To not counter sign this passport

[DirtyDancing]

I can counter sign passports.

A lady, call her Jo, at my DH's company has asked me to counter sign her sister's kid's passport.

I've know Jo for years & years. Never met her sister or sister's kid.

I've said no as I've never even met Jo's sister. Everyone saying ABU. just sign it she's clearly Jo's sister & not a terrorist.

AIBU?

YANBU, I'm sure the notes that I've read when countersigning passport applications mention that the signatory must have known the applicant/their parent for at least two years. I've refused to sign applications when I've been at a school for less than two years and was once contacted at school by the Passport Office wanting confirmation that I knew the colleague whose baby's application I had signed.

Of course not, I can't believe they would even ask you to do it.

I think part of the point of needing to be a person of upstanding in the community (or however they phrase it) is that you have something to lose if you were found to be falsifying it, i.e. your career! Don't even think about it.

It isn't as hard as people assume it is to find someone. DP was panicking about me not being able to sign his because he "definitely doesn't know anyone else with that sort of job" (and I did his DD's) but when we sat down and went through the list we came up with at least 4 options without even getting to the end. Its a wide-ranging list.

I did it for a colleagues daughter once.

Was mildly amusing when about a fortnight later I received an a4 sized blow up of her passport photo from the passport agency saying 'who is this child' as a cross check.

YANBU

Obviously op inbu.

However it is not hard to imagine scenarios when it will be very hard to find someone to sign: what if you moved recently from abroad are socially ackward and dc does not go to school?

lastnight my colleague had this happen- interestingly the child was one of a pair of identical twins. I do hope she got it right!

YANBU. I only sign for people I actually know.

No, cant her teacher countersign? There are lots of professions that can surely she must know one?

YANBU, but how come everyone seems to know professionals. I always have this problem, I don't know anyone with more than a minimum wage type job. It's a bit of an issue if you move in different circles.

Not unreasonable at all. I can and do countersign. I have once had follow up from the passport office. It is not worth the risk.

Don't do it, if you're embarrassed about refusing day you've only just sent off for your passport so don't have one at the moment.

You are signing a legal document stating that you have known the person/ parent for two years. I would not be signing it.

Some professions are automatically eligible to sign, but lots of other people become eligible to sign by their position of joining professional bodies which opens up the options a bit more than the obvious ones.

I can and have signed forms I,m an RMN interestingly in the list of profession ,s it says nurse RGN or RMN but not a registered children's nurse or midwife

They phoned oh up and asked him questions about someone he'd countersigned for and phoned them up too-would have been very embarrassing had it become apparent he didn't actually know them!

YANBU, I wouldn't ask someone who hadn't known me/my DD for 2 years and I wouldn't sign for anyone I didn't know either. I know plenty of people who do though.

The list of people who can sign is actually quite broad. I can do it just by virtue of working in finance and having a professional qualification!

Yanbu. They can and do check!

x2boys the list are examples rather than exhaustive. It's a fair assumption that a midwife/children's nurse would be equally regarded as people of good standing in their community.

YANBU

I've been sent forms afterwards checking that I do know the child. Where babies and young children are concerned, they are extra vigilant for obvious reasons.

I can sign passports, and and there is no way I would do it in this is case. I've done it for a job application for a client who had nobody they knew socially who could do it, though (prison guard) - I'm a vet. Does Jo's sister have pets and a tame vet?!

Lying on an official document? They were being VU to ask this of you.

I would sign for the child of someone I knew well (e.g. a colleague I had worked with for many years) and trusted even if I hadn't met the child. I wouldn't for an adult I didn't know or their child though.

Well I did wonder isit!

YANBU, why don't they ask Jo's teacher? I would wonder why ask a stranger and wouldn't feel comfortable signing.

YANBU. Absolutely don't do it. They might ring you up and quiz you about how well you know her and you could potentially get into trouble.

most of the people covered by the list who I've known for 2 years or more I'm related to or about to be related to by marriage.

Eldest hasn't been at school for 2 years yet so I couldn't ask there.

My GP surgery don't do them.

it's a good job I don't want to go abroad really!