No one to sign DD’s passport renewal!!

[Pinkloveheartpjs]

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.

GP, dentist, teachers, post office, police they will verify the ID. Post office has a fee. The rest are free I think.
Ask your manager, the two years is an estimate.
If you go with your kid and the photo to a solicitor they will verify it for 10 pounds.

When I did it it was usually when they had had more than one child in school and I had taught the older one/s more than two years ago. In primary school you do get to know the parents.

Yes it does, depending how old the child is. I’m just renewing my son’s, it has he baby photo on his old one and he is now 6. Obviously he looks very different so am having to get the photo countersigned.

Doctors campaigned to be taken off the list.

It was taking up a lot of GP appointments and let's face it, being registered with a GP doesn't mean they 'know ' you, you might only go once every few years.

And as above one angry experience is enough to make you say no to all requests.

Somebody I know used their local off license manager (of post office) who they bought beers off for the last few years. As long as they know you are who you say you are and know you have a child your local post office might be happy to do that for your girl.

A colleague of mine got a call at school.

Others might have said this (apologies, haven’t read entire thread) but the person signing just needs to be of “good standing in the community” I believe - they give a list of example professions but the list isn’t exclusive and they basically mean, don’t get the local drug dealer to sign it! A friend would be acceptable as long as they’ve know you for two years.

It doesn't mean just not having a criminal conviction... there's a list...https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

My profession is on the list and I tend to get asked about 10 times a year by old school friends/former colleagues etc. It doesn't have to be someone you see on a regular basis now. Teachers are fine, doctors aren't unless they know you outside of being a patient

I’m a teacher and do it for friends but not pupils, because it says:

• be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)

I can’t see how anyone can read that and think they can ask their child’s teacher, unless they also know them outside of school? Not to mention, it’s unlikely their current teacher has known the parents 2 years+ unless there are older siblings who they’ve previously taught.

Under 12s need a countersignature
They are signing to say they have known the parent for at least 2 years and to say the photo is a true likeness of the child

My neighbour signed ours as she is a nurse. Previously another neighbour signed as she was in the police.

GPs aren't allowed to sign unless you know them as a friend and not just as a doctor.

My neighbour who is a teacher did my sons only last year.

I have countersigned the step children of my ex's brother, when I only knew them for a year. I worked at a bank at the time (2004) and said I knew them for 2 years. They got their passports without issue. My mum countersigned my ex's photos as the backing of his passport was coming away. He was advised to get a new passport by the security staff at the airport as he could have problems later. She only knew him about a year then too.

Don't think the passport office has time and resources to check on everyone. Providing surname are not the same as theirs, mother's (current and previous) -it doesn't look fishy.

Teachers can do it for friends/colleagues, but not pupils.

My experience is that, if you are someone who can countersign passports, you get asked a lot and won't be surprised to be asked by people who you aren't particularly close to.

I'd be asking neighbours, school/nursery friends parents, ex-school friends of yours or your dh's, people like that. What about your dh's friends or colleagues? It doesn't matter if they don't know you, they only need to know one parent.

I am a teacher and this is incorrect.

You can ask someone you worked with several years ago, you may not have seen them for ages, but if you met them over two years ago if they still know you it satisfies it.

'a person of good standing in their community’

What qualifies as one? Have been a member of the wombling group for 4 years now and get young children doing it - some picks are not suitable for children. Could a parent of one of these children ask one of the main organisers of the wombling group for example?

Registered Childminders can sign

I did a renewal for my daughter and as her 1st was baby had to get it signed. Guess for older ones you don't.

See my comment @10:32am

Also, I don't believe they 'get arsey' with you on this never ending basis. Not least because no teachers have that kind of communication with parents

I’m in primary and have twice daily communication with parents at the door. I had some incredibly arsey conversations with parent about passports! I was very glad when the head made a blanket ban and told us we were not expected to do it any more.

In my 30 years teaching I signed dozens of passports. I also had some parents get quite nasty when I refused to do theirs as I didn't know them from Adam.

It's time consuming and a pain in the backside. And the comments from some previous posters show once again that some people think that they 'own' the rights to decide what you can refuse to do.

My GP used a charge to contersign passports - they now refuse outright.

I have no idea what anybody I went to school with is doing now. Not kept in touch with any of them.

My DH had to use a notary - it cost £50

Have you looked to see if any people you know have the criteria as in members of a profession- the scaffolders you know might ?

Teachers are still on the authorised list
Recognised professions
Examples of recognised professions include:

• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• chairman or director of a limited company
• chiropodist
• commissioner for oaths
• councillor, for example local or county
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
• engineer with professional qualifications
• financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• Justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
• licensee of a public house
• local government officer
• manager or personnel officer of a limited company
• member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• Member of Parliament
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
• nurse (RGN or RMN)
• officer of the armed services
• optician
• paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
• pharmacist
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher or lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agent (qualified)
• valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
• Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers