Hey All,
I have posted this before... would be nice to have a search field in the forums I guess :)
Based upon the following document I see no reason why somebody who has Associate, Member or Fellow status wouldn't be able to countersign
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118585/countersignatories.pdf
A person deemed qualified to countersign a passport application may be either:
• a Member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, a professionally qualified person (e.g. doctor, engineer, lawyer, teacher), local councillor, bank officer, established civil servant, Police Officer; or,
• a person of similar standing (see sections 3.1 and 3.2 below); and,
•who has personally known the applicant for at least two years; and,
•not a relative of the applicant (this includes partners, in-laws, and step-parents). Definition of "partner", if evident from the application form, is a partnership or relationship that is akin to marriage.
•The countersignatory must hold a current British, or Irish, passport.
•Members of staff should not sign applications
While there is no qualification for a "person of similar standing" this may be interpreted in the widest sense, but it must always be borne in mind that a countersignature should normally be someone who:
•has qualifications that can be checked; and,
•it is believed will not risk a career or reputation by knowingly making an untrue statement in completing the countersigning section of an application form.
I hope it helps,
Reedy
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