Sending Original ID Documents

[Toddlerteaplease]

Trying to join a nursing agency. It's very frustrating and taking months. I uploaded scanned copies of my passport, driving licence etc. But now they are insisting that I send them (at my expense) the original
Documents. I'm really not happy with this as worried I won't get them back. Is this an unreasonable ask. I can't go in person to verify them as the office is in Bristol which is too far away.

No way would I send originals. Will a birth certificate do? You can order an original extract.

I need to send my pass port driving licence and DBS forms. Literally everything. The other agency I am with allowed you to do a video call where you hold your ID up to the camera, instead.Y recruitment is taking months. Very inefficient and I just don't trust them at all. But I can't see a way round it. Apparently it's what they did pre covid.

I've no idea if this would work but you could explain that you need these docs to hand at the moment and ask if you can send a certified true copy signed by a lawyer or a JP. Unfortunately both of these are going to cost you.

Is the agency local? Could you take them in for sight and take them away with you again?

No it's not local it's located 140 miles away.

I'm not getting a lawyer involved. They seem very inflexible. I'm already with their sister company but nothing seems to be transferable.

I wouldn't bother registering with them. Too much of a faff.

They pay very well. Which is the only reason I'm doing it. But the recruitment process has really put me off. It's been appalling.

I work in HR and I wouldn't send my documents anywhere.

Nobody will take responsibility if they go missing and you'll go around in circles trying to get them back until you loose the will to live...

The agency are claiming that it is home office guidance. That means they have to have originals. I get that for people who are not UK nationals, and may not have right to work. But surely for everyone else it's company policy. This agency pays very good money. Otherwise I'd just withdraw as have been unimpressed with the whole process.

Ask them for a copy of the guidance perhaps? So much "guidance" is misinterpreted.

I sent my passport few times already and always had it back. I dealt with student finance and home office. I wouldn't send it to nursing agency. It's bit ridiculous.

I work in HR at a large public sector organisation and during covid we obviously could see original documentation.

We had to have the scanned copies sent over and then the person who we were hiring had to do a video call with us, showing the originals on the camera .

The Post Office offer a service for certifying documents, would they accept that? I think it costs about £12/£13

Unfortunately the are following the law on right to work checks. The employer must see the original documents in person.

During covid an adjustment was in place allowing to send a scan of the passport to the employer and show them the documents in your hand online. These covid rules have been extended several times but end today (30th Sept).

Now this is ending the usual rules apply. Your options are to send or take the original documents to them. This is not the fault of the company who are acting correctly and following government rules.

The company should not accept certified copies etc. They are not allowed to.

They're following the guidance

The company can't tell who is or isn't a uk national without doing the right to work check so have to do it for everyone. Ironically it's easer to do it remotely if you hold a visa, settled status etc as there is a government online checking service.

Which is exactly what I did when I joined another agency. My colleague then verified who I was. And signed a form.

If they are like this during recruitment imagine what they’re like to work for….

I wouldn’t bother sounds like it’ll be more hassle than it’s worth even if the pay is more

@MarsupiIami thanks for that. I assumed if you had lived here from both and have a British passport, you didn't need to prove your right to work. I'm frustrated with the recruitment process, it feels very disorganised, which I why I'm reluctant to trust then with my documentation. However since there is no way round it. I've sent them special delivery, this morning. 😬

The other agency I work for, was really quick and efficient with their recruitment. All done and able to book shifts within 3 weeks. This one is 3 months. I keep uploading. Things. They claim they haven't got them and we go round in circles!

You could get your documents examined and notarised locally . Ask the agency what qualifiers thy would accept in a notary.

I think employers are scared of the fines if they've employed someone with no right to work. They need to be able to prove they did everything they were supposed to. They'll probably eventually get a system working for British nationals. They've not had much choice for non British nationals because of EUSS and the phasing out of BRPs.

Tried that. They said no!