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 signed a passport 2 years ago and the passport office called me as part of their checks. Luckily I am able to sign passports.

I've counter signed 15 passports in my life and never been questioned.

I've never been called and I've signed 6 children passports this year

My friend countersigned my daughters, she's a teaching assistant. It will be fine!

They don't check everyone . Nothing will happen anyway, they'll just be asked to find someone else

I think its high time they dropped that rubbish, as long as its not someone with a criminal conviction it shouldn't matter if they work in a supermarket .

I think the idea was if someone was in a respected profession and could lose their career over it they wouldn ot be likely to sign falsely. Then it got diluted to anyone they could look up on a list or ban eg you could ban someone from being a director of a limited company and can look them up at Companies house which might be why that is now someone who can sign.

Is there a public register for teachers?
similar to checking whether a solicitor/ doctor is qualified to practise ?
if not I would t worry too much -

Do Trainee Solicitors count too?
Do you recall if there is a trainee solicitor option on the form?

There is certainly a register of solicitors online (and doctors).

As to who can sign:
"Your countersignatory must:

• have known you (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years
• be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
• be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession "

Trainee solicitor is not on the list unless they are also a member of a paralgeal body BUT it seems the countersignatory can be in a recognised profession OR a person of good standing in their community whatever that means!

https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

You know that list says "examples include"

Why does everyone think it's a definitive list? Gah sorry this is one of those things that irrationally bothers me to a far greater extent than it should.

(OP, I think it will be fine)

I think OP will have sorted it out long ago as the thread is over 1 year old!

Don't worry, what you wrote is fine. As long as you genuinely have known the person you signed for (actually their parents) you did nothing wrong.

However there is no requirement for someone who works with children to sign it. A vet or dentist or accountant could equally do it.

Urgh, zombie.

ZOMBIE

This. It really is fine nowadays.

I've been contacted twice by passport agencies and at work but that was countersigning child passports. I won't be doing anymore as it's hassle. I doubt you will be contacted for adult passports.

Gawd zombie thread! Why do people resurrect these?