We're renewing our 10-year-old's passport, which was queried by out local Post Office during their Check and Send (which I didn't end up paying for).
I had the form countersigned by a musician / singer - well known by many - as he happened to be at "Chez E" this weekend. As a chap with a 40+ year career in the music business it didn't even occur to me that there might be a problem. It transpires that singers, musicians and entertainers are not "professionals" in the eyes of the IPS. Qualified travel agents are, which leaves Mrs E somewhat bemused as she now wants to know what qualifications you can get to become a "Travel Agent" (having had 25 years experience in the travel industry).
I don't qualify either - if I was a member of the BCS or a managing consultant organisation I'd be OK, but as I'm not (I've never seen the merit) I'm not a professional.
At the end of a very surreal - albeit friendly and amusing - conversation with a nice lady at the IPS, I'm not sure I actually know any "professional" persons.
So a heads-up if you need a countersignatory for your passport - the lady at the IPS said that a significant number of rejections are due to the countersignatory not meeting their requirements. They have no criteria as such, just a list that they work from, and if you're not on the list you ain't a professional.
I had the form countersigned by a musician / singer - well known by many - as he happened to be at "Chez E" this weekend. As a chap with a 40+ year career in the music business it didn't even occur to me that there might be a problem. It transpires that singers, musicians and entertainers are not "professionals" in the eyes of the IPS. Qualified travel agents are, which leaves Mrs E somewhat bemused as she now wants to know what qualifications you can get to become a "Travel Agent" (having had 25 years experience in the travel industry).
I don't qualify either - if I was a member of the BCS or a managing consultant organisation I'd be OK, but as I'm not (I've never seen the merit) I'm not a professional.
At the end of a very surreal - albeit friendly and amusing - conversation with a nice lady at the IPS, I'm not sure I actually know any "professional" persons.
So a heads-up if you need a countersignatory for your passport - the lady at the IPS said that a significant number of rejections are due to the countersignatory not meeting their requirements. They have no criteria as such, just a list that they work from, and if you're not on the list you ain't a professional.