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Original poster

Passport countersignaturies AIBU to think it's a ridiculous system

82 replies

cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 14:21

I'm trying to get a new passport, I lost my old one so need a countersignatory.

I asked my friend who is a GP to do it. I've known her for 20 years so i don't know her professionally. She agreed but the system couldn't recognise her details and she thinks it might be because she got married and her passport is in her maiden name. She tried to put her old name in but that didn't work. So she said to ask her dad, who I do know, who is a retired solicitor. The system couldn't recognise him either - he called them and they suggested trying his old address as he moved a few years ago. But that didn't work either.

I do have a couple of other people I can ask but it sounds like they need to have a current passport, be in a recognised profession obvs, not changed their name in the last 10 years and not moved in that time?? AIBU to think this is utterly ridiculous??

OP posts:
IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 17:34

Mumofnarnia · 30/08/2024 17:31

Well if they’re not professionals and are not required to sign someone else’s passport then they really don’t qualify to be commenting saying it’s never been an issue for them.

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Exactly.

Mumofnarnia · 30/08/2024 17:31

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 17:24

Apparently you can't say this, people will jump on you saying it's not true and they can keep their maiden name as long as they want on their passport because it doesn't matter that in reality its now not their name.

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Well if they’re not professionals and are not required to sign someone else’s passport then they really don’t qualify to be commenting saying it’s never been an issue for them.

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 17:24

Mumofnarnia · 30/08/2024 17:18

Yes I agree that it is a ridiculous system! Especially if you don’t know anyone that works in a profession.

However, what made your friend think they would accept a passport in her maiden name when she’s been married years. Once you change your name you need to update your passport or you cannot countersign.Also, I believe it does state somewhere on the list of acceptable professions that it has to be someone that is currently working in a particular profession and must not have retired.

Edited

Apparently you can't say this, people will jump on you saying it's not true and they can keep their maiden name as long as they want on their passport because it doesn't matter that in reality its now not their name.

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 17:23

ItsFineReally · 30/08/2024 16:59

Nope.
Changed my name upon marriage. Kept passport in maiden name as it had almost 9 years left on it. Driving licence in new name.
Caused absolutely zero problems and saved me 80 quid.
Less 'shit at admin' and more 'very efficient' in my eyes. 😊

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What about if there comes a time when you need to provide it as ID, but its not valid because its not your name?

Mumofnarnia · 30/08/2024 17:18

Yes I agree that it is a ridiculous system! Especially if you don’t know anyone that works in a profession.

However, what made your friend think they would accept a passport in her maiden name when she’s been married years. Once you change your name you need to update your passport or you cannot countersign.Also, I believe it does state somewhere on the list of acceptable professions that it has to be someone that is currently working in a particular profession and must not have retired.

ItsFineReally · 30/08/2024 16:59

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:41

Obviously I know you don't have to change your name oh I cant even be bothered turning the thread into a name change saga. I meant if your name is changed ffs. Anyone travelling in their maiden name and booking tickets in their maiden name shouldn't be but that's up to them if they don't want to pay the fee. But when they try and use the passport as ID for something else it doesn't count with the wrong name on it.

Nope.
Changed my name upon marriage. Kept passport in maiden name as it had almost 9 years left on it. Driving licence in new name.
Caused absolutely zero problems and saved me 80 quid.
Less 'shit at admin' and more 'very efficient' in my eyes. 😊

booksunderthebed · 30/08/2024 16:53

In Ireland you can get the police to countersign your Irish passport.

Getting a UK passport in Ireland I get local Irish people (usually a lawyer friend) to sign it, there has never been any hassle. So move abroad and apply for a passport from there!

Original poster
cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:51

CaptainClover · 30/08/2024 14:38

The system has a mind of it's own.

I had a request from a friend to countersign her son's passport. I have a new UK passport which I've used to travel abroad 3 times since I got it in January. I've also had the same name and lived at the same address for decades etc.

The system didn't recognise me. I tried my husband's, exactly the same details as mine, it accepted him.

Next week the same family asked me to do the big sister's passport. Tried myself again, nope. Tried husband, nope, his profession (economist) wasn't a recognised one this time. 😖

That is beyond ridiculous and also makes me wonder if maybe the profession does matter ?!

OP posts:
Original poster
cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:50

Thanks all, there's probably several people I could ask then, fingers crossed I find someone who the system works for!

OP posts:
Original poster
cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:49

Doggymummar · 30/08/2024 16:10

I've only ever counted signed on paper forms, guess it's computer based now is it?

Yes initially I thought it would be a good thing because my GP friend doesn't live close to me so it's supposedly easier to do it electronically. But now I wish they'd go back to having someone sign the back of your photo

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 30/08/2024 16:48

cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:46

Yes I do but I've worked there less than 2 years so they are not supposed to do it. I might ask though

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If anyone's willing to do it then just let them. The Passport Office are very unlikely to check.

