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Original poster

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

93 replies

BrainDead1 · 13/02/2022 20:47

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. Sad

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/02/2022 02:21

Governor is perfect. A quick search will bring up your details on GIAS, for a start.

It'll be fine.

mathanxiety · 14/02/2022 02:22

Yes, school governor is a person of good standing in the community.

Abraxan · 14/02/2022 02:34

Both dh and I have countersigned numerous passports over the years. The newer digital method is so quick and easy, definitely no hassle.

Either of us have ever been contacted to check.

NothingIsWrong · 14/02/2022 06:24

I do at least 3 or 4 a year and have never had a phone call. Also did one in error before I qualified which was technically not allowed and no one checked that.

JuneOsborne · 14/02/2022 06:42

A doctor can't sign a passport unless they're your good friend. That's what it says on the gov website.

You'll be fine op.

dottydodah · 14/02/2022 06:48

Please dont worry .A similar thing happened to a friend .She was a Nursery Nurse ,and they only accepted a SRN grade I think . All that happened ,was the form was returned to the passport applicant with a note saying they couldnt accept it, and they needed to find someone else.

marqueses · 14/02/2022 07:08

@MrsSkylerWhite

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.
I'm pretty sure that's not allowed. A GP can only do people they know aside from them being a patient

While they do check it's a small chance for each application so the chance is small

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 14/02/2022 09:11

Unless you have lied about knowing the child you have nothing to worry about

Greengoatpinkpigs · 14/07/2022 16:26

Has anyone been contacted when they have countersigned? The same thing has happened to me @BrainDead1, I was caught off guard and asked to countersign a renewal adult passport which I stupidly did without reading it properly!

I have double checked everything now and I am in the lost of professions but I am not qualified. What happens if I am contacted? Can I say I didn’t read it properly and apologise….. will this be any type of criminal offence?

Maybe I am just over thinking but I’m worrying about every possible scenario!

riesenrad · 14/07/2022 16:46

I've countersigned a few passport applications too and never been contacted, except when I countersigned an Irish one (not sure if British citizens can countersign now, but you could then, this was in about 2004) and they did ring me to discuss. It was fine though they just asked how long I'd known the child's parent (who I had worked with) and that was about it!

Xenia · 14/07/2022 17:59

I am a lawyer and try to resist doing them as it is such a hassle and risky. I only ever do them for someone I know well and I must also know the children and have the children present. I have not been contacted so far. If I did something wrong on one of these I could lose my career so am very very unkeen ever to do them for people.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/07/2022 21:59

BrainDead1 · 13/02/2022 20:52

Thanks for the reassurance.

I’m also a school Governor, so if the Key Worker role is questioned, I could also mention that role.

That's exactly the type of person that is accepted as a passport countersignatory as a Person of Good Standing - your governor post is a matter of public record (it's on Get Information about Schools).

There's NO PROBLEM.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 14/07/2022 22:01

Arse. I've answered the same post twice.

Just as well my answer was the same both times, or I'd look even more of a prat than I do already...

Jofergo · 14/07/2022 22:03

I sign infrequently. Been contacted a few times by UK Passport Office.

Always contacted when I've done other country applying in UK application.
Just declined to do an Irish one for a colleague as they said they definitely would contact you and you have to be available on a landline.

I'm a doctor in a hospital. I'm barely contactable on my mobile phone due to the crap signal in bits of the building so colleague and I decided that they should ask on of her husband's colleagues as they are all accountant and more desk based!

BettyOBarley · 14/07/2022 22:07

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure the worst they would do is reject it if they don't think you qualify as someone who can countersign.

We asked a family friend to countersign both the DC's passports recently. One got rejected and one was approved. When I phoned the passport office the guy basically said they all work from home and so it's down to who gets your application on the day as to whether they think it's suitable.

They never contacted the family friend, just told us to get someone else (and then approved the other one afterwards!!)

Riapia · 14/07/2022 22:22

My bank manager refused to sign my passport as he only knows me as a customer.

minipie · 14/07/2022 22:29

They do check. I’m a solicitor and countersigned for a friend while I was having a spell as a SAHM and non practising. Got a letter from the Passport office saying I didn’t count as I was non practising. (Apparently retired solicitor is fine though!!) No problems except that friend had to find someone else, luckily she wasn’t in a hurry.

QuebecBagnet · 14/07/2022 22:38

insuretothecore · 13/02/2022 21:30

Eh? we had the local shop keeper sign ours? Does it matter?

Business owners can sign but yes there’s a list of which occupations can sign.

Xenia · 14/07/2022 22:54

I don't think "business owner" is correct. You have to be a director of a registered limited company. So someone who is just a sole trader (as I am) despite owning a business cannot do it. www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories I suppose being VAT registered might count although the list says "company" (so not partnership nor sole trader perhaps)

dementedpixie · 14/07/2022 23:12

You can be a person of 'good standing in the community' which I imagine would cover a small business owner

OnTheBoardwalk · 14/07/2022 23:21

when I was in the passport office last year there was a loud argument and a telephone call to a person of good standing when they and the applicant were told they wouldn’t accept the signature

they do check

Starseeking · 14/07/2022 23:35

You'll be fine. No need to call them, as if they need to check anything, they'll call you.

I work in one of the professions listed of old; not sure if they still list them, however people still ask me to sign them. I've verified likeness for a number of the years, mainly for DC of friends who have needed their first passport.

With the new online method you also have to know more information such as child DOB, address and parents details, which you didn't need to do in the past.

I've been called by someone perhaps 2 or 3 times. They just asked how long I'd known x child, and I always said since birth (as I had), and that was it, passport issued soon afterwards.

Starseeking · 14/07/2022 23:37

I've been called by someone from the Home Office 2 or 3 times, I mean.

In my profession I would lose my registration then my job for fraud (and for things like drink driving), so it's not something I take lightly.

Abcdefu · 14/07/2022 23:45

I've been contacted by British passport office after signing (profession on the list) apparently because my passport is irish

HorseInTheHouse · 14/07/2022 23:54

I had a foreigner (EU national) living outside the UK countersign my kids' applications. All fine according to the rules, but there's no way they could have actually checked her professional status. I'd be astonished if this caused any issues.