Frustrated nurse

Undervalued

rockchick113 said:

Sorry I at the time of writing this I was so confused and frustrated for my wife, having come home to find her in tears as she’d been turned down because of no photo ID, it’s not something she has come across before. Not being able to drive is making it so much harder for her to find a job locally.
but just on the ID thing, if you are  required to have photo ID for jobs, it’s about time the government started on a national ID card system. That’s just my personal opinion..

They more or less have by the back door!

The last Labour government (c. 15 years ago) was introducing one but it was a political "hot potato" so almost the first act of the Cameron / Clegg coalition government in 2010 was to abolish it. Since then the number of things that require some formal photo ID has grown to the point that it is very difficult to manage without.

Regarding your passport photo question, as far as I know the post office cannot sign the application and photos for you (unless you happen to know the sub postmaster well enough). What the PO do is check that the forms etc are correctly filled in.

There is a long list of occupations / people who are eligible to sign passport applications, far more than there use to be. Basically any "professional" person (in the widest sense) of good standing providing they can truthfully say that the know the applicant. Renewal is much easier unless the person's appearance has changed so much in ten years that they cannot reasonably be recognised from the old photo.

There is a good illustrated download showing what is and isn't an acceptable photo. Take care to look at that closely.

Emmia

rockchick113 said:

Emmia said:

rockchick113 said:

Marcon said:

rockchick113 said:

Sorry I at the time of writing this I was so confused and frustrated for my wife, having come home to find her in tears as she’d been turned down because of no photo ID, it’s not something she has come across before. Not being able to drive is making it so much harder for her to find a job locally.
but just on the ID thing, if you are  required to have photo ID for jobs, it’s about time the government started on a national ID card system. That’s just my personal opinion..

The possibility of a national ID card has come up more than once and been rejected by Parliament.

Learning to drive is expensive, as is running a car, so I can see that might not be an immediate option. Is she the sort of person who might take to learning to drive a motor scooter or motor bike, if having that level of mobility would help her job search?

But what's the objection to getting a passport? It'll make life so much easier to have such a universally accepted document. Easy to do online https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport If she gets her photo taken locally in an 'approved' supplier of passport photos - most high streets in largish locations have such a shop - they check on the spot that it is acceptable to the passport office and will give her a code she can enter when applying online. £82.50 well spent, if a bit ouch!

MACKEM99 said:

We did our passports at the post office a while ago it was very easy they did all the paperwork, took our photos and sent it off.  They provided details by text and it took less than 2 weeks.  We even had a photo by email of them delivering it to our door.

Thank you 
driving isn’t an option, I’m going to sort her a passport out, I didn’t know the post office did all the paper work, how does that work with having a signed photo, or is that not a thing these days. ! 

Would this be a first passport for your wife? Requirements are different if it is.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport

She had one that expired in 1996. She does have it somewhere, but I’m guessing being so old, it would be applying for a new one, so name change due to marriage 

As it's after 1994 expiry it should be a renewal (as long as she can find it) avoiding the interview.

Marcon

rockchick113 said:

Marcon said:

rockchick113 said:

Sorry I at the time of writing this I was so confused and frustrated for my wife, having come home to find her in tears as she’d been turned down because of no photo ID, it’s not something she has come across before. Not being able to drive is making it so much harder for her to find a job locally.
but just on the ID thing, if you are  required to have photo ID for jobs, it’s about time the government started on a national ID card system. That’s just my personal opinion..

The possibility of a national ID card has come up more than once and been rejected by Parliament.

Learning to drive is expensive, as is running a car, so I can see that might not be an immediate option. Is she the sort of person who might take to learning to drive a motor scooter or motor bike, if having that level of mobility would help her job search?

But what's the objection to getting a passport? It'll make life so much easier to have such a universally accepted document. Easy to do online https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport If she gets her photo taken locally in an 'approved' supplier of passport photos - most high streets in largish locations have such a shop - they check on the spot that it is acceptable to the passport office and will give her a code she can enter when applying online. £82.50 well spent, if a bit ouch!

Thank you 
driving isn’t an option, I’m going to sort her a passport out, I didn’t know the post office did all the paper work, how does that work with having a signed photo, or is that not a thing these days. ! 

Doing it online is the easiest and quickest route. The 'signed photo' bit has had its day (happily!) - see above.

General_Grant

Also be aware that, in addition to the Passport Office charge for the passport itself, the Post Office service incurs a fee - more than what you would pay simply for the photo (with a code for online applications).