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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

passport hell

262 replies

tattyrose567 · 04/11/2017 00:13

Really really desperate and fusturated I have wanted to get a passport for so long my mum did every single other sibliing but mine grrrr and now i really need one but have literally no one to counter sign!! the doctors no longer do it and I've literally exhausted every option what can I do ?? Guessing I will just never ever be able to get one feel like I'm being denied something and will never be able to go abroad I'm 23 with a nearly 2 year old :////

OP posts:
HotelEuphoria · 04/11/2017 07:25

My boss signed both my children's passports. He doesn't have a degree although we do work for a large corporate. I signed my daughter's friend's passport and I am neither a graduate or a manager. She got it back in about ten days.

Do you work OP?

LightastheBreeze · 04/11/2017 07:30

OP has a 2 year old so may not work which would make it more problematic, I would have asked bosses at work if I had to.

kimlo · 04/11/2017 07:34

If your 2 year old goes to nursery then the manager there can sign it.

TheFifthKey · 04/11/2017 07:35

I’m a teacher and I’m not crazy about doing them for people in my class (like you say, might end up getting loads of people asking etc) BUT am happy to do them for friends and would help out a former student no problem.

evilharpy · 04/11/2017 07:36

I can't believe you don't know a single person who can sign a passport. The list of professions that can sign a UK passport is enormous. What jobs do your friends do?

The list of countersignatories for an Irish passport is far more limited. I needed mine doing recently so put out a shout out on facebook to see who was available: "anyone around who can witness an Irish passport for me?" And immediately got loads of volunteers. Friends who are accountants, teachers, doctors (but not GPs) etc etc.

I'm a Fellow of a professional organisationa and can witness a UK passport but not an Irish one.

FlouncyDoves · 04/11/2017 07:38

You’re 23. Get your own passport sorted out.

Stopyourhavering · 04/11/2017 07:42

Do you have any friends who are nurse or teachers??

PoppyPopcorn · 04/11/2017 07:56

I know lots of people who can do it so not a problem, ans both DH and I have countersigned passports in the past. I also think the list is very comprehensive and discrimination doesn't come into it. People who work in factories could ask their shift manager or the factory boss, a regional manager for a retail chain would probably also qualify.

I understand why teachers and doctors are reluctant though - especially as a first passport application for an adult who has never had a child passport. The passport office can and do check, and the teacher/doctor doesn't want to take more time out of their day to answer lots of questions when the passport office phones up to ask.

Littlecaf · 04/11/2017 07:56

Local government officer can sign, Know any road sleepers or bin men (Or women?)

madeyemoodysmum · 04/11/2017 07:57

I'm a photographer and I'm allowed to do it.

insancerre · 04/11/2017 07:59

Who have you known for 2 years or more?
Teacher?
Nursery manager?
Pub manager?

Ceto · 04/11/2017 08:08

LightastheBreeze, your scientist husband could certainly countersign.

Engorged · 04/11/2017 08:11

Aren't any of your friends on the list? Or their partners? Civil servants, teachers...

LightastheBreeze · 04/11/2017 08:13

Although most people who are working probably wouldn't have a problem with this, there are certain sectors of the community which would, such as young people who have been left school for a while and don't work/not have professional contacts, OP may falls into this category and also retired people who may have lost contact with professional friends like my DF.

ShoesHaveSouls · 04/11/2017 08:16

I agree it's an strangely outdated system.

I have a friend who was a journalist - so she always signs ours. She says she signs a lot of people's.

DD's school will do it, but they charge £15 - so I could have done that.

Rack your brain - any people you know through your DD, neighbours, friends, ex colleagues, parent's friends? And yes, who signed off your sibling's passports?

I have other friends who can sign - one is an HR Manager, one is a probation officer. Know any people like that?

Ellisandra · 04/11/2017 08:17

Drama queen, much?
You haven't even asked an old school teacher.
Or rung the passport office for advice.

And yet you're all "I'll never go abroad, it's all mummy's fault!"

Frankly, if you can't sort this one out, you're too immature to be handling leaving the country (or your own home Hmm) anyway.

Therealslimshady1 · 04/11/2017 08:22

Lots of people can sign, I have had TA and playgroup worker signed.

Think about teachers, friends, NCT group, neighbours, sports club, toddler club, etc

HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 04/11/2017 08:25

Why do some people find it hard to believe that someone wouldn’t know any of the people on the list, especially when you are only 23.
When I think back to being that age I wasn’t friends with teachers, doctors or lawyers.
Why can some people not understand that it is very likely that you won’t know people in those kinds of jobs personally.

I’m a teacher at a school in a very ‘working class’ area. I’m forever signing photos for parents as I’ve known them and their children for years. Many of them can’t think of anyone else.
Outside of my teaching colleagues I can’t think of many people that could do it for me.

Saying things like;
“bank/building society official
Pharmacist
Dentist
Optician
Post Office official
They can be found in most towns” is really not helpful. Yes they can but you can’t just rock up at the opticians and ask them to do it.

PoppyPopcorn · 04/11/2017 08:28

Wallpaper - when I was 23 I was still a student and working in part time jobs. But family friends can sign too, people who have known you since a child and seen you grow up. Or Uni/College teachers, managers from a part time job.

It doesn't have to be a friend you have made yourself, it just has to be someone on that very long list who knows you, can recognise you and vouch that your pictures look like you and woh is a UK passport holder.

SandyDenny · 04/11/2017 08:28

Are you being serious lanbro - you have to know the person to be able to sign the passport, you can't just offer to do it for randomers off the internet

With identity thefts and terrorists the system needs to be very tight nowadays.

I hope you were joking

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 04/11/2017 08:30

Do you use a pharmacy regularly? The pharmacist can sign, I know because I signed a few when I worked in pharmacy. Or headteacher, presuming you have any school age children.

LIZS · 04/11/2017 08:34

Health visitor? Gps will usually do it for a fee.

Headofthehive55 · 04/11/2017 08:35

This really annoys me. Why have we built a situation that discriminates against people who aren't the "right class".
I don't even have to think or worry or pay about my passport or families passports as I am a professional and so most of my friends are too.

BigApple11 · 04/11/2017 08:35

Where are you OP ? Confused

corrianderisthedevil · 04/11/2017 08:38

Agree with PP who said you're making out like you're a victim. You're not being denied of a passport and you will get to go abroad and so will your 2 year old. The only person denying you of it at the moment is yourself. It's such a negative view you're taking. Be proactive, phone the passport office and ask who you know that could sign it, as pp's have said - your postie can sign it, manager at work? Nursery manager of your little one goes to nursery? Neighbours? Friends? The list is pretty broad now so I'm sure you'll know someone on the list in one of those jobs and if not then phone the passport office and explain.