Don’t have anyone to sign passport

[BlueBurys]

I really want to take my children abroad but don’t have anyone to do their passports. Has anyone been in this situation and what did you do? (Don’t need any suggestions of who can sign it I’m aware and have looked through the list but don’t have anyone that can do it) is there anything else that can be done if you’ve been in this situation?

There’s plenty of mumsnet threads that suggest otherwise

Don't get passports then. You can't find a single person (GP or dentist or postman) anywhere then you can't get passports.

Yes, there have been others in your situation - but you are rare in being totally unwilling to listen to advice.

The passport has to be countersigned, the helpline will tell you no different. It is a legal requirement of getting a first passport.

Very few schools will do this now. Nor will doctors surgeries.

If your neighbours hold British passports , have known you for a few years, and aren’t active mass murderers then they will probably do. As others have said the important factors are that they are “people of good standing,” know you , and hold British passports themselves.

OP the “person of good standing in their community” covers all kinds of things eg Scout/Girl Guide leader, your manager at work etc

Do your jkids go to an activity, dancing, football or whatever?

there must be someone. I’m not exactly the world’s most sociable person but how can someone go through life knowing absolutely no one?

in order to get a passport it has to be countersigned. It doesn’t have to be by a professional. Gov.uk below - ask a friend or one of the neighbours.

Your countersignatory must: have known you (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years. be able to identify you, for example they're a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)

You say you’ve asked the school and they’ve said no, but have you approached one of your children’s teachers directly? I’d find it hard to believe a class or subject teacher, depending on your children’s ages, would refuse to sign a passport form. I have signed dozens over the years as a class teacher, a Headteacher and now a retired teacher!

I’ve been in this position before OP.

I found someone to do it.

This is a weird thread.

Why is OP avoiding the obvious solutions to this which so many people have said?

1. Your children's friend's parents
2. Friends of your family members
3. Your boss, or work colleagues.
4. Neighbours

There is no answer to your question, because unless you live alone on the moon, there must be someone who has known you for 2 years?

And if not, then your children cannot get passports. End of.

Yes plenty of Mumsnet threads on this and usually the person then finds someone. The other day someone had got their hairdresser to do it. Someone else had got a relatives neighbour

I do wonder if people who don’t know anyone, don’t have an emergency contacts, are single parents etc manage with their children.

What are they teaching them about life? Right from an early age my children had friends around, sleep overs, birthday parties and whilst I was working full time and rushing around I made it my business to ensure that I knew at least some of the parents. Why wouldn’t you? Ditto the teachers especially in the early years.

Oh there are plenty of people who won’t ask those who are eligible to countersign. There aren’t plenty of people who don’t know anyone eligible though.

You seriously don’t have anyone who knew you as a child or teenager - teacher, vicar, professional friend of your parents, and none of the parents in your children’s class, none of your current or former neighbours, no friends of siblings or friends of friends meet the very wide criteria. You’ve never rented or bought a property, never had your hair cut by the same person more than once, don’t use any regular services. Surely you can see that makes you very very unusual!

currently waiting for my kids school to sign ours, have been waiting over a week you can try nursery's my first applications as kids have been renewed was done by oldest's nursery but they closed down a fw years back. call the passport office and see if you can get support that way. doctors don't do it. hopefully you sort it out just ask anyone local shop?

How about holidaying in the Great British Isles? I recommend Northumberland. Anyone else know a nice place to go?

Do you not work op? Have you never worked? Do you not have a family member who has a friend who knows you? Have you never been friends with anyone? Chatted to a class parent? I'm not hugely sociable myself but unless you're a recluse, there will be someone.

I'm not a professional in anyway, ( low pay retail, no professional qualifications) but I have a passport, I was able to sign for my neighbour.

If you don't have anyone who can countersign then you're not getting a passport.

It’s not just one of those things teachers do. We are not allowed to do it at our school. Imagine if every parent asked. Once you say yes to one it opens the floodgates.

Hi OP. Do you know a solicitor or Nurse ? They can sign for you.

I'm a good example of someone who can countersign, but my profession isn't on the list. I'm a person of good standing in the community and I've got a lot to lose by being caught in a lie. So I've been asked to sign loads of applications, all have been accepted without question.

I used to do it, and also witnessed wills, mortgage applications, driving licence applications and loads more, until the passport form started asking me to put on very identifying and personal data which I frankly didn’t want possibly doing the rounds.

Then I suggest you start calling in at your local post office, shop, hairdresser, pub, sign your DC up to some after-school activities, and start speaking to your neighbours. In two years, you’ll be able to get passports.

@viquesits all done online now so the person your signing for doesn’t see anything