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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask someone to lie on my passport form?

74 replies

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 12:53

I'm a bit embarrassed to ask someone I don't know very well to say they've known me for 2 years on my passport form.

I have to get a passport for DS, we need it in 3 weeks so I'm just in time to do the post office check and send.

We've lived here for 4 months so the only people I know are NCT friends who do not have a professional occupation they can put down or other evidence of being 'of good standing in the community' (although they are perfectly placed to certify that DS (4 months) is not a tiny dribbling terrorist).

I can only think of the property management agent for our let, or perhaps my doctor? What do people DO in these situations?

OP posts:

YoMoJo · 16/02/2010 11:53

I have signed quite a few through work (teacher) and also personally and have had a couple of phonecalls from the passport agency, usually because applicant was not born in uk, or they have not had a uk passport before.

If I was to get caught lying on a form then I would lose my job.

I had a refugee parent ask to sign her form once but sadly couldnt do it for her. She had been living here with her children for 4 years, but was housed in temporary accomodation & had never been able to stay at one address (and therefore schools, dr's etc) for more than 6 months at a time. The family are settled now, but she had to wait till her children had been on our school roll for 2yrs before she could apply for passports for herself & her children!

You could ask someone that you know to sign as a friend, but I don't know what the implications would be for that friend, should the passport agency phone him/her.

higgle · 16/02/2010 11:58

I used to be a solicitor and I am know of one solicitor who was prosecuted for declaring he had known someone for 2 years when he had not and I have seen similar cases reported in the press. It is not worth the risk of making or asking someone to make a false declaration.

diddl · 16/02/2010 12:26

The whole British Passport is ridiculous-and blöödy patronising re counter signature imo.

We are abroad & it actually says something along the lines of get a British person to sign, but if you cant, a local of equal standing will do!

It makes me ashamed tbh.

Rockbird · 16/02/2010 12:32

My brother and I were applying for brand new passports and we were doing an evening course at the time so asked the tutor. The next week, in front of the entire class he said 'I had a very interesting phone call about you two yesterday from the Irish Embassy...'. So yes, they do check up.

MrsChemist · 16/02/2010 12:43

everylittlebeat I asked a landlady to countersign mine

She was also my boss though, so it's not like I'm just a random regular propping up the bar every night.

amber1979 · 16/02/2010 12:53

It happens with driving licences too - I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to be able to get one at all!

YourCallIsImportant · 16/02/2010 12:54

I countersigned someone's application a couple of years ago and shortly afterwards received a letter from the Passport Office asking me to write to them on headed paper stating my relationship to them and how long I'd known them etc.

This was for people I do know very well, so I had no problem sending back the letter but I'd probably have felt totally otherwise.

Please don't put anyone you don't know well in this position.

titchy · 16/02/2010 12:55

Gobsmacked - most people you know have honours?!!!!!! It means OBEs, MBEs etc, not honours degrees! (Although if you are in a profession which requires a degree that is acceptable as long as you are working).

amber1979 · 16/02/2010 13:06

If that is true YourCall... I can't have a driving licence.. GRRRR.

skybluewinking · 16/02/2010 13:15

And also remind the person signing that it must be in BLACK ink. My solicitor signed my DS's in blue, and I had to get it redone!

Pikelit · 16/02/2010 13:16

"It even includes "licensee of public house" so you could ask the landlord of your old local"

DS2 provides precisely this service. It always amuses him to countersign a passport for a "really grown up person"!

But for the OP, do you not have any friends with any professional qualifications? The Passport Office isn't demanding High Court Judges and Emeritus Professors.

venusonarockbun · 16/02/2010 13:32

Oh I so agree with Expat about the whole countersignatory thing being crap. Most of the categories of people who are deemed professional enough to sign are an absolute joke!. The whole thing needs a complete overhaul.

BigBadMummy · 16/02/2010 14:20

Havent read the whole thread but you do run the risk of being checked up on.

And if they realise that you have only just moved to that area they will ask how you can have known that person for two years.

Don't you have anybody where you lived before that you could send it recorded delivery and have them send it back?

gobsmackedetal · 16/02/2010 15:27

titchy I was being sarcastic....

Straightforwarda · 28/05/2014 18:58

lying on an application form to procure a passport is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution. End of.

Harryban · 02/08/2014 10:53

Basically I applied my first passport 6 weeks ago,and my boss
Done countersign on application form,very next week I have had an argument with me boss and I don't work for him any longer,today I called to passport office and they told me that they sent a letter to your counter signature(referee) two weeks ago but we haven't got no reply from him,I believe he won't won't reply them.i am confused don't know what to do?Any help would be appreciated;)

Mrsjayy · 02/08/2014 10:59

You just didnt land on earth 4 months ago you must know somebody from where you lived before to do it.

deakymom · 02/08/2014 11:09

i ended up with my friends dad doing mine for my driving license she told him of course you know her we used to go to Gb as children thirty years ago! they didnt even check to be fair she would of done it but she is not in the "right occupation"

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 02/08/2014 11:11

Zombie thread!

MyFairyKing · 02/08/2014 11:13

It's far easier to find someone you've known for 2 years, send it special delivery and then arrange for it to get sent back to you. It can be sorted by the end of the next working week.

It sounds like you don't think YABU at all though but you do have another option.

MyFairyKing · 02/08/2014 11:15

Oh fuck, how did I not see this was zombie! Did you get the passport?!

Why do people bump up such old threads?!!

BikeRunSki · 02/08/2014 11:15

As a professional who can, and often has, been a passport referee, I wouldn't do it if you asked.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2014 11:42

I wouldn't either. Not worth the risk of losing my job apart from anything else.

You need to go through the same process to get clearance to work for a third party in a prison. I'm screwed at the moment as my passport is away for renewal!

Fluffyears · 02/08/2014 11:44

My friend signed DP's she's known me for 15 years and him for 2 but only through me. She's a senior carer for disabled adults.

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