To think it could be really tricky for some people to get a passport

[dogscatsandbabies]

Excluding the cost of the thing. Just applied for DD's first passport and her photos have to be certified by a professional person... Doctor, lawyer, teacher, bank manager etc. It specifies that this must be someone who knows you as a neighbour, friend, colleague or similar and NOT someone who only knows you professionally I.e your own GP. This person must hold a British or Irish passport.

I had no bother accessing such a professional but it struck me that it might be a total nightmare for some people from lower socioeconomic areas whose neighbours / friends etc are unemployed or work in "unskilled" or more manual jobs which aren't counted as professional.

Anybody found this?

Most people go to a teacher who taught them or a teacher who teaches their kids. Everyone I know knows at least one professional. And I'm working class in a very working class area.

I think most people dont worry about actually being known personally by the person signing.

I made an appointment with my son's school principle for my passport to be signed (knew him 4 years) but when i got there he was unavailable and the VP signed it. I had met him twice at that point as he was newly appointed.

Well surely those from 'lower socioeconomic areas' wont need a Passport

What with them being poor and all ?

Most people know someone outside their own socioeconomic group .
Or do you think you're bound by that?

Our local vicar signed ours, despite us not being church attendees. I imagine an ex teacher would sign it for most people.

Publicans can sign them

We're poor and know lots of people who could sign the DC's passports
My Doctor signed my first one and the owner of the business DH works for signed our renewals and the DC's.
Apart from them DH knows 2 lawyers and a judge who drink in our local pub, my ex boss is a GP, we have 2 vicars living close by (I think they can sign?), our new GP's, the HT of both schools will also do it as long as the child has been there one school year and there are a couple of limited business owners who we could have called on at a pinch.
You don't have to hobnob with the upper classes to get a passport signed.

Aren't you supposed to have known the person for a certain number of years before you can sign it?

Jeez, some people will jump on anything! It was a genuine question about a genuine concern that some people might actually find it tricky. Perhaps my wording was not ideal.

It must actually fuck a lot of people off that if they don't have a degree they somehow aren't trustworthy to certify.

i dont know anyone :( and my kids school wont do it. looks like im stuck here for ever :( cant even go on holiday ffs

I used to find it difficult when I worked in academia - because hardly anyone I worked with was British. These days it is fairly straightforward (I have a teacher and a barrister living next door).

Huh?

Your having a laugh.

You know they have a position in the comunity criteria to sign as well as professional(or retired professional) one.

Do you think poor people have nobody of good standing in their comunity?

Civil servants can sign passports, I don't think it matters what grade or department they work in (unless directly employed by the Passport Offices/Service/ whatever they are called this week). The criteria for countersigning Irish passports seems to be more restrictive which FIL found when trying to renew his.

Everyone who lives in a "lower social-economic area" knows a police officer, no need to worry.

It can be very difficult - you are right OP. I am a foster carer and getting passports for some of the children I look after can be very difficult. It's not just the photo signing, but getting details of grandparents birthplace etc, especially in families that have broken down.

It's not about having a degree, the passport office explained us that it's someone of standing in the community, that has something to lose by fraudulently signing, for many that would be the professional registration, they're bound by a code of conduct to behave honourably and in a trustworthy manner, so making a false declaration on a passport application would lose them their job.

I think it's a legitimate concern, OP. There was a thread about it a few weeks ago.

Everyone who lives in a "lower social-economic area" knows a police officer, no need to worry.

Or their probation officer

I've done them for children I have taught before. The parent approached me directly, not through the school.

Dana

It's a professional OR a person of good standing in the comunity NOT a professional with good standing in the comunity

You have to have a passport to sign someone's photo. Im a teacher and my students often ask me to sign theirs. But I dont have a passport so cant. The kids just think im wierd but I prefer to holiday in the UK.

The whole countersigning thing is outdated ridiculousness, especially given so many first-time applicants are called in for in-person interview.

Or a social worker toast

I had no bother accessing such a professional but it struck me that it might be a total nightmare for some people from lower socioeconomic areas whose neighbours / friends etc are unemployed or work in "unskilled" or more manual jobs which aren't counted as professional.

Oh that did make me laugh!

The Indian lady who owns our local off license signed my son's passport application last month. She does the same for most of her customers who she's known for a few years and never asks for payment.

Totally agree with you OP. It's a really stupid way of doing things. I have to get this done on a semi regular basis and it really sucks trying to find someone to do it (it's for police checks not for passports). They should do what they do here in Canada which is have places you can go to get certified photos. The photographer stamps the back of the photo to say it's you and this is fine to get a Canadian passport.

Yeah, that the person has to have a passport, cannot use a driving license, for example.