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Original poster

DS signed passport in black Sharpie!

121 replies

Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 21:24

Hi there,

The signature looks nice and neat and is at the right place, and it's not too thick for a Sharpie, but it's supposed to be with a ball-point pen. We travel on Sunday so no time to do anything about it but now I am panicking that we will be turned down at the airport and I was wondering if anyone ever travelled with a signature in the wrong ink/pen fully and still got through? Or not?

Thank you so much!

OP posts:
CoffeeDrinkerLatte · 21/07/2023 23:04

My husband didn’t sign his passport, we didn’t realise and we’ve been to America on it three times and Greece twice. Never spotted!

Buffypaws · 21/07/2023 23:05

Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 22:07

@Buffypaws that makes me feel so much better. The more I think about it the more I think they're really not going to care. They look at the photo, and make sure that the name matches the boarding card surely?

Yes I was shitting myself about it but I’ve got four flights on the new passport and no one has mentioned it. I don’t think anyone looks at the signature.

MillicentBystandr · 21/07/2023 23:05

Swearwolf · 21/07/2023 21:58

I'm guessing it's because you can apply online now and the online form has nowhere to upload a signature. Might be different if you use the paper application form.

Thats not it because I did mine online…photo and everything.
The signature is a copy of a digital one I did when applying online.

Perhaps that’s why they stopped? My digital signature is more a set of initials than a signature.

Otzi · 21/07/2023 23:07

I shouldn't think it'll be a problem. I literally can't think what use the signature is now anyway. I mean, you sign it at home, there's no sample/control, the bloody thing doesn't even arrive registered post these days ... the entire fucking system is so full of holes I don't see what difference it would make what pen you use. You could sign it with your fucking foot or your ear or any damn thing.

BestBadger · 21/07/2023 23:09

dementedpixie · 21/07/2023 22:09

Same thing surely

Show quote history

Obviously not.

Dreamstosell · 21/07/2023 23:12

My (adult) son has just had his new passport delivered and printed on the passport is signature not required (or words to that effect). No idea why. No digital copy of his signature either

Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 23:15

@Otzi 🤣 hope you're right. Yes it all just seems completely messed up. I picked up the passport for him, he did not have to be present but I had to show a letter written and signed by DS stating that he gave me permission to pick up the passport. But how did they know for sure that he wrote it himself?

OP posts:
Otzi · 21/07/2023 23:15

Is he possibly a spy?

Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 23:16

🤣

OP posts:
Otzi · 21/07/2023 23:18

Sorry, that comment about spies was to a pp.

But yeah OP it's not exactly difficult to get a hold of a passport now I feel. 'I've got a note from my mum' ... aye right. Here you are then, you big old bona fide British citizen.

marcopront · 21/07/2023 23:24

If you open a bank account in India you have to sign the form about 10 times with the same signature as the one on your passport. It took me about three forms
Then when you want to do anything at the bank you have to use the same signature. They used to show me my signature before I signed the form.

worldsworsthangover · 21/07/2023 23:25

My passport came a few weeks ago, and the children's too, there's says 'holder not required to sign' or something

Op, you could always give the passport office a ring if it will help you relax ? I'm sure it's fine, I'm sure the slip that came with mine didn't state what pen, it just said to sign it immediately I think.

And I thought they looked black too ! Or very very dark blue

Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 23:25

Oh sorry @Otzi , of course it was 🤣
Anyway, crazy world we live in.
Come to think of it, I could have written and signed the permission letter myself AND signed the passport. That way it would have been done properly in black ball point pen 🤣

OP posts:
mamaduckbone · 21/07/2023 23:27

Sorry, I have no idea...but my Dh and 2 ds all had to sign their new passports at the airport as they hadn't realised they needed to. I still have a red EU passport and mine is preprinted

User894532765 · 21/07/2023 23:31

One thing I have learned from this thread is they aren't very consistent

AppleKatie · 21/07/2023 23:39

sorry OP no idea If it will matter or not.

but just here to throw my 2pence in about how stupid and pointless signatures are. Completely meaningless unless there is some central record to check to which in this case there is not.

Gardengirl108 · 21/07/2023 23:41

Tulipvase · 21/07/2023 21:41

Thanks for this, my son hasn’t signed his. Perhaps it’s a good thing his school trip was aborted! Would this mean you can’t travel, if it’s unsigned?

No, husband hadn’t signed his Irish passport last week when he travelled and was just asked to sign it then and there. He’d travelled on it at least 3 times before anyone had noticed.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 21/07/2023 23:42

No need for sarcasm @KateyCuckoo
For people who obtained their passport in 2019 and had the signature scanned from their application it is a surprise that passport office has apparently gone back in time requesting actual signature on the passport.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 21/07/2023 23:43

Gowlett · 21/07/2023 21:52

Could you sticker a new signature over it?
Or, would that a bit dodgy, now I think…

Bloody hell whatever you do, do not do this!

NewNovember · 21/07/2023 23:56

Viviennemary · 21/07/2023 22:23

What on earth is a sharpie.

How can you not know this?

RichardMarxisinnocent · 22/07/2023 00:05

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 21/07/2023 23:42

No need for sarcasm @KateyCuckoo
For people who obtained their passport in 2019 and had the signature scanned from their application it is a surprise that passport office has apparently gone back in time requesting actual signature on the passport.

I have a passport issued in 2019 and I needed to add my signature to the actual passport. My previous one to that had a scammed signature.

FFSwhatisthis · 22/07/2023 00:17

Tulipvase · 21/07/2023 21:42

Also he’s 12, he doesn’t have a signature……

I'm 54 & I don't have 'a signature'. 😂

I laugh but it's really not funny, I try really hard, but I just don't. I had to sign one document 3 times on one page, even though trying really hard it looked like it had been signed y 3 different people 💁🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

@Compotesandcakes how old is he??

what will you do if they refuse him??

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/07/2023 05:05

Gowlett · 21/07/2023 21:52

Could you sticker a new signature over it?
Or, would that a bit dodgy, now I think…

That would be WAY worse, think about it... for a second?

OP theres a good chance he's not leaving the country with it :(

miraveille · 22/07/2023 05:16

A good chance? How did you work that out @WiddlinDiddlin ??!

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/07/2023 05:22

Well.. passports are checked by humans. Whether a signature is valid or not can be down to human judgement.

There is a chance if theres a rush the signature may not be checked or may be glanced at quickly.

However theres also a strong chance if it is looked it, as its not ballpoint pen, it may be rejected - big fat marker pen could be used to cover a previous signature.

But thats just from a friend who checks passports, shes probably making it all up for shits and giggles.

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