the original socs from Passport application, not sure if that's possible? 

How can they keep the parent's passports. Do you mean just while the application is going through.

[KannikaP]

Slightly off topic, but relevant. My son in Dubai is renewing his 5 year old daughter's passport, online....no silly VFS involved.

He had to nominate someone who has known HIM for over 2 years, and sent them MY email. I subsequently got an email from HMPO which I started to fill in, only to find that a family member is not acceptable. An airline pilot...chiropodist, dentist, funeral director, journalist, pub licensee!, nurse, optician, Sally Army Officer, surveyor, nurse, photographer, trade union officer or travel agent are all OK, working or retired. 

Professions that are not accepted

You cannot confirm someone’s identity if you:

are a doctor, unless you state you know the applicant well (for example they’re a good friend) and you recognise them easily from their photo.

How silly can it get?

Luckily we know a Travel Agent.

[theoldgit]

On 4/25/2025 at 9:19 AM, KannikaP said:

Slightly off topic, but relevant. My son in Dubai is renewing his 5 year old daughter's passport, online....no silly VFS involved.

He had to nominate someone who has known HIM for over 2 years, and sent them MY email. I subsequently got an email from HMPO which I started to fill in, only to find that a family member is not acceptable. An airline pilot...chiropodist, dentist, funeral director, journalist, pub licensee!, nurse, optician, Sally Army Officer, surveyor, nurse, photographer, trade union officer or travel agent are all OK, working or retired. 

Professions that are not accepted

You cannot confirm someone’s identity if you:

are a doctor, unless you state you know the applicant well (for example they’re a good friend) and you recognise them easily from their photo.

How silly can it get?

Luckily we know a Travel Agent.

The rules who can, or cannot, countersign a passport application are clearly detailed in the application guidelines, including the restrictions on family members, the list of those who can is pretty extensive.

[KannikaP]

7 hours ago, theoldgit said:

The rules who can, or cannot, countersign a passport application are clearly detailed in the application guidelines, including the restrictions on family members, the list of those who can is pretty extensive.

Yes, but who makes the rules. Some of those persons seem very silly to me....a chiropodist but NOT a Doctor. A Sally Army Officer but NOT a Vicar or Priest. 

[KannikaP]

On 4/18/2025 at 1:20 PM, Millian said:

VFS Global, the company that processes Visa and passport applications on behalf of the UK government.

 

Are the original docs sent to UK, or are they returned at the time of application? 

I would say yes, the documents are sent, via Courier, to UK HMPO, all 32 copies of all the passport pages, even empty ones. I can understand that as some stupid Immigration  man had stamped Page 26 a couple of years ago, not in sequence with all the other in/out stamps.

Copies of Birth Certificates may be non-returnable, but not the Originals if you sent them. Even your old Passport is returned.

Why in these days of secure sending of documents is the post still being used, flying all those dead trees around the world.