I need to find someone to countersign my passport and I'm finding it hard. I'm not registered with a dentist or doctors and with the rule that they have to supply their own passport number I can't see many people wanting to do it.
Virtually anyone who is a member of a professional body is entitled to sign so it's not restricted to doctors and dentists. Check the list of who can sign them again and ask around your friends. As a member of a professional body I have signed them for friends in the past and I'm cheaper than the doctor!
The list is: Accountant Articled clerk of a limited company Assurance agent of recognised company Bank/building society official Barrister Broker Chairman/director of limited company Chemist Chiropodist Christian Science practitioner Commissioner of oaths Councillor: local or county Civil servant (permanent) Dentist Engineer (with professional qualifications) Fire service official Funeral director Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company Journalist Justice of the Peace Legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries) Local government officer Manager/Personnel officer (of limited company) Member of Parliament Merchant Navy officer Minister of a recognised religion Nurse (SRN and SEN) Officer of the armed services (active or retired) Optician Person with honours (e.g. OBE MBE etc.) Photographer (professional) Police officer Post Office official President/Secretary of a recognised organisation Salvation Army officer Social worker Solicitor Surveyor Teacher, lecturer Trade union officer Travel agency (qualified) Valuers and auctioneers (fellow and associate members of the incorporated society) Warrant officers and Chief Petty Officers
none I know personally, asked at bank they wont do it. My work can't do it coz I haven't been with them 2 years
I'd just go by the list, it's not just any old degree. Surely you know someone who does the above?
How about previous employer?
Ask at work anyway, the 2 year thing won't be checked up on. The list is that extensive that it's not like you've got to be someone high up in the community. I mean - travel agent? Journalist? Optician?
What about any friends or their parents?
*It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. -- Pierre De Beaumarchais
I've asked opticians and they wont do it. A friend has a BSc in IT with Management, is a facilities manager at a uni and is doing an MBA. That should be good shouldn't it?
My hubby is MCSE qualified and he has counter signed passport applications and they have been accepted by the passport office, so I should imagine a BSc & MBA should be fine.
Not that I've heard of. They would only do that if they encountered some discrepancies in the application I would imagine. I know those who I've had sign mine before now have never been contacted and they've done it for all sorts of people.
Who was the last one when I renewed? Oh yeah I think it was at my old firm, the MD, he was a doctor. They didn't used to have to give their passport number though, maybe that's for the first passport not renewals.
*It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. -- Pierre De Beaumarchais
i'm a teacher and i've signed for some of my students. never been contacted yet - and they don't seem to worry if you don't put your passport number on either!
It'll be the check the person is who they say they are. However, I doubt very much if it's something that is checked on every application, only if there's a discrepancy.
I'm sure you'll find someone, a friend's parent maybe?
*It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them. -- Pierre De Beaumarchais
well i thought I had sorted it all out but my doctors can't do it because anyone who would have known me has left. My local councillor say's she'll do it but as I haven't lived in the area for 2 years I bet she wont. My old teacher who signed my first one might do it, though I haven't see him for a few years.
Originally posted by debra2005: My old teacher who signed my first one might do it, though I haven't see him for a few years.
Do you need to get it signed?
If you have a passport, a signature for a new one is only needed if your appearance has changed significantly (ie. since the picture in your last one).
I renewed mine recently and my appearance *has* changed. In fact, I renewed early because immigration officers kept challenging me about not looking like my picture .
I didn't bother getting it signed though and yet it was processed fine.
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