passport hell

[tattyrose567]

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 :////

I thought you could just pay a little bit to get them to sign at the post office in the absence of a counter-signatory?
I think that is just them checking that you’ve filled it all out properly.

tatty, do you use a regular hairdresser? The salon manager might be a company director - lots of small businesses create limited companies - he/she could sign it for you perhaps?

Have you had contact with a social worker who might be prepared to sign it for you?

I hope you get your holiday abroad.

I'm sorry you feel some comments have been 'truly disgusting'. Have you tried calling the passport office at any point over the last 7 years?

Tattyrose, I would ring up the Passport Office and explain your situation, tell them that you have asked various people and they have refused and see what they say. If you get no joy I think that you could write to your MP about it and see if they can do anything

It is an outdated system. I just did my (Dutch) passport - there is no countersignatory requirement in Holland. You just provide your old passport, photos which are recognisably you,some form of proof of address and Bob's your uncle. You do have to go in person - I had to travel to the dutch embassy - but the person who processes your application takes responsibility for checking your photo is you.

In Holland itself, every local council has a passport desk your nearest one is never far away. The UK way of doing it remotely just causes too much hassle.

This is what I'm trying to get across I have been actively trying to get a passport since I was 16 I have asked around made Facebook posts asked the doctors asked the health visitor no one is prepared to do it I don't know how to explain any better but if it's been suggested believe me I have asked

Why wouldn´t someone do it? Is it not just signing that they are the person the application is for?

No, you're signing to say that you've known the person for at least two years and that you "vouch" for them. You have to give your own passport number, and the passport office might go phone you later and ask lots of questions. It's not just as simple as looking at photos and confirming the person in front of you is the person in the photos.

And OP, great drip feed.

I struggle to believe that in 6 years there is literally no one that will do it.

No health visitor? Next door neighbour? Social worker etc?

I have already rung the passport office that they said there is no way round it no counter sign no passport .

OP has asked these people , a lot of people don't want to countersign unless they know the person fairly well, as it can have repercussions on their career

And OP, great drip feed.

So the op should mention an abusive childhood and sex work in her opening post should she? What relevance did it have?

What about neighbours, my old one was an accountant and did it.

Did they suggest any alternative countersignatory? Ask your hv/gp/sw again, if you explain the difficulty they may make an exception. Do you use a children's centre as there may be someone there who could do it. If you go to toddler groups other parents may be suitably qualified even if not actively working atm. Ask them who they have used for baby passports.

How about one of your daughter´s friend´s parents? Or someone who goes to the same baby activities as you?

It's all just so middle class, I bet when OP rang they knew she was young and not in a very good situation and just fobbed her off with no signing, no passport.

There are a lot of people on here who really don’t have a clue how life can be sometimes. OP where are you based?

Jesus this thread is horrible. Guess what PPs some people literally don’t know any “professional people”. Dying at the “I’m sure you’ll purchase a house and can ask the solicitor to do it in the future” comment

And everytime there is a teacher/doctor posting on her about AIBU to not want to sign a passport application they get 100s of posts telling them they aren’t BU and not to do it or to charge to do it.

Lots of people do not want to give out their names, ADDRESSES (teachers in particular), DOB and passport numbers to random people who happen to have had some contact with them.

Really sorry you can’t find anyone OP, I had the same problem for years. In the end I think a friend got some random family member who had never met me to do it!

@poppypopcorn what world do you live in where an abused childhood translates to ‘a great dripfeed’. This is a human your talking to show some compassion

Tatty, I'm sorry for your past abuse.

So, you can look to the future. Your child will be starting a nursery or preschool soon. Then school. This can be the time to build up a network around you and your dd -of friends and professionals who you have a good relationship with. You will find someone to countersign your passport soon enough if you do this.

Do you have good forms of ID and proof of address? MPs can countersign - I'm wondering if you made an appointment with your local MP, took your ID, and told your story - they might be able to help?

I keep asking and the doctors or health visitor will most definately not I rang yesterday I have explained the situation and there is nothing they can suggest .

Neighbours? Regular hairdresser? Postman? Regular handyman? or is it just me that has a falling apart house Childminder/Nursery? Person at local shop? Someone you know from toddler group? Friend of your mum's?

Just has to be someone that knows you for 2 years and can vouch it is you.

Doctor, health visitor etc prob won't do it due to giving over their own numbers. It has to be someone who knows you more as a friend/personal capacity.

Could a public notary do it?

I would try writing to your MP about it, I think that is the sort of thing people write to there MP about and ask them what exactly you should do about it.

I've just had a look on www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

OP the list is huge and I'm sure if you persevere you will find someone willing to sign for you. Some people on here have made some really good suggestions - i.e. Hairdresser owners, your dentist, the GP might not be able to do it any more but one of the practice nurses can. Perhaps the practice nurse that has done your daughters vaccinations?? It could be someone in your community like a toddler group/children's centre volunteer. Surely there have been some suggestions that you hadn't already tried?

If I'm honest I'm struggling with how obstructive you're being about this. The website also says to contact them if you can't get a signatory so I would phone again if you really can't find anyone. Don't get frustrated with them but listen to their advice. They will be able to tell you something helpful I'm sure.

Are you quite settled where you are and likely to stay in the same area?
I don't want to make this sound like it's easy, but perhaps you could start to foster some relationships so the passport can be countersigned in the future. For example, go regularly to the children centre or see if your local library does rhyme time for little ones? Even if it doesn't, go to the library at the same time each week and you will soon build up a relationship with the librarians there.
Obviously you can't force someone to sign a passport application but they're more likely to do so if they have a good relationship with you.
Best of luck.