Passport help...

SixTwoSix · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:29

I'm getting married abroad in exactly 8 weeks and we're having hell getting a passport for my mum.

She's 56, never travelled abroad before, she has no other form of ID and she doesn't drive to has no licence. She lives out in the sticks and hasn't got the widest circle of friends.

She can't find a single person to counter-sign her picture that also has a passport. Her doctor retired a little over a year ago who she has seen for the last 30 years and has moved abroad to South Africa. No way to get in contact with him.

The only people she knows who could counter-sign her picture are all related somehow.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do. She's spent the last 2 months getting in contact with everyone she knows, both professionally or personally and they have all either moved away, died or don't have a passport of their own.

Furyus · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:31

I think you could get the Police to Counter Stamp it! cost about £20-£30.

SixTwoSix · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:32

Furyus said:
I think you could get the Police to Counter Stamp it! cost about £20-£30.

They need to have known the individual for 2+ years. Have scoured the passport site and couldn't find anything about this. I hope you're right.

scorza · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:42

I sympathise, this is a really stupid rule.

What about her bank? or the Post Office? If it came down to it maybe just ask your local publican very nicely.

Nursie · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:46

When I got my photo driving license done, I enquired at my doctors surgery. They would get it signed for a fee.

I hadn't seen a doctor there for years and they wouldn't have a clue who I was.

Soundood · 29 Mar 2014 at 11:56

Local Vicar or Church minister, is always an option.

or do you have any family working within education or for the government in any way?

I know its naughty, but if they don't have the same surname, get them to sign it off, that's what I done when I moved to London and needed one,

I got my Partner to sign it off, worked a treat

Storm3y · 29 Mar 2014 at 12:52

I got the lady in the bank to countersign an application for something.

Hades · 29 Mar 2014 at 12:57

The doctors surgery will usually do it for a fee.

3DNow! · 29 Mar 2014 at 13:10

Hades said:
The doctors surgery will usually do it for a fee.

I think every doctor is different ours doesn't charge, also to the OP. The doctor will do it regardless whether they know her personally or not she just has to be registered at their practice.

I know her original doctor has stopped practicing and moved but this shouldn't be a problem as long she is registered with a GP.

Participant · 29 Mar 2014 at 13:52

I'll do it.

MrMoonX · 29 Mar 2014 at 15:10

Go to doctors surgery, it doesn't matter if her named one has retired, as long as she's registered there or the bank will do it

Repta · 29 Mar 2014 at 15:21

Just be aware that the countersignature is supposed to know the applicant personally, not just professionally. While she would be unlucky to get caught out on that it does happen. Also whatever she does she needs to get the application off asap as first adult applications are taking around 6 weeks at the moment

Destination · 29 Mar 2014 at 15:25

Repta said:
Just be aware that the countersignature is supposed to know the applicant personally, not just professionally. nt

Define what you mean by that?
How can you know someone professionally for a period of two years and not personally know them?

vanandjuanunited · 29 Mar 2014 at 15:28

None of your friends able to sign it

Repta · 29 Mar 2014 at 15:32

Hikari Kisugi said:
Define what you mean by that?
How can you know someone professionally for a period of two years and not personally know them?

Thats the problem there is no detailed definition what they mean when they say that. The most usual one I came across was Doctors, a lot of the time if they only knew the applicant through them attending appointments then it could be classed as professional only. My doctors known me for over 10 years for example and only seen me a handful of times.

The countersignatory must:

have known the person applying for at least 2 years
be able to identify the person applying - eg they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows them professionally)

https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications

Thats all they say on it, I am just going from personal experiences.

edit: Op your best bet is to phone the advice line 0300 222 0000

bazzabear · 29 Mar 2014 at 16:28

Give the passport office a ring, they're surprisingly helpful.

Energize · 29 Mar 2014 at 16:41

3DNow! said:
I think every doctor is different ours doesn't charge, also to the OP. The doctor will do it regardless whether they know her personally or not she just has to be registered at their practice.

Yeah it's pretty immoral really. They'll happily break the law by countersigning a passport for someone they have never even met as long as they get money for it.

Jimbeam3678 · 29 Mar 2014 at 21:14

bazzabear said:
Give the passport office a ring, they're surprisingly helpful.

I find that very difficult to believe from my experience over the last 5~ years

scorza · 29 Mar 2014 at 21:19

Energize said:
Yeah it's pretty immoral really. They'll happily break the law by countersigning a passport for someone they have never even met as long as they get money for it.

The thing that annoys me is that, and the fact that you know that a lot of people will forge a signature and get away with it because there's no way the passport office is going to check up on these. It's only honest people like the OP's Mum who suffer by trying to follow stupid rules.

ShaolinDreams · 29 Mar 2014 at 21:32

It was nice knowing you.