To wonder how I'll get my DC's passport legally?!

[justwanttolookgood]

I don't know anyone who can counter sign!

And on top of that, I don't know anyone professionally who has known me for over 6/12 months really. GP included. The person needs to have known the parent for over 2 years.

What am I going to do?

Journalist is on the list

I think that OP has already submitted it and the passport is one of those things that once submitted, they keep your money whether the application goes ahead or not as the payment is for the submission or something like that. You submit it and then get the stuff signed I think but once submitted money is gone and you would have to do a new application and pay again. OP needs to ring passport office and see if changing it to DH name is an option.

Can’t remember seeing the DCs ages but do they go to clubs or school. The club organisers could be classed as people in good standing in the community. If at school and the teachers and school office won’t do it then your PTA chair might because they will be the Trustee of a charity and therefore in good standing in the community.

Whenthedeal, apparently op also needs hers countersigned although for a renewal it is not usually necessary, so while amending the dc application might solve one issue it won't the other.

OP, as I understand it, the countersignature is to confirm you are the person in the photograph.

And they must have known you for more than 2 years to be a signatory.

I personally would ask sil if any of her family would do it. You may not have met them but they surley know who you are?
Other than that one of your parents friends? (Old neighbour etc)
Your old boss/dh old boss
Owner of corner shop/local chippy/cafe
Librarian
Healthvisitor/midwife
Nursery/teacher/caretaker
Lifeguard at swimming pool
Pub owner/manager/Anyone with a personal alchol licence.
Anyone ex army.
Anyone who runs a 'mummy and me type group' (baby massage etc)
Or put a post pn fb, someone may help that you had forgotten about! Its bloody hard work trying to get a passport. I understand the reasons bit surely its time that it was simplified!

Asking - how would they know how long you have known someone? They could ask and check. you might fall out with the friend who reports you later. Also many of us simply do not lie as a matter of moral principle never mind the law. I have already today refused to witness somehting for someone which I could lawfully have done. It is just a massive risk for me to lose career etc. never mind a hassle.

Do it online you don’t need to get the form counter signed

Helen Yes you do

OP, as I understand it, the countersignature is to confirm you are the person in the photograph.

And they must have known you for more than 2 years to be a signatory.

The point that I was trying to make, and should have been clearer about, is that the although the counter-signatory needs to have known the person for 2 years, the purpose is to confirm the photograph is that person. It isn't to give a personal reference or state they are of good character and the signer doesn't need to know the applicant intimately.

OP what were you doing / where were you living before you moved? could you ask a former school teacher?

This whole system is stupid. Why can't it be done by the passport office if you live locally, or the person in the post office if you don't. You're right there in front of them they can look at the photo and look at you, and say if you are the person in the photo.

The system of having to know someone in a professional enough role is really unhelpful.

You're right there in front of them they can look at the photo and look at you, and say if you are the person in the photo.

Because they haven't known you for 2 years. So while they can verify the pivot looks like you, you could be anyone. They need to know you are who you say you are!

*picture

But I have been asked to say XYZ is the child of ABC (I might know ABC but I have never seen their child and instead the child I am to certify might be someone else entirely - a smuggled in sex worker or a stolen baby)

After posting a reply yesterday I received letter from passport office today. They want to check I do know 2 children(sisters) I signed passports for and that it was me who signed forms etc. They sent letter to my work address. This is second time this has happened to me now. THEY DO CARRY OUT SPOT CHECKS!

namechange, that's right. So you would have be a Russian secret agent who has lived in a sleeper sell with "normal life" pretending to be Mrs Jones for 2 years in theory to breach the system if the system worked well which I am not sure it does. Looking at this thread I suspect it might be safer to limit the categories of people who can certify to those with masses to lose financially and in career terms if they tell a lie or some up with something else.

Russian secret agent

Mumsnet crazy at its best.

Not related but why don't you have a hv?

ItsLike Because the first was incredibly rude and the second one tried saying a baby doesn't need breast milk after 1 year

I can’t believe teachers charge to do it. When I qualified as a teacher I was excited to do it

Neighbours? Estate Agent if you rent?

Ah sorry i forgot you said you moved. ignore me.
Try FB. I think you'll find you know quite a few people who may qualify.

Intersting estate agent is not on the list (only qualified surveyors ) www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

I was lucky last time, there was someone in the village who owned a building business and charged about £20 to sign for people. Otherwise I still would never have left the country! I moved about 300 miles last year and can't renew, I know no one here except my family. I suppose I could try and send it to my old boss from before I was disabled and had to move but it'd be a bit weird for them coming out of the blue after no contact for over 2 years. I have no kids, so no child-related people in my life like HV. No local shops here, only self-service Sainsbury's. I'm not religious, and I've yet to find any NHS dentist with spaces so I haven't seen one since I moved. It's very easy to assume all people must surely know someone but the reality is people move so often, zero-hour contract jobs end all the time, no one knows their neighbours anymore. It happens.

Goldilocks - You should be alright to renew. I renewed mine and had changed quite a lot and it was ok. I would just try even if you think you look very different as it will probably go through ok