Original poster
cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:48

Figment1982 · 30/08/2024 16:05

This really does seem to be a glitch on the system, nothing to do with who you have chosen. Can you start a new form or have you already paid the fee (presumably you have if you are at that stage?)

I have already paid and they've told me I only have until the 17th September to get someone to countersign. This is mostly my own fault as it's probably been 2/3 months since I first did the application. I just didn't think it would be such a palaver. I don't think you should have to pay the fee until someone has confirmed your identity

OP posts:
IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:48

Topseyt123 · 30/08/2024 16:47

Did you read my edit? 🤣

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No didn't spot that 🤣🤣

Topseyt123 · 30/08/2024 16:47

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:46

Did you read anything I said?? I SAID IF THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR NAME, NOT THAT THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR NAME. FFS.

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Did you read my edit? 🤣

Original poster
cadburyegg · 30/08/2024 16:46

KimberleyClark · 30/08/2024 15:26

Do you have a line manager at work? They can sign it.

Yes I do but I've worked there less than 2 years so they are not supposed to do it. I might ask though

OP posts:
IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:46

Topseyt123 · 30/08/2024 16:44

Wrong.

Nobody even needs to change their name on marriage if they don't want to. No need or requirement therefore to change their passport. They just need to make sure that they use the correct details as they appear on their passport, which should be a current one, not expired.

And I just cross posted with you too. 🤣

Edited
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Did you read anything I said?? I SAID IF THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR NAME, NOT THAT THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR NAME. FFS.

Topseyt123 · 30/08/2024 16:44

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:14

If you want to actually use it you have to change the name. Fine if it's sitting in a drawer. But signing someone's passport is also using it.

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Wrong.

Nobody even needs to change their name on marriage if they don't want to. No need or requirement therefore to change their passport. They just need to make sure that they use the correct details as they appear on their passport, which should be a current one, not expired.

And I just cross posted with you too. 🤣

Iloveshoes123 · 30/08/2024 16:44

JingsMahBucket · 30/08/2024 15:28

The signing procedure is stupid anyway. Is there another country that does this?

Yes Ireland definitely does it. I'm sure other countries do too.
I thought the UK system was really efficient. All someone has to do is get an email and confirm, very quick and easy.

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:41

Obviously I know you don't have to change your name oh I cant even be bothered turning the thread into a name change saga. I meant if your name is changed ffs. Anyone travelling in their maiden name and booking tickets in their maiden name shouldn't be but that's up to them if they don't want to pay the fee. But when they try and use the passport as ID for something else it doesn't count with the wrong name on it.

Oldfatandfrumpy · 30/08/2024 16:39

I recently 'signed' several passport applications despite not having changed my passport to my married name. I just did it all in my maiden name although I haven't changed details with banks etc and Experian is showing a soft check by HM Passport Office so that could be why

PeonyBlushSuede · 30/08/2024 16:36

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 14:24

It's not that they haven't changed their name, it's people you need to ask who have updated their passport like they should have. Someone married years ago with a passport in their maiden name has shit admin.

I sign passports on a regular basis.

Or they don't want to have to pay for a full new passport when may have years left on one in their maiden name.

When I married I had 8 years left on my passport - you can't just change the name you have to apply for a new passport and pay the £80ish as though yours had expired.

You don't have to change your name so I travelled on my maiden name for years until I had my son and wanted the same surname on passports for ease - then I still had a couple of years left on the old one.

They need a scheme where you can change your name without paying a fortune for a new passport - like they do with driving licences

Jaxhog · 30/08/2024 16:25

The problem is that there's so much fraud. A British Passport is very valuable to someone not entitled to one.

Gogogo12345 · 30/08/2024 16:25

Pippa246 · 30/08/2024 16:24

Just out of interest - how does this work if you change your name and then book a flight in your 'new' name but your passport has your previous surname - can you still fly?

Or would you need to book your flight in your 'old' name? and if you had travel insurance, would that also need your 'old' name?

so many questions !😁

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Just book in the name on the passport

Pippa246 · 30/08/2024 16:24

Gogogo12345 · 30/08/2024 16:07

No requirement to change name on passport or at all on marriage

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Just out of interest - how does this work if you change your name and then book a flight in your 'new' name but your passport has your previous surname - can you still fly?

Or would you need to book your flight in your 'old' name? and if you had travel insurance, would that also need your 'old' name?

so many questions !😁

FluffMagnet · 30/08/2024 16:23

IReallyCouldntThinkOfAUsername · 30/08/2024 16:14

If you want to actually use it you have to change the name. Fine if it's sitting in a drawer. But signing someone's passport is also using it.

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Come again? I married years ago, kept my name and have travelled extensively in the meantime and countersigned passports, using the passport still in my name (rather than bearing my husband's surname). Likewise I know of colleagues who have changed their name socially (including their passport) but maintained their maiden name in their profession. All perfectly fine and usual.

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