Baby Passport Countersignatory

mizzbiz

Hi all,

We are freaking out about the passport waits at the moment as we go away in four weeks and need a passport for my baby. Anyhoo, managed to get an appointment for 2nd august at my local office. Obviously we can't afford to be turned away so everything has to be perfect or we'll lose the passport and our holiday.

If anyone can help with advice getting his passport photo perfect that would be great.

Our main issue is the countersignatory. Having lived here just over a year, we don't have a doctor etc. that have known us long enough. Even OH has only worked at his place for a year so no signature there. Besides, they have to have known me for two years.

So my options are my mate, who used to be a teacher but no longer teaches. She has the professional qualification but it isn't her current profession.

The other option is a family friend of OH who is an estate agent and they own the company. Obviously they know me through OH and his family and have done for aorund five years but they don't know me well enough for example to know my date of birth, my mum's name etc etc.

So my question is, who would be best placed to do this for us. I'm not sure either are suitable but they are my only options so far. Are these suitable? We cannot get turned away. We will lose 3k on the holiday.

I had no idea, before anyone starts, that this would be an issue. We were given the holiday window last week (no choice on this due to OH work), passport agency said three weeks, I book, fill in the forms then I hear about folks not getting them in time :-(

Thanks in advance

A very fretful mizzbiz

balletshoes

your counter-signatory isn't expected to know your mum's name, you date of birth etc etc, so don't worry about that. They are only signing to say they have known you for at least 2 years. Is there a list of suitable counter-signatories provided by the Passport Agency?

daveyjp

For the photo go to a processing shop which takes them. The will lay baby down on a white cloth and take the photo. A few years ago in Asda it was barely more than the DIY booth.

Balletshoes is right about the counter sig and a company director of a VAT reg company will do.

peachyprice

I would go for the estate agent, he's known 'you' long enough. I usually photocopy the form and give it to the counter-signatory so that they have the info infront of them when/if the passport agency people call, as they often do with childrens first passports.

Don't forget, they also have to have a valid UK passport, details of which have to be entered on the form.

System

mizzbiz wrote: »

So my options are my mate, who used to be a teacher but no longer teaches. She has the professional qualification but it isn't her current profession.

That will be OK. My children's passport apps were countersigned by a neighbour who is a retired teacher. He specifically put on the form that he was retired and it caused no problems.

ETA

The following is from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies-public-bodies/ips/passports-policy-publications/countersignatories?view=Binary

Retired countersignatory
Under the Countersignatory policy a retired person can countersign a passport application form, if they were qualified whilst working. Where it is clear from the application form that the retired countersignatory was suitable this can be accepted. If the retired countersignatory has not provided enough information on the application form, then the form must be rejected on the principle that they don’t appear to be qualified. If the applicant subsequently confirms that the countersignatory was qualified we may accept a written confirmation from the countersignatory, all information should be case noted and documentation scanned.