Passport Countersign

Becca95

Hello,

Quick one I have signed passports in the past but i was working as a accounts administrator covering a large customer database. Never had any issues, now i am working as a PA to a managing director of 2 companies. Will i still be able to countersign a passport?

sheramber

Do you come into any of the required categories

https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

DomRavioli

Becca95 wrote: »

Hello,

Quick one I have signed passports in the past but i was working as a accounts administrator covering a large customer database. Never had any issues, now i am working as a PA to a managing director of 2 companies. Will i still be able to countersign a passport?

Your occupation at the time meant you should never have "signed passports" as and administrator isn't a recognised profession for countersignatories.

Neither is a PA. So, no, unless you have professional memberships which supercede such things, but I'm highly doubting that.

benjus

DomRavioli wrote: »

Your occupation at the time meant you should never have "signed passports" as and administrator isn't a recognised profession for countersignatories.

Thing is, there's no concrete definition of "recognised profession for countersignatories". The list given on the passport office website is a list of examples - it does not define the term.

The passport office guidelines specify:

a Member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, a professionally qualified person (e.g. doctor, engineer, lawyer, teacher), local councillor, bank officer, established civil servant, Police Officer; or a person of similar standing.

...

While there is no qualification for a "person of similar standing" this may be interpreted in the widest sense, but it must always be borne in mind that a countersignature should normally be someone who:
• has qualifications that can be checked; and,
• it is believed will not risk a career or reputation by knowingly making an untrue statement in completing the countersigning section of an application form.

Someone handling accounts for a large organisation might be assumed to meet those criteria - I don't know what exact position the OP had. I'm assuming that the OP was honest when filling out the passport form and the applications were successful. However, I agree that PA would probably not qualify.

smudge56

Becca95 wrote: »

Hello,

Quick one I have signed passports in the past but i was working as a accounts administrator covering a large customer database. Never had any issues, now i am working as a PA to a managing director of 2 companies. Will i still be able to countersign a passport?

Yes you can countersign a passport application - guidelines are that you would have something to lose (job, reputation etc) if you lied on the application.

gettingtheresometime

The good news is that a person doesn't need to have their photos signed anymore if they are just renewing a passport and they are still recognisable from their old photo

smudge56

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

The good news is that a person doesn't need to have their photos signed anymore if they are just renewing a passport and they are still recognisable from their old photo

That's always been the case. Only children under 12 and anyone who can't be recognised from their old passport photo have to have their application countersigned and photo certified

[Deleted User]

DomRavioli wrote: »

Your occupation at the time meant you should never have "signed passports" as and administrator isn't a recognised profession for countersignatories.

Neither is a PA. So, no, unless you have professional memberships which supercede such things, but I'm highly doubting that.

Why should we doubt the OP has professional membership - just because they are a PA? :mad:

Where I work, a few years ago our department were all 'invited' to apply to a professional body for membership. Many applied and being technically qualified, I was granted Member status, others with less experience gained Associate status. Nevertheless, my point is that we are now all able to countersign each others applications. If I leave my current job and work as a toilet cleaner, I'll still be a 'Member' complete with letters after my name and should therefore still be able to countersign.

Primrose82

Just be aware that the passport office are now doing more secondary checks on counter signatories and have contacted employers directly, returning applications when not satisfied