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

[beigebrownblue]

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?

Do you or your child go to a hairdresser / barber that is the owner of the business?

Someone that you may have known a few years ?

That would be ok .

Also what do DD’s friend’s parents do? If anyone is a nurse or works in a bank they would be your best bet. Or any tradesmen who have their own company.

Oh, and just to add, at least half if not three quarters of this list are knocked out due to Covid regulations. As they can't do this in person

They don't need to do anything in person. They just get sent an email and they fill in the form online. They don't need to see your DC.

Your best bet is always a friend since they have to know her in a personal capacity. Surely a parent from school is a nurse or a shop manager or runs their own business.

@Kitkat151

Are any of DDs friends mums nurses? Chances are one of them is

Or dads?

Kitkat151
Are any of DDs friends mums nurses Chances are one of them is
Or dads?

I really would like to see the statistics about the sex of passport photo countersignatories...

weve used a childminder in the past? do you know any of them... nearly all jobs fit into one of those on the list. what do your friends do for work? or your dd friends parents? im sure one of them will fit the bill.

My parents asked my headteacher and he did it for me.
Xxx

@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 it isn’t wrong at all. I have just done the same for my daughter at 17 and because she still looked recognisable no counter signature was required. It was very simple for us. No idea what happened in your case but maybe they had changed significantly between photos.

My profession isn't on "the list" but I've signed a number applications. Its fine as my professional registration is searchable.

Do you know any plumbers or electricians? They are (or should be) members of a professional body. Have you double checked self-employed friends? A lot of self employed people are often limited company directors rather than sole traders.

OP you keep repeating the same thing. A senior teacher is fine but they have signed that they know your daughter in a professional capacity which is not fine. No amount of complaining to the passport office will make any difference. The amount of people that can sign now is huge. Just post on Facebook can my one do a passport verification for me and you will get abut 30 affirmatives

@Sorrynotsorry2

Do you or your child go to a hairdresser / barber that is the owner of the business?

Someone that you may have known a few years ?

That would be ok .

Best suggestion I've heard so far. If the one I've asked next isn't accepted I'll try this thanks a lot.

@flippertyop

OP you keep repeating the same thing. A senior teacher is fine but they have signed that they know your daughter in a professional capacity which is not fine. No amount of complaining to the passport office will make any difference. The amount of people that can sign now is huge. Just post on Facebook can my one do a passport verification for me and you will get abut 30 affirmatives

I don't do Facebook. And I'm not going to post my child's details on Facebook for that reason thanks.

There is such a thing as safeguarding!

Mine are signed by my family friend who is a manager for a well known train company.

@flippertyop

OP you keep repeating the same thing. A senior teacher is fine but they have signed that they know your daughter in a professional capacity which is not fine. No amount of complaining to the passport office will make any difference. The amount of people that can sign now is huge. Just post on Facebook can my one do a passport verification for me and you will get abut 30 affirmatives

And does't that make a mockery of the whole thing anyway if any tom dick or harry on facebook comes forward to sign?

No wonder there is child trafficking in the world!

@cloudtree

Oh, and just to add, at least half if not three quarters of this list are knocked out due to Covid regulations. As they can't do this in person

They don't need to do anything in person. They just get sent an email and they fill in the form online. They don't need to see your DC.

I know.

However, try phoning up your G.P or your dentist and asking them to do this.

They will say no, understandably as they are too stressed out dealing with emergency cases.

At least in my area they are bless them.

And as someone has pointed out, they don't know my daughter 'personally' so that is rubbish anyway...

I don't do Facebook.
And I'm not going to post my child's details on Facebook for that reason thanks.

There is such a thing as safeguarding!

Are you always this much hard work?

People are trying to help you and you're just being snippy back.

I find it impossible to believe you don't know anyone who has met your child who is in one of the categories. I'm in four categories just myself!

Well usually people on Facebook are your friends or colleagues and know you socially- mine certainly do? I don't know what your issue is. Millions of passports are issued and they've had the same rules forever - they aren't going to change them because you didn't get the right signatory.

You don't have to post your child's details on Facebook for goodness sake! Just ask if anyone you know is able to sign passports - you don't even have to say it's for your child. You are spending all your energy on moaning to the passport office about a hard and fast rule instead of trying to find someone who can help!

@UltimateBugKilla

Mine are signed by my family friend who is a manager for a well known train company.

Oh good, well done you.

Can he do my DD who is unknown to him and neither knows her personally, professionally or in any other capacity? lol.

And doesn't that make a mockery of the whole thing anyway if any tom dick or harry on facebook comes forward to sign?

Jesus.

No, of course it can't be anyone, it had to be someone who knows her. But presumably only someone who knows her would message you, like: "hi there, I'm Jess's dad, I'm a manager at the shop on the high street, I know your daughter because she comes here for tea sometimes, I can sign it for you", etc.

Or "hi, I know your daughter from the youth club, I'm an accountant, I can sign it".

Not sure how you think this could contribute to child trafficking.

@VanGoghsDog

I don't do Facebook. And I'm not going to post my child's details on Facebook for that reason thanks.

There is such a thing as safeguarding!

Are you always this much hard work?

People are trying to help you and you're just being snippy back.

I find it impossible to believe you don't know anyone who has met your child who is in one of the categories. I'm in four categories just myself!

Lots of people don't do Facebook.

And that doesn't make us 'hard work' thanks.

Just means we make a choice.

Not doing Facebook shouldn't exclude us from society!

You are being ridiculous now

Can't you just ask in any WhatsApp groups you are in or private message people on Facebook and ask if anyone meets this criteria (and post the very long list of jobs). I have signed several passport applications for neighbours and family friends. Or ask your daughter to ask her friends parents if they can do it?