Anyone managed to get a child passport renewed without the required countersignature?

[ToodelooMarylou]

I need to renew my child's passport (dc will be 5 in a few months) and we don't know anyone from the list of acceptable professions to countersign. My dcs first passport was countersigned by our dentist but we have changed dentist since. Has anyone been in similar circumstances? Has anyone managed to get a child's passport renewed without being countersigned?

[quote ToodelooMarylou]@TheAbbotOfUnreason I've address this in the original op and subsequent replies as well, our previous dentist, who we changed less than 2 years ago.[/quote]
So contact them and ask if they would still sign for you?

Btw your Tesco manager can definitely sign it as a "manager".

Why can't you use the same dentist again? They are still a dentist even if they are no longer YOUR dentist. If they are happy to sign it i.e. they still feel they can identify you, it's all done online so very quick.

I think you said you work at Tesco. Why not your store manager or someone in your HR team - 'manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company'

Maybe not your Tesco checkout colleague but surely your Tesco manager would count?

I actually only know one person that could do this for me, otherwise I'd be stuffed. I do think it's a bit of a nonsense and unfair way to do passports if I'm honest and this particular aspect of the process is definitely die an overhaul. I've seen this come up several times on here and so I think there must be quite a few people out there who find this tricky.

It’s not nearly as elitist as it used to be there are many people who can countersign, including retired people. They do need a passport to do it though.

Hi
I'm a childminder and sign loads of people's passports. I got my child's signed by a retired teacher and it was fine. If the childminder was registered with Ofsted it should be fine. She can put her old EYFS number on there.

@Newnormal99

I renewed two child passports and it only asked for photo approval on one (did it all online)

Same here, just renewed 4 passports online, was expecting to need to get someone to sign but wasn't needed (even for Dc1 changing from child to adult passport).

@weaselish I haven't missed the point. Would the passport office accept a form countersigned by tesco checkout staff? Would they consider this a person of "good standing"? If the answer is no, then yes it is elitist .

Childminder or boss of the preschool/nursery

@WhatILoved thank you so much for replying. My neighbour is very old so she used to be a childminder several decades ago. She's in her 80s now. Even then I don't know how formal an arrangement her childminding was. It is just something I gathered when she spoke about how she looked after some children several decades ago. I hardly ever see her now as she can hardly walk and her husband has dementia.

I would try your old dentist. After all they have known you for two years. It doesn't say you must have known them last two years.

@TheYearOfSmallThings thank you for replying. I don't work and haven't worked for tesco, I was using it as a case in point.

Tesco staff maybe not. But childminder, nursery nurse, publican, trade union rep, teacher, hairdresser, small business owner, estate agent, vicar, youth centre manager, corgi registered gas engineer, etc are hardly elitist! These are all people who could be classified as "of good standing".

@Bananarice thank you for replying. I have tried that, I can't speak to the dentist directly so left messages with reception and told them what it is about and they haven't got back to me.

I don't work and haven't worked for tesco, I was using it as a case in point.

Sorry OP! I got the wrong end of the stick and ran with it there

I've used my pharmacist before. Are they on the approved list for your child's age group?

@weaselish of course it is and possibly systematically racist too as not many ethnic minorities who come to this country will know people from that list.

@TheYearOfSmallThings no worries , thank you so replying. I know you were only trying to help. No need to apologise at all

I really sympathise OP. I find it very elitist and I’m squarely middle class. It’s particularly bad if you’ve had to move around the country. I actually think the tables should be turned and doctors and teachers should have an obligation to sign.

[quote ToodelooMarylou]@weaselish of course it is and possibly systematically racist too as not many ethnic minorities who come to this country will know people from that list.[/quote]
many people who have come to this country from abroad will BE on that list!

@Mummymug thank you for replying. I think thry might be on the list. I will ask my pharmacist but I have only spoken to him 2-3 times to get advice re my dc. He hardly ever comes out and it's usually always the ladies at the counter that deal with me. I will ask him but he can't really say he's known me for 2 years because he doesn't really know me at all.

@godmum56 yes, but I am not, and I am sure there are others in my shoes.

[quote ToodelooMarylou]@weaselish of course it is and possibly systematically racist too as not many ethnic minorities who come to this country will know people from that list.[/quote]
You don’t necessarily qualify for a UK passport as an “ethnic minority coming to this country”.

You are getting a hard time. I agree with your point that it is much more difficult for some people than others. This isn't the first time this has come up.

Is there anyone from your past (or your DPs) who would do it e.g. old school friend. They don't have to know your child. You mentioned friends of your DPs parents. What is your DP's job? We might be able to help you think of someone there. Do you have friends who work? What do they do?