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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:
GiveHerHellFromUs · 06/02/2020 09:00

@PlomBear a cadet in the TA would then qualify though, surely?

MRex · 06/02/2020 09:02

@cologne4711 - the passport form doesn't ask her to be best mates, it asks her to know them for two years. Four children and apparently there's not one person who she says hello to regularly for two years - that isn't normal at all. Back in the real world, the same people show up at health centres, child groups, school, local shops, the park etc because they live in the area.

Boom45 · 06/02/2020 09:03

Do your parnents/siblings have friends who know who you are? It doesn't need to be a "friend" just someone who would recognise you by sight and has known you for more than 2 years. When I got my first passport at 18 obviously none of my friends could sign it but a friend of my Dad's (trade union official in the steel works so not that elitist either) signed it. I'd barely had a conversation with him in my life but he knew I was me because he'd seen me regularly for years.

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 06/02/2020 09:12

If you apply online now they ask for the name and email of the countersignatory, who will get sent a link to an online portal to fill in their details to get round the sharing data issue. Just applied for a renewal (expired passport though) and first passport for my dc and our countersignatory did it this way for us. They did need to know certain details though, like where the dc were born I think (which caused a bit of confusion as my dc were born in different London boroughs) but we needed nothing other than their email.

Dh also renewed his not yet expired one online at the same time, didn't need a countersignatory though the same person was willing.

Hope someone at the school will help.

Frownette · 06/02/2020 09:15

I renewed my passport last month and I'm starting to think it was pretty smooth sailing after this thread. My friend did the signing, they didn't contact her and didn't want her address, and it arrived 3 days later

DDIJ · 06/02/2020 09:17

This reply has been withdrawn

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PlomBear · 06/02/2020 09:17

DH is a military officer and said that only commissioned officers or warrant officers are allowed to sign at his base.

Notsure94 · 06/02/2020 09:18

Our headteacher did our kids passports.

ilovesooty · 06/02/2020 09:25

Member of a professional body covers a lot of people.

Eminybob · 06/02/2020 09:25

You don't need one for a renewal though?

Depends how old the kids were on the original passport. I’ve just renewed DS1’s and needed a counter signature as he was a tiny baby on his original one, and 5 now, so wouldn’t be recognised from his picture.

BusterGonad · 06/02/2020 09:27

This thread is absolutely crazy. Unless you are housebound and literally get everything delivered to your door (and even then you see people) there is absolutely no reason you can't get your photos signed. Who have you ACTUALLY asked op?

DDIJ · 06/02/2020 09:30

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SurpriseSparDay · 06/02/2020 09:32

It's really not uncommon at all. It's hard for people who are not isolated to understand how people become so. It's surprisingly easy to find yourself with nobody ...

But surely the point is that part of one’s responsibility as a parent is to try to provide your children with a vaguely supportive community? Posters have mentioned family, friends, school, work, wider social connections as possible sources of assistance - but the OP doesn’t appear to be able to turn to a single person in any of these groups. Which cannot be good for her children.

No play dates at all, ever? If it’s not possible or easy for some of the children to go out - is it also impossible for her to invite her children’s friends to visit? Or to find some means for them to have a social life.

And in such a situation one would surely, more than ever, need a close, positive relationship with the children’s school. This again, the OP states is not happening.

I honestly do realise how difficult life can be. But it seems a shame that the OP’s isolation is being passed onto her children - who will have no model for social integration as they grow up.

BusterGonad · 06/02/2020 09:34

DDIJ I'm making a point that the op must see people everyday. Surely her kids go to school or nursery. It's all a bit dramatic.

slartibarti · 06/02/2020 09:35

Don't your 2 children with SN see anyone such as nursery workers or health professionals who could sign?

DDIJ · 06/02/2020 09:35

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Wolfff · 06/02/2020 09:37

Do any of your family have friends who are Civil Servants Local Govt Officers etc. I have signed for someone I have met a couple of times who was a friend of my daughters for a long time.

Librarian? Any activities your kids go to?

Original poster
PumpkinP · 06/02/2020 09:37

We don’t live near the school, yes the school mums
Probably recognise me but I’m not going to ask a stranger.

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 06/02/2020 09:38

I think when you are a parent you do need to push yourself to have some sort of social circle. It really isn’t healthy to bring your children up so isolated.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 06/02/2020 09:38

Don't your 2 children with SN see anyone such as nursery workers or health professionals who could sign?

My older 2 are primary age and no they don’t see any professionals regularly

OP posts:
maryberryslayers · 06/02/2020 09:42

Do you not go to the dentist every 6 months? They could definitely do it for you.

BusterGonad · 06/02/2020 09:44

DDIJ you don't think it's a bit dramatic to start a thread saying you don't know anyone else apart from your kids? That you couldn't possibly ask anither human being to sign a photo of your kids and fill in a bit of a form. I think it's very unusual personally, surely when you have kids you say hello in the playground to other parents, speak with the teacher occasionally, with young kids you go to baby groups in the local village hall or at the children's centre where there are loads of staff to get familiar with, see the nurse at the gp for immunisations, show your face around your local area, even the receptionist at your gp could do it, I just cannot believe it's that difficult.

ineedaholidaynow · 06/02/2020 09:46

What about the younger two? Do they go to childcare?

slartibarti · 06/02/2020 09:48

We don’t live near the school, yes the school mums Probably recognise me but I’m not going to ask a stranger

As long as they recognise you and have been around for 2 years it doesn't matter if you think they're a stranger.
Just ask, most people want to help and if they can't do it they might know someone who can.
Then ask someone else and keep asking till you get the signatures.
It's either that or not having passports. What have you got to lose?

Unsureursula · 06/02/2020 09:48

A bank manager can also sign...