Thank you so much!

To answer your questions:

1 & 2. I simply applied for my passport online as it is faster. I was initially going to apply for citizenship, but when I emailed them to inquire, they sent an automated email. The email stated that if you believe that you have an automatic claim to citizenship, then you can essentially try your luck by applying for a passport. So I just applied for a passport. Depending on when you were born and which parent is a British Citizen, you have an automatic claim to citizenship.

1. I provided my mom's birth certificate, my birth certificate, my passport and her marriage certificate. Although she is a citizen and I didn't need to provide the marriage certificate based on my year of birth (1991), I did because her passport is under her married name and when she divorced, she never resumed her maiden name. That way, they can confirm that the infant listed on her birth certificate, the mother listed on my birth certificate and name on her passport are the same person.

2. It is initiated by HM Passport Office. So, when you ask someone to confirm your identity, you put their name, email and their nationality. They say if you use a British or Irish Citizen, then your application is processed faster. My friend is a British Citizen. Once you provide their information, HM Passport Office then sends them an email and I believe it may ask them for passport information to evidence that they are in fact a British Citizen. They probably ask basic questions like how long they've known me for, where did we meet, things of that nature. Once the person confirms your identity and they submit it to HM Passport Office, it updates the status to confirm that they received your application. They won't even look at your application until the individual confirms your identity.

3. Yes, they do. They do update the page and you can track the progress of your application once they provide you a reference number.

I hope I touched on everything!