Getting a passport?

[Merker]

Hey all,

 

Not sure if this is the right section, had a look though and there doesnt seem anywhere else to post it.

 

 

Just trying to get my first adult passport. Decided a few months back I was going to have a few holidays overseas, so of course I would need to get a passport. Complete horrified at the requirements as it seems like this government are forcing us to stay in this country.

 

Problem 1:

 

I have to send my mothers birth certificate and mine to them. As quoted from the government website "You must send originals - photocopies or certified copies won’t be accepted". Problem.... I only have a "certified copy" of my birth certificate. I have never seen my original birth certificate, perhaps it was even accidentally thrown away years ago. I'm not sure if my mothers is just a "certified copy" either. I know my fathers name wouldnt be on mine... but would that matter?

 

Problem 2:

 

Countersigning. Is that essential? I barely know any people but I have gone through the list of who can countersign and have already asked people who match that criteria. Either they don't have a passport or haven't known me long enough (So have refused to sign the form)

 

 

 

This is really irritating me as I just want to have a few visits overseas before it's too late. At this rate I may as well just rip the forms up and forget about the idea

[Conniff]

You should write to the passport office explaining as you have above. I am sure there must be an alternative means of identification they use.

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

You can order a new birth certificate from the General Register Office, £9 I think. Different for Scotland though.

 

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

 

My best, HB

[leigh04]

Ring them and explain they are pretty good at sorting things out.

're fathers name not on birth certificate write a letter covering the reason why that's what I was advised to do re my son as his fathers name isn't on his

all the best

[Ganymede]

To be honest wouldn't you rather it not be easy to get a passport for security reasons?!

 

From what you've said it's not the end of the world aby will only take a small amount of effort from you and it'll be worth it when you're on holiday.

[Merker]

Thanks all, I'll take that advice and contact them, also will order 1 there thanks honeybee.

 

Ganymede. I guess that's a fair point.

[Conniff]

Certificates from the General Register are marked 'Certified Copy' though. ?

[honeybee13]

It might be worth a phone call to check what Conniff is saying. This is from the passport office website.

 

'Certify a document as a true copy of the original by getting it signed and dated by a professional person, like a solicitor.'

 

My interpretation would be a photocopy, but it's only an interpretation.

 

HB

[leigh04]

They will accept a certificate from the general register as we done that for my daughter but we also sent other proof aswell

[Conniff]

We do genealogy and have a lot of BMD certificates and they are all marked as such. I can't see how they can refuse one if they come directly from the GRO. There must be millions of people who haven't got their original document because it's been lost/destroyed somehow.

[honeybee13]

Indeed, Conniff.

 

HB