to think that it is ludicrous that you can not work here (Irish citizen) without a passport?

[WildeWoman]

FFS.
I'm Irish.
Eligible to work here.
Want to work.
Went to agency meeting today ahead of job interview.
Apparently, you can't work here without a passport unless you are British.

Am I the last to know?

Oh - and before you ask, passport was stolen. It will take 6 weeks for new one to issue.

Such bollox.

Why do you think it's unreasonable?

Oh and I think you are being unreasonable. Checks need to be made to ensure non-Brits are in Britain legally. Passports are the way we do this.

Don't you also need a National Insurance number????

I'm British. I had to bring my passport when I started my current job 15 years ago. Yes it is inconvenient but employers are punished if you turn out to be working illegally or a fraudster.

You can work while waiting for the NI number Leotard.

I'm British and still have to give passport, and loads of other stuff like bills for proof of address Before I start a new contract.

You don't have to have a passport, you only have to prove that you can legally work in the UK.

You do not need a passport to travel to the UK from Roi (special agreement) so this is strange. I am Irish too, have always given in my passport for jobs, but I thought any photo ID would suffice, so drivers licence etc. Could you ring passport office and get it upgraded to the quicker process? Also maybe worth checking with Dept for work and pensions

In my workplace everyone needs to give a copy of their passport regardless of their nationality.

I have a National Insurance number.

It's unreasonable, because, a passport is a travel document, not proof of eligibility to work.

My Irish birth cert, my Irish driving licence and my Irish National Identity card are insufficient.

I wouldn't mind if I needed a visa or something, but what does a passport prove? What happens if I stay in the UK in the same job for 20 years - do they check you have a fucking passport every year?

And the most sickening thing is that the B** who stole my passport is probably happily working here with my passport.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

'Don't you also need a National Insurance number????'

I was initially issued with a temporary NI number. I was taxed at a much higher rate though.

It's proof of identity.

When new passport comes, get photocopies of it.

All UK employers have a legal obligation to make sure you have a right to work legally in the UK. I have worked for my employer for 23 years. When the new law came in I had to produce my passport even though I had been working for them a very long time. That's the way it is.

www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work

It hasn't come up until today, because up until now, I had my passport and driving licence and just gave the passport as ID when starting work etc.

It's a complete and utter bollox.

How can your birth certificate not be enough?

That's the document that proves your right to work in the UK.

Stupid.

Apparently, a photocopy is not sufficient. Has to be a true copy of original, verified by employer.

So will your interview go ahead despite this 6 week passport delay?

And are you sure it will take 6 weeks, I had a passport issued to me in half that time. Some UK post offices offer an express service for Irish passports.

That's right and applies to British people too by the looks of things. Here is the current advice:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441957/employers_guide_to_acceptable_right_to_work_documents_v5.pdf

Looks like it has to be biometric now so has to be a passport or residence permit, not a drivers licence.

It looks like there is a way round it by them checking with the Home Office but it would only be something a perm job would do, definitely too much hassle for an agency.

You can get a fast track Irish passport in the UK in London or Liverpool, it took about 7 days when I did it, but that must have been at least 5 years ago.

Most jobs want you to show you have a passport to show you are eligible to work in the UK and that includes British citizen.

It's nothing to do with you being Irish.

It will be because you don't have an original copy of a full (not short) birth certificate.

Employers can be fined something like £20k per illegal worker hired. The company I work for won't hire you without seeing your passport.

No you don't take expect employer to accept photocopy, but having photocopy can make it faster to get a replacement. It also can help the employer justify choosing you over another applicant if they can indicate why they think you'll soon be able to prove your legal right to work in UK.

Oh and birth certs, but only UK ones.

balletgirl they won't take Irish birth certs.