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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:
MollyButton · 06/02/2020 07:21

And do remember your countersignature doesn't have to be a "friend" just someone who can recognise you from a photo and as has known you for at least 2 years.
A small shop owner, the guy who services your boiler, your landlord, anyone who owns a business that sees you regularly, a friend of a relative, parents of your children's friends (they must have some - or you have bigger issues than a passport).

If OP you don't mix with anyone, spend all your time in the house apart from taking children to school and supermarket shopping, and your children do no activities and have no friends. There a passport is the least of the problems - none of you are "living" really.

UpTheRhineWithoutAPaddle · 06/02/2020 07:24

Who signed the passports you have already?

SoupDragon · 06/02/2020 07:29

The list clearly states that it is "examples of..." rather than a exhaustive list. Then it adds the "good standing" bit. It isn't elitist!

I had a cub leader sign my children's ones once.

yogo · 06/02/2020 07:29

Just ask the teacher and if she says no, keep asking around, there will be someone in the playground who can do it.

AuditAngel · 06/02/2020 07:32

I’m an accountant, working for a firm of accountants, so never struggle for getting forms signed. But I can see how people find it difficult. I have also received a call for a follow up after signing forms.

Ignoring the passport forms and thinking about your social situation, are you lonely? Do you want to expand your social circle? Ask one of the children’s friends for a play date and invite the parent for coffee.

MsJaneAusten · 06/02/2020 07:35

Ignore the people saying you don’t need one. I’ve just renewed DC’s and you do.

I’m a teacher and have signed several for pupils. Ask at school. They’ll help you.

lyralalala · 06/02/2020 07:36

You need it signed if they’ve changed significantly

Plus the OP is applying for first passports for 2 so needs them signed

SurpriseSparDay · 06/02/2020 07:36

Yes, I wondered if the OP might be in a similar situation, MockneyReject.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 06/02/2020 07:37

There's some dubious advice on here.

ALL children under 12 need a countersignature, even if it's a renewal.

The person counter signing needs a
valid British passport.

I'd ask school or does you sister have any work friends who you've met and could sign?

NachoNachoMan · 06/02/2020 07:37

@pumpkinp do you have a landlord / letting agent you could ask?

lyralalala · 06/02/2020 07:38

Why do all the schools refuse to sign passports?

Because they don’t want teachers giving out their home addresses and passport numbers on the forms (and many teachers don’t want to do it)

happycamper11 · 06/02/2020 07:42

The person signing must have known you for 2 years rather than the child - it's basically anyone with a degree or even say a landlady or shop keeper who holds a personal license to sell alcohol. Surely you must know someone? What about work colleagues?

CaptainMyCaptain · 06/02/2020 07:44

I have signed plenty as a teacher but only if I have really known the parent for two years - they do ring up and check sometimes. Don't walk in and demand that the teacher signs it - this happens sometimes too and doesn't go down well.

happycamper11 · 06/02/2020 07:44

Even old school friends will do... it's all online now so distance isn't an issue

CaptainMyCaptain · 06/02/2020 07:45

I always put my school address not my home address.

Mariagatzs12 · 06/02/2020 07:45

My son's passport was done online 3 weeks ago. I'm.lucky that my congregation has an OBE, a couple of academics and two doctors but I weren't part of it I would definitely struggle.like the OP

Blackbear19 · 06/02/2020 07:46

Why is a professional required to vouchsafe for you? Why is someone who works in a shop not valid?

It's about having something to lose. Professionals are all signed up to a Code of conduct, lying to get a random a passport breaches that. So bang goes their career.

Op their must be somebody, do you use a small garage to service your car?

Do the people in the benefits office know you, they could sign it.

SaskiaRembrandt · 06/02/2020 07:48

Do you use your local post office? If yes, ask the postmaster, they can sign them.

mumwon · 06/02/2020 07:52

your bank?

cologne4711 · 06/02/2020 07:55

I'm a solicitor and have also signed loads. Interestingly the only time I was contacted was when I countersigned someone's Irish passport application (not sure if they allow it now, I know you have to be a British passport holder to countersign the British applications, which also reduces the pool of people you can ask because lots of people have expired passports and only renew them when they want to go away, or as a pp said just don't want to put their passport number on the form).

I agree it can be ridiculously hard. Even if you know lawyers like me it's no good if you change jobs and then have new colleagues who've not known you for two years. My childminder countersigned on one occasion.

cologne4711 · 06/02/2020 07:57

they must have some - or you have bigger issues than a passport

Charming. And anyway, the kids may know each other, but OP has already said she doesn't know their parents.

Blackbear19 · 06/02/2020 07:57

It doesn't matter if they have an expired passport, as long as they have held a UK Passport they can sign it.

SoupDragon · 06/02/2020 08:04

They do need a current British or Irish passport. From the .gov site...

If you’re applying in the UK
Your countersignatory must:

live in the UK
have a current British or Irish passport

Straycatstrut · 06/02/2020 08:08

We had this issue. We got ex's dad to take them into work (Lecturer) and got another lecturer to sign it (friend of the family) to sign it! It worked anyway!

I have the same issue with references for voluntary work now. I'm a LP, no friends. Don't know anyone since I moved. I could have been volunteering/working for ages and can't because of damn lack of references.

tootsey · 06/02/2020 08:10

Landlord/landlady or someone in a bank or building society. I had same problem getting driving licence photo signed. Went to my credit union, they signed it.