this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2024
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Today I Learned

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accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of a recognised company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner for oaths
councillor - local or county
civil servant - permanent
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent of a recognised company - full time
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary - fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy Officer
minister of a recognised religion including Christian Science
nurse - registered
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal - certified, qualified or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals
person with honours - OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer - professional
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army Officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent - qualified
valuer or auctioneer - fellow or associate member of the incorporated society
Warrant Officer or Chief Petty Officer
all 48 comments
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[–] [email protected] 2 points 14 minutes ago (1 children)

Have the same thing in Australia. Not passport but I returned after years overseas and I think I was applying for a tax file number (or bank account, or both!)

I was just really lucky my father had an old family friend who wss a teacher to sign the paperwork

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 minutes ago

I got my old high school drama teacher to do it. She's a cool person and was happy to. But it was weird to have to ask her to do it. I started out with, "this is a really stupid request, but..."

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Fire services and police both present. Paramedics absent. Suspicious.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

It just doesn't make sense to me. It's so random.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm disappointed that Librarian isn't on the list. We're super trustworthy! Edit: some librarians might count as civil servants. I'm tbh not sure where that line is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

Agreed. I'm married to one!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 hours ago

I mean the list is 50% weird and 50% sensible. I think the idea is that there's someone most people will know that are in "trustworthy" professions/positions. Although, professional photographer. Not really sure they would be in a more trustworthy position than any other job.

Going to say, I think most of us here either used to pay their GP whatever fixed fee they had. But they've taken that option away. Apparently the profession complained. I don't get that. I mean they by definition know you the requisite amount of time. They literally need to sign that is the case and take your money. But, there we go.

I do luckily have a few friends that are solicitors/barristers. So I generally just ask one of them, and it's only once every 10 years so..

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Had the same requirement to get Australian citizenship. It wasn't easy since most of the people I knew were mostly temporary residents/non-citizens too, and my occupation isn't on the list so coworkers are out the running.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 hours ago

Weirdly, the person can be a U.S. citizen.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (2 children)

What's the definition of "Knows you"?

Like, met several times a year, or the biblical "knows you"?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Known for at least 3 years, and not a relative. It's not very strict. I was a referee for someone who I see a few times a year at most.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 hours ago

No but his sister was

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

president or secretary of a recognised organisation

What constitutes a “recognized organization”? That sounds rather open to interpretation…

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago

Recognization obviously.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Wild that dentist doesn't have any restrictions but doctor does.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 14 hours ago

The history is long and ugly, but here's the short version. The Home Office hates the BMA. UK doctors are frequent participants in judicial reviews, tribunal cases and applications for injunctions against the Home Office. Pesky cases like trying to prevent pregnant women being held in isolation at immigration removal centers or forcibly returning previously tortured refugees to the countries that . . . tortured them. The LAST thing the Home Office is going to encourage is more interaction with the BMA or the NHS.

Just think about it . . the Home Office will take the word of your local publican over your GP. In what world is that normal???

[–] [email protected] 8 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

These a bad teeth joke in there somewhere I just know it

[–] [email protected] 39 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Canada is the same thing, online or in person. Though they've removed the profession requirement in the last couple decades (but it was more restrictive back then, it was basically: lawyer, someone with a PhD, or an engineer).

[–] [email protected] 15 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, but like... Salvation Army officer?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 20 hours ago

But they're an officer. Not one of those lowlife enlisted.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 20 hours ago

Same for Canada in certain cases. Generally considered trustworthy or certified.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 22 hours ago (6 children)

What do these professions have in common? Requirement for a government-issued license?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

They are all professions that require a good reputation and are non-trivial to up and abandon. Some require government licenses, others imply a strong societal standing. All have something to lose, if they commit fraud.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Director of a limited company is easy enough to up and abandon as there’s no limit on the type of company.

Just ask all the people who have been on the bad end of a transaction with a shitty two or three director company that went bankrupt and closed down when people started chasing for money. The next day those same people are directors of a new company doing the same thing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 12 hours ago

You still need to sort out and sign a bunch of identity confirmation/anti money laundering stuff. The government has a good track on you, at that point. It's far from perfect, but stops people getting it signed off by a random friend, that the government has no clue about, and might not even exist.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 15 hours ago

Nah. For about £20 anyone can be a director of a limited company.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think you need a government license to be a journalist or a minister. I'm sure you don't to be a Salvation Army officer.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Are we talking about their admirals? Or their ensigns?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Neither - it's a weird/annoying religious 'army' that knocks on your door waaaay too early on Sunday morning to harras you. The UKs Mormons in other words.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

I know, I was making a joke because Squid and the list said "officer".

We have the Salvation Army in the US but afaik they don't do door knocking. They are mostly a thrift store and they ring a bell for money outside Walmart every Christmas. They collect it for charity but will gladly deny charity to any marginalized group like LGBT.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 20 hours ago

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe they all have regulators that can revoke a license. So you'd be putting your job on the line.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

I guess they all require you to earn the trust of either clients (solicitor etc.) or a community (teacher, councillor, MP (lol), church minister)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I was thinking of a law wording it as someone professional and/or respectable and they had to figure out a list so it wouldn't be as arbitrary and up to whoever was judging the application

[–] [email protected] 16 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I see the next chapter in the FlyingSquid saga has started.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Let's just hope I get there with a job lined up. I'm working my ass off for it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 22 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

photographer - professional

I have taken photos! If you pay me for one does that make me professional?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I published a zine in high school. Does that make me a journalist?

Also, I'm not sure that they realize how easily it is to form an LLC in the U.S. and name yourself chairman. And yes, this includes people with a U.S. passport.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

It's trivial to start a limited company in the UK too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Need to be VAT registered, too. I have no idea how much extra effort that involves.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 13 hours ago

I would guess it is trivial enough for whoever that might wish to commit identity fraud on your behalf can get away with it pretty easily.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Not a requirement for a company.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

But it is required for the thing above.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 13 hours ago

There are two lines mentioning being a director of a company:

  • chairman or director of a limited company
  • director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company

So if it is a limited company you need to be a board member but if it is a non limited company you can be a director, manager or personnel manager.

The second one is a bit harder to achieve for fraudulent purposes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Anyone happen to know if family by law counts? Or how people raised in another country are supposed to go about this? I was literally looking into this as well

Edit: read it more closely. Looks like I need a new plan B