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?

A after school manager signed for one of my dc and the rugby coach signed for the other.
Any out of the box connections like this work for you?

I an a regular at my local Starbucks, been going for 6 years and know all staff well out of the store too etc, the manager signed mine.

Anything like that you can think of OP?

It works as a renewal, in fact if you get an Adult passport once you are 16. Two of my DC have already changed from Child to adult passports, no interview required.
You can continue to travel on a child's passport even if over 18 until it expires.

Did anyone read my post where I mentioned that on the GOV website it said that to counter sign EITHER you had to be a certain profession OR of good standing in the community? So therefore is all this talk about what profession you need to be to sign a waste of time, just find someone who has known you for a sufficient length of time & isn’t a convicted criminal to sign?

Doesn’t the countersign person also have to have a passport themselves?

No only the photo and application form

Yes they have to give their passport number too

Doesn’t the countersign person also have to have a passport themselves?

Yes, a valid UK one.

OP is being very negative about the whole thing. She seems only prepared to ask "best friends", none of whom fit the requirements. Any suggestions that she ask friends of the family, colleagues of her parents or people she has known from childhood are ignored. So she won't be getting a passport then.

Maybe the system is crap - but what's the alternative? Give everyone who applies for a UK passport one without checking? Or maybe a much higher level of checking at the passport office, with an increased fee for your passport of maybe £150 per application? Using a countersignatory system whereby a person with something to lose in terms of job or standing in the community is a free extra level of check that people are who they say they are.

So you have a photo driving licence OP? If so, who signed the photograph for that? Could they do the passport for you?

As an aside, didniyou check the list of people who can countersign before paying your money? Especially since the website is quite clear that no refunds are given. When I updated to a photocard driving licence online this year, there was a time limit which meant there wasn't a lot of time to get the photo signed and sent in before the application would 'lapse'and I'd have to start the process again. I'd be surprised if the same doesn't apply to passport applications.

Well, two people have agreed to do it - And those two don't have a bloody British passport

I asked the PA. She said she didn't like getting involved in 'things of that nature' I wasn't surprised.

Back to the drawing board for me!

Did you put a shout out on Facebook?

You might get lucky.

I've just done my kids and my next door neighbour did it

A neighbour is often a reasonable choice if they meet the criteria but not all of us have neighbours we can call on or who even know what we look like.

OP, if I recall correctly from doing my DCs’ passports, an Irish passport should work too (at least for now...). I had a work colleague who was a New York lawyer but also an Irish citizen do my DD’s once. Not sure if that helps.

The take away from this thread (not just for OP but more generally) is for people to get out into their communities and act in a friendly way towards neighbours and people they encounter during the day. Try and shop locally, try and cultivate informal networks. Not necessarily with the sole purpose of having a counter signatory the next time you need a passport, but for the benefit of your own wellbeing and that of your children.

I do understand that certain demographics lend themselves to more easily finding a counter signatory and I do sympathise but I think that this is an avoidable problem.

I’m sorry to tell you but this type of problem would simply not exist in many countries.

Won't the GP do it for a fee?

I used to countersign lots of passport applications for pupils and parents, but stopped doing it when the rules changed slightly and I had to supply very personal details which I don't mind doing for friends but felt uncomfortable to do for others. Not objecting to supplying the details per se but didn't want to broadcast them widely.

No, they need to know them personally rather than as a doctor/patient. This was covered earlier in the thread

Our school has signs up to say not to ask as they won't do it for you due to all the personal details they want

Op I have huge sympathy with you on this. I’ve also just sent off my sons passport application but actually had to send the forms to my brothers girlfriend to sign and send back as I don’t know anybody locally. I moved to a new area less than 2 years ago and even the people that seemed ‘qualified’ as such haven’t know us long enough.

Not everyone is able to visit their old school to ask a teacher or have a dentist that knows who they are and comments such as you must know someone aren’t really helping op are they.

If your still struggling then I’d suggest calling the passport office and discussing as they might offer some solutions.

When I was in this situation I asked on Facebook and got several volunteers. It felt very embarrassing, but people were generally understanding, because it's a common problem to have.

It was further complicated by the fact that I'd moved a hundred miles away and hadn't seen any of them for yonks... I'm afraid you're just going to have to take the plunge and try.

Won't the GP do it for a fee?

This has already been argued covered. They are not allowed.

As a teacher I will no longer sign due to the amount of personal information required.

I got mine done with our vicar is that possible? We go once a month and get involved in fundraising so she know us well now.

I would put a Facebook status:
Need someone to counter sign a passport picture for ds. Does anyone who has known me two years or more have a passport themselves? They need to be some kind of professional (past or present). I’d be eternally grateful! Thanks x
And see where you go from there. It can’t hurt!