Passport

[hamjamwitch]

Really struggling to find someone to give me a reference for my passport application. My dentist left and has gone private. I don't know any other professionals. Wtf can I do?

Oh not this again!
Whole thread on this the other week. Teachers (and other similar professionals) cannot sign for passports u less they know you in a personal capacity. Our HT has told us all we are to refuse any requests from parents.

Do you know anyone who is a carer? They are not on the list but my friend is a carer and often countersigns peoples passports as they are classed as of good standing in the community.

Just trying to help!?!

Well what sort of people do you know? You're not being very helpful to people trying to advise.

Are you on Facebook or other social media? Put a post on your personal page asking if any of your friends can counter sign your passport

Well if you don't have any friends...what about friends of your family? Do you have parents? siblings? Do they have any friends in roles like that who knows you?

Do you know your best mates boss? Ie the shop owner?

Anyone self employed? Many of those types of jobs can sign.

The list isn’t exhaustive. My friend signed my husband’s and she works as a carer.

There must be a school parent you can ask. Or can ask on a class whatsapp/Facebook group etc? Or a local Facebook page if you're not in a school group depending on the age of your kids.

What about your son's friends parents? What do they do? I have signed a few passport applications/ wills POAs to people I met on the school run.

Or a parent from a hobby/ activity.

Oh and for future reference, you don't need to 'know' the police officer, you just present at the station with your passport.

Well I'm speculating here, but your friend from school might be a police officer. Or they might be married to one. Or your mate from the pub might be one. Or the goalie from your five a side football team. Or your next-door neighbour. This is not an exhaustive list of ways you might know someone.

Your countersignatory must have known you personally for at least 2 years, for a British passport.

Had this problem myself, frustrating when people won’t accept you don’t know anyone who can countersign… most of my friends are on benefits and not deemed good enough to sign a passport … the ones that work well they deliver for Amazon and one works as a carer for a disabled person … still not good enough apparently … eventually I got my hairdresser to do it since she is a registered business owner and I’ve been her client for years. But not everyone can afford to go to a salon regularly , defo smacks of snobbery… you need to know the right type of people working in the right type of job to be deemed good enough to get a passport.

Again, this is not correct for a British passport application. How would a random police officer know that you are who you say you are?

Tbf am not in Britain, am in ROI..

They don't tbh, I assume everyone in Britain doesn't know their local officer ( or are you all terribly criminal 😂)

These threads are so irritating. OP you have neighbours and as long as it's not Fred fucking West you'll be fine.

In fact, your friend who works in the shop will be absolutely fine. Or does she deal drugs on the side? For pp, why didn't you just ask one of your mates who is "a person of good standing in their community"? They can also be on benefits, that doesn't rule them out.

In fairness some of the comments are more about demonstrating superiority than actual help.

Op I have no suggestions. It tricky. Doctor is my best.

Ahh I see OP, do you know anyone that works at your local council or a parent at school that works within the list, there are so many professions listed, GP? They may.

I just looked at the rules online and apparently doctors can't counter sign unless they know you in a personal capacity.

Op. Does your DC have any friends with parents who could help?

Do people still stick to these elitist examples of 'professional jobs'?! Any adult that you've known for at least 2 years that's employed and not a criminal will do...

It can't be a teacher, doctor, lawyer etc who you only know through their job. It's got to be someone you know. That could be a friend, neighbour, acquaintance.

If you do the form online the person doesn't need to live local, I did a friend's child's passport recently and they live 200 miles away

Does your son go to school? If so, is there a class WhatsApp group? Just post on there and ask if anyone is qualified to give a reference and wouldn’t mind doing it for you