Passport

InsideInsurance

peachyprice wrote: »

I can understand why TBH. GP's have hundreds of patients, when the UKPA phone them to verify that the signed the form and they have known you for x number of years etc., check your address etc., you can't expect GP's to have that info to hand.

Agreed, hence why I say it sounds reasonable. Never had any calls from IPS to validate my counter signature though.

The irish passport is at least easier as it doesnt require a certification of knowing them just to say that you confirm the photo looks like the person.

peachyprice

Two of my countersignatories have been contacted, I now give them a sheet with full details of whoever they've signed for, just in case.

Prothet_of_Doom

Pretty much everyone I know then?

benjus

A question that just occurred to me: is a godparent eligible to countersign? The guidance notes say "They can’t be closely related or involved with the person applying". Bit vague...

I was just about to ask my godfather if he'd countersign my son's passport form, then started wondering if it would actually be against the rules.

Twisted_Cherry

benjus wrote: »

A question that just occurred to me: is a godparent eligible to countersign? The guidance notes say "They can’t be closely related or involved with the person applying". Bit vague...

I was just about to ask my godfather if he'd countersign my son's passport form, then started wondering if it would actually be against the rules.

I would have thought a Godparent in one of the categories mentioned would be ok. For instant my Godparent is a retired nurse. If in doubt give the passport office a call.

As for GP's my GP surgery won't countersign, even if patients offer to pay - they claim it takes up too much time! :rotfl:

peachyprice

benjus wrote: »

A question that just occurred to me: is a godparent eligible to countersign? The guidance notes say "They can’t be closely related or involved with the person applying". Bit vague...

I was just about to ask my godfather if he'd countersign my son's passport form, then started wondering if it would actually be against the rules.

Is he of an allowed profession? If yes, then I don't see why not, a godparent is not a relative afterall and he's not your son's godparent.

I got my husbands step father who was a teacher at the time, to sign our sons, he was no blood relation to my sons at all and wasn't closely involved with them, not unlike your godfather not being directly involved with your son.

smudge56

mum2one wrote: »

Fruit and nut case - I thought it was weird there was no doctor listed - unless it could be the costs that are incurred to the individual, when I renewed my daughters passport her ballet teacher did it for her. x

A Doctor can have around 3000 patients and cannot be expected to recognise all of them by photo only. A doctor is quite acceptable if known as a friend

DigForVictory

Sounds like your pick is a goer, OP, so long as he has a current passport.
You'd be surprised how many folk don't these days!

benjus

peachyprice wrote: »

Is he of an allowed profession? If yes, then I don't see why not, a godparent is not a relative afterall and he's not your son's godparent.

I got my husbands step father who was a teacher at the time, to sign our sons, he was no blood relation to my sons at all and wasn't closely involved with them, not unlike your godfather not being directly involved with your son.

Except that when countersigning a child's passport, the countersignatory is certifying their relationship with the person making the application, not the child.

It just occurred to me that a godparent is one of the closest formalised relationships outside blood or marriage.

Anyway, I've found someone else now so it's all academic. Curious to see what people thought, though.

Kynthia

It's not a definitive list as I know others working for employers who have been confirmed they can countersign but aren't on that list. Also anyone who is a member of a professional body can sign.


When they say that the countersigning person can't be related or 'involved' with the individual the direct.gov website defines that as being related by birth or marriage, in a relationship with them or live at the same address.