Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not have anyone to sign passport?

353 replies

PumpkinP · 05/02/2020 23:46

I am having trouble with thinking who can sign for me and my children’s passports. I am an introvert and have no friends, family limited, but obviously can’t sign, not friends with the neighbours. What can I do? I’m not working atm either so no manager etc

OP posts:
Shev1996 · 06/02/2020 04:56

I’ve signed many passport photos as a LA officer, never have I had to give my passport number

JayAlfredPrufrock · 06/02/2020 05:03

Aw OP you must know some people other than family surely?

caulkheaded · 06/02/2020 05:04

Your dentist? Or have you moved recently and so have move practices?

nakedavengeragain · 06/02/2020 05:13

You don't need one for a renewal though?

thehumblepotatoes · 06/02/2020 05:14

@shev1996 I’ve signed many passport photos as a LA officer, never have I had to give my passport number

The English passport form asks for it.

Marnie76 · 06/02/2020 05:19

Surely you must use a dentist even if just for your children. They can sign it.

KimikosDreamHouse · 06/02/2020 05:20

I’ve signed many passport photos as a LA officer, never have I had to give my passport number

The person counter signing must hold a UK passport. I can't remember if this was always the case but the form definitely now asks for the passport number.

JasperHale · 06/02/2020 05:22

I literally just done my son's a week ago, online, nobody had to sign.

JasperHale · 06/02/2020 05:24

AND it's ÂŁ10 cheaper Grin

Frownette · 06/02/2020 05:25

I had to get a countersignatury on the photos as my passport was lost/stolen.

I really don't think you need signatures on a renewal, check with passport office.

But OP try to reach out a bit more to people around you, you sound isolated.

Shev1996 · 06/02/2020 05:27

@KimikosDreamHouse it’s probably been 10 years since I last signed one, just had to sign and state occupation on the reverse of the photo and date. Maybe it’s changed

aurynne · 06/02/2020 05:29

You have no friends, have no contact with any parents, or teachers, or family, no one knows you. I agree with a previous poster that being an introvert is no excuse to live such an extremely isolated life. As a lone parent, you are leaving your children extremely vulnerable as they appear to have only you as a person who cares for them. Your situation is far from normal, OP, are you ok? Would you actually like to change this?

Woeisme99 · 06/02/2020 05:30

Surely to goodness one of your family members has a professional friend who would recognise you, or are they all as introverted as you and no one has a single friend?

Blondephantom · 06/02/2020 05:50

Would any of the teachers who work with your sister have known you long enough? I am a teacher and only countersign for people I know well outside of school. You have to provide your own passport number as part of the process.

thehumblepotatoes · 06/02/2020 05:57

You have no friends, have no contact with any parents, or teachers, or family, no one knows you.

It's not as simple as wanting to change it, if people don't want to know you then they don't want to know you. I have wanted to make friends with people for years but it doesn't happen.

amatsip · 06/02/2020 06:09

Just ask dc teacher at end of day nicely if she can help you and sign the passport form, my daughters teacher said she would happily.

DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 06/02/2020 06:10

OP just ask someone who has known you for 2 years, I get why they do it, but I knew no one in those professions when I had to do our passports that was not related to me. They make it tough (although this was 6 years ago)

Tumbleweed101 · 06/02/2020 06:11

Nursery owner or manager can do it if your children haven’t long left there.

Doryhunky · 06/02/2020 06:16

Our school said teachers could not counter sign passports for data protection reasons. That is rubbish

SympatheticSwan · 06/02/2020 06:22

The list of professions always sounded extremely weird to me. A senior manager in an insurance company (vetted as an approved / fit and proper person by the regulators through an in-depth interview) cannot sign, but a sales agent can. Confused
I think it could be a legacy from the times where your average "commoner" had a reading / comprehension ability of a modern 8 year old. My ex-MIL said that many more things used to require "witnessing" by a professional / clerical person presumed literate (but then she's not from the UK, but from Ireland).

SympatheticSwan · 06/02/2020 06:22

Our school said teachers could not counter sign passports for data protection reasons.
Same here, as well as the GP surgery.

MissClareRemembers · 06/02/2020 06:27

I asked my DCs former headteacher who made such a fuss about it (worrying about her details "being in the public eye" 🤨) that I decided to ask elsewhere. In the end the SENCO at school did it. No fuss, but took her a while to get it done!

Sounds like school may be your only option.

SympatheticSwan · 06/02/2020 06:29

You have no friends, have no contact with any parents, or teachers, or family, no one knows you.
Out of interest, how would you approach changing it? Genuine question, asking as I am almost in the same position as the OP. Foreign to the UK, lone parent, all professional contacts are not on the list of approved professions, doctors and school have a policy of not signing passports. Don't have contact with other mums at school as working full-time, so not available for lazy coffee mornings.
I realise that I could die tomorrow at home and my children would probably have to go and knock on the neighbours' door as complete strangers (neighbours are not too keen on "forriners", so the relationship never worked out).
Realistically, how would you change this?

Frownette · 06/02/2020 06:31

@thehumblepotatoes it does become more difficult to make friends as you get older. But not impossible. Best bet is to integrate yourself with the community

Luckypoppy · 06/02/2020 06:35

Does your sister not have a teacher friend who can sign it? I sign a lot for my sister's friends but I've known them all for a long time.