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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No one to sign DD’s passport renewal!!

387 replies

Pinkloveheartpjs · 15/03/2024 08:45

Trying to renew DD’s passport and we have no one to sign. I could ask my manager but she hasn’t known me for 2 years and I wouldn’t want to put her in that position to lie for us.

I have 2 friends both SAHM, DH doesn’t have anyone he can ask the person he did ask doesn’t have a passport.

What on earth do we do?

I have so many people I could ask at work as I’m a HR professional but I haven’t know them two years.

OP posts:
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16
SuzieSaturday · 16/03/2024 08:20

sunshinestar1986 · 16/03/2024 05:10

Just a little rant about how annoying and complicated this is.
It's really the governments fault
Why are they making it so hard for people?
Any friend should be able to counter sign
Why exactly are they discriminating against someone who works in a shop?For example like an assistant
I mean, who's more likely to have a problem with this, obviously the working class!

The shop manager can sign it

Lovelyview · 16/03/2024 08:40

I'm finding this thread a bit frustrating. You need to find one person who has known you for any two years of your life (they don't need to know your DC) who meets the criteria provided by the passport office. Surely there's someone op?

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 08:48

user1477391263 · 16/03/2024 01:21

OP, have you just moved to a new area? It does sound like you need a wider social network, to be honest.

I always think of stuff like this when I see one of the endless post-COVID threads about “AIBU to be a homebody who just is content to stay at home and watch Netflix and potter in my garden?” Etc.

People do have a responsibility to create and maintain social networks, IMO - because if they don’t, the next thing that happens is: they are having an issue with something in their life, and when someone asks “Do you not have a friend who have help you?”will respond that “Oh, I can’t XYZ because I don’t really have friends/have hardly any friends.”

As the “Just ask your child’s teacher etc. to sign” thing indicates, one consequence of people not having proper social networks is that they become over-reliant on government services instead, adding to the burdens these services already face.

Thi is not about having friends though is it, it's about having friends who are professionals, managers or own their own business. OP knows plenty of people in ordinary jobs.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 08:49

DappledThings · 15/03/2024 15:43

You're not at square one, lots of us have said the scaffolder or the dinner lady will be fine.

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But offered no proof for it. I'm sceptical.

Willyoubuymeahouseofgold · 16/03/2024 08:50

I'm a teacher and I'm "allowed". "😂😂😂

trollopolis · 16/03/2024 08:55

Pinkloveheartpjs · 15/03/2024 17:46

Didn’t need one for her first passport

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It's impossible to get a first passport without countersignatory

OhItsOnlyCynthia · 16/03/2024 09:20

Pinkloveheartpjs · 15/03/2024 17:46

Didn’t need one for her first passport

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You must have misremembered this, you can't get a first passport with a countersignature. Maybe your husband will be able to remember who signed for it.

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:21

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 08:49

But offered no proof for it. I'm sceptical.

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Other than saying my job is an admin one, not on the the list and I've signed successfully.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:23

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:21

Other than saying my job is an admin one, not on the the list and I've signed successfully.

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Doesn't mean it's really allowed though does it? Lots of people have gotten away with things and had no problems, doesn't mean that's the rule.

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:26

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:23

Doesn't mean it's really allowed though does it? Lots of people have gotten away with things and had no problems, doesn't mean that's the rule.

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The list is suggestive, it doesn't state it is absolute and that not being strictly on there makes you ineligible.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:31

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:26

The list is suggestive, it doesn't state it is absolute and that not being strictly on there makes you ineligible.

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Yes, but it's clearly aimed at professionals and managers and not ordinary jobs. The ones not on there are usually more modern professions.
I saw on the thread that a software engineer was refused for someone. I suppose because they don't have a regulatory body.

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:35

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:31

Yes, but it's clearly aimed at professionals and managers and not ordinary jobs. The ones not on there are usually more modern professions.
I saw on the thread that a software engineer was refused for someone. I suppose because they don't have a regulatory body.

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Still makes it somewhat pointless to moan about not knowing anyone who can sign when they haven't even tried.

The software engineer may have been refused for not filling in correctly or anything.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:47

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:35

Still makes it somewhat pointless to moan about not knowing anyone who can sign when they haven't even tried.

The software engineer may have been refused for not filling in correctly or anything.

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I don't know, that's a bit like saying not to complain about the time it takes to go somewhere before trying to speed and seeing if you get caught for it.

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:51

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2024 09:47

I don't know, that's a bit like saying not to complain about the time it takes to go somewhere before trying to speed and seeing if you get caught for it.

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No it isn't. Speed limits are black and white and absolute. The list of people allowed to sign is not.

marcopront · 16/03/2024 10:33

Willyoubuymeahouseofgold · 16/03/2024 08:50

I'm a teacher and I'm "allowed". "😂😂😂

For friends but not for students unless you have known their parents non professionally for more than two years.

sunshinestar1986 · 16/03/2024 10:52

Really?
Then why all the stress all the time!

SilkFloss · 16/03/2024 10:52

As many, MANY others have said already, teachers CAN sign passport renewals and applications but many won't nowadays (personal friends aside). Staff at my school have been expressly forbidden to do so by the Head.
The attitude shown by some posters on here may help to explain why this is.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 16/03/2024 11:01

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 09:26

The list is suggestive, it doesn't state it is absolute and that not being strictly on there makes you ineligible.

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No but there is a good chance that if it’s not on the list it will not be accepted

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 11:17

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 16/03/2024 11:01

No but there is a good chance that if it’s not on the list it will not be accepted

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I'd say possibility rather than good chance. Still pointless insisting there's nobody available who can sign it and not even trying.

TimeandMotion · 16/03/2024 16:40

@DappledThings ”suggestive” doesn’t mean what you think it means…

SauvignonBlanche · 16/03/2024 17:00

Are none of your neighbours or acquaintances nurses? There’s a lot of us!

DappledThings · 16/03/2024 17:06

TimeandMotion · 16/03/2024 16:40

@DappledThings ”suggestive” doesn’t mean what you think it means…

I think it does. Are you thinking only of the sexual meaning?

No one to sign DD’s passport renewal!!
TidyRedTraybake · 16/03/2024 17:20

Pinkloveheartpjs · 15/03/2024 08:49

Teachers and GP’s not allowed to anymore

Of course they are!

AnnieSnap · 16/03/2024 17:41

Pinkloveheartpjs · 15/03/2024 08:49

Teachers and GP’s not allowed to anymore

Really? I’m really surprised. When did it change?

MumTeacherofMany · 16/03/2024 17:42

Teachers are still allowed to sign? I'm a teaching assistant and recently signed my friends 2 children's for her