To think counter-signing a passport for a stranger is both illegal and idiotic?

[user1478265589]

Someone's posted on a local FB selling group asking for someone to sign his passport application, and loads of people have offered to do it (who don't seem to know him).

I know you're supposed to have known the applicant for two years, but what sanctions are there for lying in this manner?

[SocksRock]

I can sign passports, I do 4-5 a year for various friends etc. I usually get a phone call to do further checks one at least one a year

[QueenOfTheNaps]

A friend of mince signed for her long-time friend's newish boyfriend, as a favour and stated she had known him for 3 years...
She was contacted by the passport office asking how she met him as 3 years ago he was serving time in prison..

I would echo what a PP said- copy the facebook page and send it to the passport office, it really might be helping with national security (not wanting to sound too dramatic) because the lists of people who can sign now is getting broader and broader I'd be shocked if they really didn't know anyone they could ask. GP, dentist, school teacher, post office worker, etc.

All sounds a bit fishy to me

[QueenOfTheNaps]

**Clearly she was a friend of mine, Not a friend of mince. Although mince is lovely, especially mince pies (with puff pastry)

[hungryhippo90]

I think the current system for passport signatures is unfair... I've always struggled to figure out who could sign me and DDs passport forms.
As a child we moved every 2 years or so, neither of my parents worked, or had friends who worked, which put us in the situation where no one could/would sign.
Slightly better now, but out of all the people who I know, only 1 of them is eligible to sign!

[IAmNotACat]

It's a ridiculous system though.

What about people who need a passport but haven't known anyone long enough/in the right position to get it signed? Should they have to wait until they have? There should be a better form of checking someone's identity than counter signing. When I got my last passport the person who signed for me hadn't known me for 2 years because I'd only lived there for 1 year. I needed a passport so...

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I thought the HV not signing thing was as now you have to have personally known the person and not just in a professional capacity, so whist they can sign they cant do so for service users.

I know I'm not allowed to sign them for people who are only service users and not known outside of that But I can sign them for anybody else who I know

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

cat did you not know anybody where you used to live? I'm not sure if they still do it but you used to be able to have a interview if you couldn't obtain a signiture

[IAmNotACat]

sock I did, but the place I used to live was thousands of miles away, my passport had expired and I had to travel sooner than it would have taken to post the form to someone else and have them post it back.

[Spermysextowel]

I found the criteria very out of touch. We cited our optician as an appropriate professional but when they couldn't get hold of her on a Saturday morning we were turned away. The clerk we saw asked why I didn't get a colleague to sign as I worked in local government. I said that they hadn't seen my 14yr old son since he was 2 & she said her
colleague had signed hers & had never seen her son. Beggars belief.