Complicated passport application - advice please
Discussion
I'm trying to assist my mother as there's a lot of confusion about a passport she is trying to obtain for her grand-daughter.
Long story short, my parents look after my 7 year old niece and both have court ordered parental responsibility. The child's mother died in 2008 and there's been no contact with the father for over 5 years. He's not on the birth certificate anyway.
My mother is trying to get a passport for my niece and has made a couple of attempts through the post office. She's due to go to the passport office next week (I asked her to book an appointment) and is intending to get a 3rd set of forms countersigned by the school headmistress tomorrow. Ideally she needs to ask these questions of the passport office before the forms are done, but she's quite flustered about the whole thing already so I thought I'd ask on here in case anyone has a clue.
Firstly my mum is not a British citizen - can she sign the forms on behalf of the child (who is a British citizen, as was her mum)?
Does the person doing the countersignature certify they know the adult signing on the form, or the child (the head has insisting on signing it for the child but the guidance says otherwise)? The difficulty is that the head doesn't really know my dad (who also has a parental responsibility order and is British) so they'd have to find yet another person to sign.
Long story short, my parents look after my 7 year old niece and both have court ordered parental responsibility. The child's mother died in 2008 and there's been no contact with the father for over 5 years. He's not on the birth certificate anyway.
My mother is trying to get a passport for my niece and has made a couple of attempts through the post office. She's due to go to the passport office next week (I asked her to book an appointment) and is intending to get a 3rd set of forms countersigned by the school headmistress tomorrow. Ideally she needs to ask these questions of the passport office before the forms are done, but she's quite flustered about the whole thing already so I thought I'd ask on here in case anyone has a clue.
Firstly my mum is not a British citizen - can she sign the forms on behalf of the child (who is a British citizen, as was her mum)?
Does the person doing the countersignature certify they know the adult signing on the form, or the child (the head has insisting on signing it for the child but the guidance says otherwise)? The difficulty is that the head doesn't really know my dad (who also has a parental responsibility order and is British) so they'd have to find yet another person to sign.
Edited by oldbanger on Thursday 9th June 22:24
I certified a photo for a childs passport a little while ago and from memory you have to certify that you have known the adult for 2 years and that the photo is a true likeness of the child....the guidance notes were actually quite clear and specific on exactly what you have to write on the back of the photo.
It's interesting, because what's on direct.gov is different to my reading of the longer guidance document.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies...
There doesn't seem to be any stipulation in that where the countersignatory has to have known the adult signing the application, they are countersigning that the photo is the applicant.
The list of who can sign is pretty long these days, but it might be worth phoning your local passport office and asking for absolute clarity to avoid any clangers. It doesn't need to be someone related to the application process that gets this advice, you can phone them up and explain the scenario and you will get an answer from them.
Just as a plan B, if the countersignatory does need to have known both the adult and the child for 2 years, then the GP they all go to or a nurse at the surgery is a decent bet.
Failing that, the solicitor who sorted the court order I'd expect would be a definite contender.
There will be someone you know that can sign though. The public sector accounts for about 20-25% of the workforce in any given area, and almost anyone that works for them can sign an application!
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/agencies...
There doesn't seem to be any stipulation in that where the countersignatory has to have known the adult signing the application, they are countersigning that the photo is the applicant.
The list of who can sign is pretty long these days, but it might be worth phoning your local passport office and asking for absolute clarity to avoid any clangers. It doesn't need to be someone related to the application process that gets this advice, you can phone them up and explain the scenario and you will get an answer from them.
Just as a plan B, if the countersignatory does need to have known both the adult and the child for 2 years, then the GP they all go to or a nurse at the surgery is a decent bet.
Failing that, the solicitor who sorted the court order I'd expect would be a definite contender.
There will be someone you know that can sign though. The public sector accounts for about 20-25% of the workforce in any given area, and almost anyone that works for them can sign an application!
Powderpuff said:
I certified a photo for a childs passport a little while ago and from memory you have to certify that you have known the adult for 2 years and that the photo is a true likeness of the child....the guidance notes were actually quite clear and specific on exactly what you have to write on the back of the photo.
Did exactly this for one of my employees earlier this week. Dead right.Re your other questions, can you go woith her to the passport office? Take your own pp as proof of identity too.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff