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Original poster

UK Passport office. Passport for sixteen year old. Blunder on their part...

143 replies

beigebrownblue · 08/11/2021 13:02

Not planning to go abroad, but DD will need a passport to go on A-Level field trip when it comes around so thought we would tick it off list.

She mainly did the application herself.
Went carefully through the list of people who could verify it online.

Lined up senior staff member who we'd asked for permission.

Verification email sent.

Rejected by passport office.

Explained once on the telephone last week.
Said they would get back to me in twenty four hours.

Sent again.
Rejected again.

Phoned up to complain.
Despite being a senior staff member who has known DD for the past six years in and out of school...as extra curricular stuff etc.

Passport office rep says 'no you can't use that as ...this person doesn't 'hang out with your DD out of school'.

I'm gobsmacked.

This application has now taken four months at least and they sent DD a letter saying if it is not verified in ten days we will lose the fee. (and have to start again presumably).

I literally don't have anyone else to verify.
Can't ask G.P as they are not doing it understandably due to Covid.
Dentist not doing it either.

Asked a few friends but can't use them as one doesn't have passport and the other does'nt have one of the professions stated on list.

Honestly, why isn't a senior staff member at secondary school good enough?

Do they assume everyone has a doctor or G.P in the family?

Anyone else had this,
it is a simple matter of clicking a link to verify photo.
I know the staff member at school said she had known DD for required number of years so

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

OP posts:
Original poster
beigebrownblue · 08/11/2021 14:05

@dementedpixie

Did she not have a passport before? A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature
No. It's a first passport.
OP posts:
Gliderx · 08/11/2021 14:07

What do your neighbours do? I'd just grab one of them who does something which sounds vaguely respectable.

CottonSock · 08/11/2021 14:09

For one of my kids the passport office wrote to my friend for verification. Maybe it was something like this and the teacher didn't reply / receive?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

16 year olds
Soontobe60 · 08/11/2021 14:11

@beigebrownblue

thanks but the bit I don't get is why the senior staff member isn't ok. It says 'teacher' on the list!

And why did the woman at the passport office refuse this as
'they didn't hang out after school'...
what?
Surely hanging out after school would be inappropriate

For 16 or over, they have to know the applicant in a personal capacity *You can only confirm someone’s identity if you:

are 18 or over
live in the UK
have a current UK passport
have known the person applying for at least 2 years (this is the adult making the application if the passport is for a child under 16)
know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally*

Original poster
beigebrownblue · 08/11/2021 14:12

@CottonSock

For one of my kids the passport office wrote to my friend for verification. Maybe it was something like this and the teacher didn't reply / receive?
The teacher received it and replied. I know because they emailed me this morning.
OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 08/11/2021 14:13

@beigebrownblue

The list clearly says teachers. After six years of secondary school, DD having known teachers and taken part in every ex curricular activity under the sun how come this isn't classed as knowing someone 'personally'?

There can't be many parents who go to the pub with their child's teachers surely.

And no, not everyone has personal friends who are lawyers etc....!

They DO only know your dd in a professional capacity though, unless they are also a family friend. I know hundreds of children as a teacher, all in a professional capacity.
Original poster
beigebrownblue · 08/11/2021 14:15

So this is social exclusion in practice then?
With Covid - even the dentist hasn't got back to me,
which is perfectly understandable.

Tried to explain to the guy at the passport office how pushed dentists are and he ended up arguing back...

'oh, I don't have problems getting a dentist appointment'...

...its' front page news mate...

OP posts:
peachgreen · 08/11/2021 14:15

They're not giving out duff information. It has to be someone who knows your daughter in a personal capacity. So when it says "teacher", it doesn't mean one of HER teachers, it means a family friend who happens to be a teacher.

RedCarsGoFaster · 08/11/2021 14:16

Honestly, stop trying to make a complaint and just find a mate who runs the or own business, works for the council etc - you don't have time to piss around here.

Does DD go to any out of schools events or clubs etc.

Bitch about it later!

dementedpixie · 08/11/2021 14:16

Dentist wouldn't be able to do it either if they weren't a friend outside of the dentist/patient relationship

inferiorCatSlave · 08/11/2021 14:16

A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature

Is this right?

DD1 is 16 and her child passport will have less than 6 months on in summer and we're considering having a holiday abroad.

The UK Gov site seems to be saying first adult passport we would need someone to sign and it says they know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally) for over 2 years.

I assume it will have to be an adult one for her at 16.

This could prove a bit difficult for her.

Previous passport someone at school has always signed - though it's been getting harder and seems to be more senior people each time.

Soontobe60 · 08/11/2021 14:16

@beigebrownblue

I've made a complaint.

By telephone.
They said they would ring me back in 24 hours.
The forgot.

Second phone call. Calmly voiced complaint.
Followed up with complaint in writing.
Thought it was a bit off not to get a response automatically.

