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?

Only they don't need to be some kind of professional. I would also word it a bit differently. Don't start off saying 'need someone....' it sounds awfully demanding. Perhaps just 'I'm looking for some help with....'

Just find someone who has known you two years, ring the passport office and ask if they would be ok to countersign.

(I’m not going to repeat the extract from the GOV website where it says they have to be of good standing in the community and NOT necessarily of any particular profession, as I’ve already mentioned this twice but everyone would rather speculate endlessly about whether GPs can sign the form even when they’ve been told numerous times that they can’t).

Basically anyone with a degree. My mums signs as she did a teaching degree some time back in the early 70’s.

Random checks are done, I have been called to check regarding a neighbour I signed for and check was carried out on my husband previously. Also, you can’t just get anyone to sign for those saying it will be ok. I got a friend of my husbands to sign my daughters passport last year. He works in a college - security role so I thought would be ok. As he is not registered security person they rejected the application and sent it back. By professional they mean traceable and accountable. So someone who has to register with a governing body such as nurse, social worker. Also child minder/nanny if they are registered. Civil servant will include anyone who works for your local council. As business owners have to register their business they count, do you know someone who owns beauty salon or hairdressers, small shop etc. Also people who are members of CIPD (HR personnel) or similar. Do you go into a local pharmacy? Can you go visit where you lived previously? If you visit a pub or restaurant or perhaps takeaway, then licensee can sign for you. I am not sure about trainee nurse, if already on NMC register then that would be allowed as traceable. If you are a medical receptionist, then one of the nurses attached to the surgery.

Can you ask a local solicitor if you are running out of options?

Can people please stop suggesting that OP’s GP should sign the application? Not only are GPs not allowed to sign any more, but OP stated quite clearly in her very first post that her GP is not an option as they haven’t known her long enough.

OP, are you by any chance a time traveller who only made it to 2018 quite recently?

I’m always amazed on these threads that people fine it so hard to believe that you could not know anyone on this list. It’s very easy not to.

Nobody finds it hard to believe that you don't know anyone on the list. The point is that the list isn't exhaustive and you don't need to be a lawyer/teacher/doctor in order to sign. Basically anybody who is not permanently unemployed/a criminal can sign.

SimonBridges, I find it very easy to believe that OP doesn’t know anyone on the list. I find it rather odd though that she listed only a handful of people that she came in contact with more than two years ago.

I don’t. Some people move around a lot. There was a point in my life when I hadn’t known anyone for more than 2 years.

Anybody who's a civil servant can sign

There was a point in my life when I hadn’t known anyone for more than 2 years.

How did you stop knowing everyone?

The last time in my life I hadn't known anyone for more than 2 years was before I turned 2

I think it's very easy to believe that people go about their day seeing family & friends who happen either not to have UK passports, or not be a suitable professional.

I live in a village, so off the top of my head, can think of 3 or 4 neighbours who can sign for me - and several friends - but I've lived here 10 years, and have children in school.

When DS1 was a baby, we moved areas, and I had to post his passport application to an old university friend who was a GP to get it signed. We'd only lived in our previous place about 18mths - we'd not really put down down any solid roots yet.

I do agree with a PP though about building up a network - it's very useful for many reasons, not least getting your passport signed off.

OP - if your nanny friend (who you're not speaking to) is a registered nanny, you'd best start speaking to her again - she can sign.

How did you stop knowing everyone?

A lot of moving about and short term contracts. Especially in the days before social media. It’s very easy to no know people.

A lot of moving about and short term contracts. Especially in the days before social media. It’s very easy to no know people.

There is a difference between not knowing people and not being in contact with them.

Ask on FB. Ask your Mum to ask colleagues/friends. Ask your Dad to ask colleagues/friends. Ask your DH to ask colleagues/friends.

It is quite easy not to know anyone who could sign. As I work in a reasonable size company I could most likely get someone there to sign but if I didn't work there is not that option. I visit my dentist very regularly and have had the same one for years so that is an option, many people do not visit a dentist or maybe just a one off so that option would be gone.

As for PP saying anyone can sign as long as they are employed and not a criminal, I am employed and not a criminal but wouldn't be able to sign a passport photo as I am just an administrator as many others are in similar type jobs.

Where I live, elected representatives (e.g. councillors, assembly members and maybe even the local MP) will countersign applications for constituents - these people don't necessarily know you personally but for some reason it's OK? Is that an option op?

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

The signer isn’t providing you with a character reference so it doesn’t need to be someone who knows you really well.

I would certainly check if it is okay because as far as I know if your solicitor does it they have to have known the adult for 2 years otherwise they can get struck off and lose their whole career so we tend not to be rushing to do these forms. I do them for one neighbour I genuinely have known for that time but I hate doing it and wish they would never ask again. I wish we could change the system as it is so hard for people. Also some people think a lot of people know others a lot more than other people actually do. I suspect some people are in firm groups with lots of friends and just cannot even conceive no one who meets the requirements would not have known you for two years so it seems impossible, as if people are making it up and yet it is. eg people are saying ask facebook friends. Loads of people including me don't use Facebook for example.

smallchair, I did wonder that because if I was in a situation and didn't know anyone I would certainly be seeing my local MP about it as it is not a situation that we should be in

If it is just to confirm you are the person in the photograph, why is the 2 year thing so important then as that seems to be the main problem for people. I am also not on Facebook so couldn't use that.

My son's headmistress did it for us.
My sister can sign them as a licencee and signs friends (but obviously can't sign mine)

We found it a bit of a hassle and we know loads of people on the list. We moved to a new area just before having our child so no-one close by was able to sign. If I’d been at work, they’d have been loads of people that could sign but I couldn’t really be bothered to commute in with a small baby. My husband had just started a new job so no-one at his place knew him for the required 2 years. We had friends to visit who could sign but we’d cocked something up with the form so couldn’t take advantage (our fault). We ended up sending the form back to my friends via my parents who lived near them. So, for us it was not insurmountable but even when I knew people who could sign, it wasn’t particularly convenient. I’m pregnant again and it’ll be really easy this time round as I’m surrounded by professionals who’ll have known me for 2 years. It does seem like a system that is very biased towards the middle classes that isn’t particularly fair.

I’ve signed passports in the past and a UK citizenship application for a friend too. I’m a journalist and I am definitely not on any mythical list or register. That made me laugh. Also how would they check if you’d known someone the required amount of time? They have to take your word for it.

FB is definitely your best bet, OP. Or just change the application to your husband’s name. You can change in online before submitting. You’re not going to get anywhere without asking!