Any ex-nurses countersigned passport forms?

rosie383

I know that nurses and retired nurses can sign passport applications and I did so for friends many times when I was working for over twenty years. I came off the register (as an RGN) about 6 years ago and now work from home.
When I contacted the UK passport office to inquire, they just sent me the link of the list of professional people who can sign. I don't need the link for that list, I just want to know if anyone has been in the situation of signing as an ex-professional, or getting an ex-professional to sign.

My friend has asked me to be the countersignatory for her two children but I don't want to waste her time or money if they reject the application because of the signature.

benjus

The system is ridiculous, isn't it? They just give a vague list of example professions and some vague guidance, but ultimately it just comes down to what the passport officer decides when they review the application. At a guess I'd say that how strict they are about the countersignatory depends on whether they have any doubts about the application itself. Just because it worked for someone else doesn't necessarily mean it will work in this case.

Don't know if you've seen these guidance notes: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118585/countersignatories.pdf but it does say:

NOTE: An unemployed person who has appropriate credentials is not precluded from countersigning an application.

I don't know anything about nursing - are you still entitled to use the RGN qualification? If not I'd say you can't countersign.

rosie383

I could still use the RGN letters after my name if I was so inclined, but I wouldn't. If I wanted to go back on the register I would just have to do a return to practice short course, so yes, I think looking at the guidelines I would still be classed as having a professional qualification.

I did find the guidelines earlier and I'm more inclined to think that I can sign.

InsideInsurance

The list includes things as vague as "manager of a VAT-registered company" (see https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications) so even the team manager at your local supermarket or news agent can sign them

Technically it just mentions retired people being fine to sign rather than those that have had a career change. Have signed several friends applications over the years and never once been contacted to validate either my right to sign it or my relationship with the applicant.

rosie383

From what I saw on the guidelines it looks as if they would come to the countersignatory for further clarification rather than just reject the application outright. I would be fine with this, and could happily give them the details of my former employer, a hospital that I worked at for about 13 years and who have given me references when needed.
I just would not want my friend to waste money as she really couldn't afford it.