Right,
Update time - just got back from the post office.
Had spent the last 2 days filling and re-filling forms as I found in trying to be too careful, I was ending up making mistakes and having to re-start on a blank form again.
Anyway, went armed with three fully completed, countersigned forms to Post Office one. Presented my wife's form, and the lady at the counter checked everything, and then said you have to go back and fill a new form, cos everything is OK, but the counter signatory hasn't put her full name, instead of xxx yyyy zzzz he had put xxxx zzzz, leaving out her middle name. I said, this can't be serious, this is all part of 1 form where her name in all its fullness is written on page 1, the signatory is not confirming he knows her full name ,he is confirming he knows the person, if you want I can sign a bit of paper sayin I was explained this risk and I accept it, or can I correct the name myself - she goes no, this has to be filled by the countersignatory. She was actually very rude and goes, you know, if you want, you can just put them in an envelope yourself if thats how you want it, I do these every day so I know I'm right, I said you're just being awkward and took all my papers away and drove over to another Post office.
PO 2 was a better experience - he didn't have a problem with my passport or the wife's, with the same form that PO 1 had refused. However, my son;s form had a couple of problems. First, he had an issue with the photographs - he said the guidance from IPS is a cream or grey background; yours is too light. I said these were taken at Jessop's over the weekend, and they chanrge 9.99 for 6 prints and confirmed the pics meet the IPS requirements, so I'm not about to go back and start all over again. The guy was reasonable and said we can send it; IPS may get back to you. I was find, however, again, came up with a problem with the signatory, for a minor, the countersignatory is supposed to put the parent's name instead of the child; my friend had put my son's name instead
. I Said can I tippex it, and the guy said no, you can't use any tippex on these forms
. So, I took back my son's form;given his is not an adult passport, I can actually apply for it through the expedited service.
In terms of documentation, they returned our birth certificates, said didn't need them. I had put my marriage certificate with my form and a copy with the wife's form; he said you don't need marriage certificates at all, but then thought it over and put the original marriage certificate with my wife's form.
