Help!!! I’ve countersigned a passport in error.

[BrainDead1]

Hi, I’ve been incredibly stupid and need some advice.

I was caught off guard and asked to countersign a passport. The friend explained that it needed to be someone who teaches children but didn’t need to be qualified. So I said I didn’t mind and signed it.

In the profession section. I wrote Teacher - EYFS Key Worker. My job title is EYFS key worker.

I’ve just double checked everything online and I think it was wrong of me to sign as I’m not a qualified teacher. The application has now been sent and I’m worried and not sure what to do.

I’d be really grateful for any advice. Please don’t flame me, I feel stupid enough right now.

I have countersigned several passport applications as a teacher. I have only been contacted once.

I signed my best friends passport photo. Nobody ever contacted me and I was only technically on the list of professions similar circumstances to you really.

Relax-my first passport (back in the dark ages) needed two signatures from people of standing (i.e. at least vicar, JP etc.) These days it can be just anyone you met on the street.

They do check. But not your qualifications.

You usually get an email asking you to confirm the details of the person whose passport it was.

I once got phoned (not a UK passport 2 they email) and forgot my friends husband “Dave” was actually called “David” and denied all knowledge of him until we were terminating the call.

Then I remembered and was all “oh shit. Yes. David. Yes Dave. Crumbs oops. Yes. I do know him”.
Don’t think. They believed me that I’ve known him for 20+ yrs and was a bridesmaid at his wedding.

I was VERY glad when the new passport arrived!!

@dropthevipers

Relax-my first passport (back in the dark ages) needed two signatures from people of standing (i.e. at least vicar, JP etc.) These days it can be just anyone you met on the street.

That's not strictly true. They need to have known you for 2 years to be able to sign it.

It's not a hassle at all.

And OP don't worry, have a look at who can countersign and as long as you meet the criteria there's no material difference here.

I don't think the assumption is that qualified people are more worthy, its just easier to verify their identity independently. Your local shopkeeper may well be VAT registered which just ticks a box.

Its not really your mistake if it does get rejected though is it

its your friends application and shes responsible for reading all the rules about it

not much can be done and its not your fault

I signed for my then dh children's passport me and dp were living together at the time. I am a Solicitor and all my colleagues said I couldn't do it because I lived with their df. Phoned the passport office they said it was absolutely fine. I would ring them and say you didn't mean to mislead them and will effect the application.

Don't ring them. If they don't accept you as a countersignatory then they will contact you soon enough

they wont give out information on someone elses passport

@Xenia

I would notify the passport people. They do regular checks. I am a solicitor although I try to avoid doing passports for people I know as it is right old hassle and I hate doing it.

It take a couple of mins max.....click, click and click....ive done a fair few since the new system started .....what hassle? OP ...don’t worry...no one will check

Don’t worry at all, it will be fine. Lots of people ask their GP, who generally don’t know them from Adam (lots of whom charge for the privilege).
It’s a formality.

No problem here. It will be grand.

I've always found it quite offensive that some professions are apparently trustworthy enough to do this while other perfectly decent people aren't. As if teachers or clergy never lie and the rest of us do!

Don't worry about it OP!

I also assumed the professions rule was because those people could be struck off if they falsified information, so a bigger incentive to be honest

Having a "professional" sign is because some people have more to lose if they were caught committing fraud, so it's a deterrent to doing so.

If you're a self employed plumber none of your clients would know and you would not lose your job. If you're a teacher, civil service, doctor you would probably lose your job and not be able to work in that profession again.

You don’t have to be particular professions any more. You just have to be of good standing in the community- our hairdresser has done three of ours.

@BraveGoldie

I've always found it quite offensive that some professions are apparently trustworthy enough to do this while other perfectly decent people aren't. As if teachers or clergy never lie and the rest of us do!

Don't worry about it OP!

I think you’re barking up the wrong tree there PP🙄 ..im a Nurse....I don’t think I’m anymore trustworthy than a non professional ...,but I am a member of a professional body....the people that regulate my profession.....if I lose my PIN ....I lose my job....therefore the thinking will be that I am unlikely to falsify any passport application as the stakes are too high

The worst that will happen is they will ask your friend to find someone else to sign it. They won’t tell you and they won’t tell her why it was rejected. This recently happened to me.

Don’t worry if they reject it - she will just be asked to nominate someone else.

As you are a school governor I would contact them and say you put the wrong title, apologies for the inconvenience/error.

They do check
I was z headteacher who refused to sign any or let myvsraa sign any after numerous and invasive home office checks

Or let My staff sign any

I've signed multiple passports over many years and so have my colleagues. Not had a check yet.