Passport Signature error

bhindi

 Hi,   I recently received my new updated passport, and failed to read the info regarding signing and stupidly signed below the line  instead of above it.  I have rung the passport office to ask if i have invalidated it, they were pretty useless.  Bascily the response was... It should be fine as long as i don't put a second signature in, but there is no guarantees!...  If you were me, for the sake of £80 should i tell them I have lost it and get a replacement ... I have a luxury holiday i am hoping to take in December which is costing big bucks.. The thought of being refused entry to Australia terrifies me!.. Thanks.  

MysteryMe

Well they weren't pretty useless, they gave you advice, told you not to sign it again but they can't legislate what every immigration officer around the world will do.   If £80 is no object then get it replaced. I assume you need to send the passport in and ask for it to be cancelled but you need to check.  Don't lie and say it's lost when it isn't. It's never a good idea to lie about passports. 

NoodleDoodleMan

Best get it replaced.

The immigration desk at Sydney airport (or where ever) is far too late obviously to discover you have a problem - that's assuming you get on the aircraft in the UK.

For example, will automatic passport reader machines accept your passport if the scan does not recognise a signatute above the line ?

shaun_from_Africa

bhindi said:

If you were me, for the sake of £80 should i tell them I have lost it and get a replacement ... I have a luxury holiday i am hoping to take in December which is costing big bucks.. The thought of being refused entry to Australia terrifies me!.. Thanks.  

Apply for a replacement but don't commit fraud by claiming that you have lost it when this isn't the case.
When replacing a lost or stolen passport, there is a possibility that you may be called to attend an interview and whilst this is unlikely, it may still happen.
Just state that it is damaged due to your signing in the wrong place.
If you don't want to state this as the cause of the damage, simply leave the passport in your trousers and forget to remove it when putting your laundry in the washer.