Third phone call.

Took complaint down again,
they said they had 'forgotton' to respond to phone call and previous complaints.

Apparently they have no complaints procedure in place at all.

The person on the phone advised me to approach another teacher.

So that can't be the problem

sure all the teachers at DD's secondary school will appreciate me bothering them yet again with an email when they all have better things to do.

If passport office is giving duff information who is holding them to account then?

They aren’t giving you duff info though. The staff at school know your child through their profession! If your child didn’t attend that school, would the teachers know them? You’re flogging a dead horse, you need to find someone else who doesn’t work at their school.
RedCarsGoFaster · 08/11/2021 14:17

You're reading the list really badly if you think it's only GPs, dentists and lawyers.....

MonsteraDeliciosa · 08/11/2021 14:17

It's not a blunder in their part, but I appreciate how tricky this is for some.
I'm an ex teacher and had the woman in the local shop flag me down and ask if I'd sign for her DDs passport. The DD played with mine in primary and I hadn't seen her for years!

dementedpixie · 08/11/2021 14:18

A neighbour, a colleague, owner of the corner shop, etc

SnaccidentsHappen · 08/11/2021 14:18

They have probably told you to approach another teacher because the same one can't now say they know her personally, meaning take the hint and explain to the teacher they need to write personally not professionally. They won't be allowed to say that on the phone, calls will be recorded.

Soontobe60 · 08/11/2021 14:18

@inferiorCatSlave

A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature

Is this right?

DD1 is 16 and her child passport will have less than 6 months on in summer and we're considering having a holiday abroad.

The UK Gov site seems to be saying first adult passport we would need someone to sign and it says they know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally) for over 2 years.

I assume it will have to be an adult one for her at 16.

This could prove a bit difficult for her.

Previous passport someone at school has always signed - though it's been getting harder and seems to be more senior people each time.

Under 16, it can be a teacher that signs it. They’re verifying your identity, not the child’s.
dementedpixie · 08/11/2021 14:19

@inferiorCatSlave

A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature

Is this right?

DD1 is 16 and her child passport will have less than 6 months on in summer and we're considering having a holiday abroad.

The UK Gov site seems to be saying first adult passport we would need someone to sign and it says they know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally) for over 2 years.

I assume it will have to be an adult one for her at 16.

This could prove a bit difficult for her.

Previous passport someone at school has always signed - though it's been getting harder and seems to be more senior people each time.

It's only a first adult passport if they haven't had a child passport. If they have a child passport it's done as a renewal and doesn't need a countersignature unless they have changed drastically since the last photo
BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 08/11/2021 14:20

There can't be many parents who go to the pub with their child's teachers surely.

No but plenty who go to the pub with teachers who don't teach their child but still know them

dementedpixie · 08/11/2021 14:23

First adult passport:

You can apply for a first adult passport if all of the following apply:

  • you’re aBritish national
  • you’re aged 16 or over (or will be in 3 weeks)
  • you’ve never had a UK passport before

If they've had a child passport it's a renewal to get the adult passport.

ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 08/11/2021 14:25

A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature

Sorry this is wrong, I just renewed DS16 passport 2 months ago and it was a bit of a performance. Got it certified by a friend.

Try parents of DD friends or of other people in her class.

I hate asking too, but it's literally just an email link and takes 30 seconds.

inferiorCatSlave · 08/11/2021 14:25

Under 16, it can be a teacher that signs it. They’re verifying your identity, not the child’s.

The ones that singed didn't know us as parents socially - just through their jobs.

In fact I don't think Iwe'd even met the higher up that signed for DD1 first passport while she was at secondary - they had a designated person everyone was pointed.

We do seperately know teachers from Univeristy years but don't live near them at all.

Though I think next door runs his own bussiness - mighy be able to ask them - there's only a few of her friend's parents she known over 2 years but not sure what they do.

dementedpixie · 08/11/2021 14:26

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

A renewal at age 16 wouldn't need a countersignature

Sorry this is wrong, I just renewed DS16 passport 2 months ago and it was a bit of a performance. Got it certified by a friend.

Try parents of DD friends or of other people in her class.

I hate asking too, but it's literally just an email link and takes 30 seconds.

No its not wrong. I renewed my dds and didn't need a countersignature
BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 08/11/2021 14:31

Countersignature at 16 is down to how much they have changed since their previous passport was issued. If they can look at the picture and easily confirm it's the same person but 5 years older then no countersignature needed.

There's been a recent clampdown on inappropriate countersignatures signing for passports, I believe schools have been told not to do it. I know our school sent out a letter to that effect 2/3 years ago

ElftonWednesday · 08/11/2021 14:31

My neighbour has done ours before. She is a stay at home mum and doesn't work but was previously a trustee of a tiny charity- she put trustee - retired, and that was ok.