can we verify passports

[hayleychildcare]

Ive need by passport renewal countersigned and verified.

can we as childminders do this as i have asked my friend (a childminder) to countersign mine.

Just wondering if this will be accepted

[pears]

i was suprised last year when one of my parents asked me to sign hers but i did it and think it was ok for her

[Greengrass74]

I have just renewed our passports and we did not need to get them countersigned, they only need countersigning and verifying if applying for first time passport or there are significant changes since last renewed.

[hayleychildcare]

mine and hubbys ran out years ago and kids never had one so we are all renewing at the same time.

Like i havent got enough paperwork

[Greengrass74]

This may help

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...tion/DG_174151

[funemnx]

I've done quite a few now with no probs!

[caz3007]

I did some a couple of months ago and I gave mum a copy of my certificate just in case and they came back fine

[karen m]

i have done 1 in the past and it was fine

[Leanne59]

Ive signed two one came back within a week and the other was rejected as i wasn't vat registered!

[marleymoo]

i have done absolutely loads and what seems to carry the weight is that we're OFSTED registered. think i should start charging tho, what do you think?

[stardust]

It does state childcare professional on the paperwork same for the crb's. So yes you can sign them.

[Tam's Tribe]

Childminders can defo verify passports for other people, just as long as you are a British citizen . . . Discovered that as I am a German citizen, I couldnt sign my one of my mums!!

[Optimalstar]

I hadn't realised that but as a qualified teacher I can any way.

Samantha x

www.samanthachildminder.co.uk

[hayleychildcare]

thanks for all the replies.

Hubby went out last night with his friends and suddenly realised that one of them was a counciller for the local council.

How clever is he, he has only known him 30 years, i can just imagine his face while sitting in the pub and him suddenly realising.

Honestly sometimes

[Pipsqueak]

I have done several - including hebs!!!!

[Kaz1997]

I have just come off the phone from the Passport Office and have been told NO A Registered Childminder can not countersign passports unless they have a degree....
Hope this helps! x

[Blaze]

Well sorry, but whoever you spoke to is wrong! As we are individually registered with OFSTED we can with or without a degree...the degree part comes in as most "professionals" require a degree to have "professional" status - childminders don't! We CAN sign & as long as you put OFSTED registered childminder - there isn't a problem...& yes this has been confirmed by the passport office (several times over)!!! HTH

[caz3007]

I have just come off the phone from the Passport Office and have been told NO A Registered Childminder can not countersign passports unless they have a degree....
Hope this helps! x

I have done it with no problem and also did some when I was a pub landlady too. So no degree for either. My sister used to sign them too and she was a a manager for a travel agents.

[lolli_pop243]

Here's the direct link to the information on countersigning applications.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...tion/DG_174151

I didn't think childminders would be able to-but as people have done so then I guess it's ok. The list is not exhaustive, and if IPS have any doubts, they will contact the referee anyway.

You definitely do not need a degree to countersign an application, and an individual who is self employed should be VAT registered according to the rules.

Hope this helps.

Lorraine