ID check for passport - why is this so difficult?

[raindayrain]

Has anyone ever been asked to do an identity check for a passport application? Is it a really complex/difficult thing?

I am a relatively quiet/introverted person and my job requires me to move working locations very frequently, and so it’s been impossible to establish any lasting relationships with colleagues. Since having a baby, I’ve felt socially isolated and I know I need to get out more and make friends, but it’s just been difficult not really connecting with anyone in my area. I only have a few close friends from university I’d chat to probably once a week. My extended family all live far away.

So now comes a time when I need to sort out my passport application - you need an identity referee who’s known you for 2 years as a friend/neighbour/colleague (not just professionally). I’ve texted my neighbour of many many years to see if they’d be happy to confirm my identity - they didn’t reply and when I politely asked again, they were really short and while they did agree, it gave really reluctant vibes (the kind where you know you shouldn’t ask again). They are neighbours I thought we had a good relationship with: we collect posts/bins when away/send holiday cards/always have a really nice chat when we see each other. I’ve asked a friend too who said they would, but they haven’t and just keep delaying things. It just really breaks my heart that I haven’t ?integrated into society? It feels like something is really wrong with me that I can’t even apply for a new passport.

It’s now super awkward going in and out of the house bumping into our neighbours. I really regret asking them in the first place and feel like I really don’t want to have to see them again.

AIBU? Anyone who’s done it for other people care to say what the process actually involves? If it takes ages and is overly complicated then I guess I’d understand.

Yeah, I'm on the list as a pretty obvious profession (lawyer) but my H has countersigned loads based on having been a youth worker with an NVQ level 2 for a few years in his early 20s. Likewise my sister signs as a tattooist and my SIL as a hairdresser.

The list just says 'examples' of appropriate professions with the caveat that you can also just be a person of good standing in the community.

Basically unless you're an unemployed ex convict or something pretty much everyone qualifies!

I don't think this is a thing in the UK, unless the pp has some special insider info that isn't made public. The only way to get an appointment for a passport office in the UK is for a fasttrack passport service, but they're not available for a first adult passport. And if you don't need a first passport, just a renewal, then you shouldn't need a witness to your application anyway, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

I'm confused now, are you saying you can have your passport signed by the Post Office or that random other countries do different things?

I have learnt not to ask neighbours. I once popped round to ask them to witness a document for me. Bless them, it really stressed them out. I will not do that again.

But why not just ask one of your old uni friends? It's all done online now anyway. So you put their email address in and then get a form or something and do it that way.

@VisionsOfSplendour I think@greenacrylicpaint means other countries do it differently. In NZ they are witnessed by justice of the peace. You take your other proof of identity to them and they sign that you have these documents with you. No reason this function can’t be done at a passport office at other countries. We don’t have randoms on a list of professions to say you look like the person on the photo.

Actually thinking about it, I think we have to have a personal witness to sign your passport application in NZ too. The justice of the peace is for witnessing certified copies.

There is more to it these days than just writing on the back of a photo, you also have to give quite a lot of information about yourself, which is why I stopped doing them for school parents.

I don't think it's really true that pretty much everyone qualifies.

You’re just saying the person in the photo is the person you know. I’ve done loads, but person needs to be a certain profession. GP will do it for a charge

@Zanatdy GPs are prohibited from doing it unless they know you personally rather than just as your doctor