Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Civil Service Pre-Employment checks- how long?!

276 replies

LegoMa · 05/03/2018 09:44

Hi,

I’ve currently been waiting 8 weeks to receive a formal offer for the Home Office. I have completed the Security Vetting questionnaire which now shows as completed on their site.

Any idea how much longer I should expect to wait? I applied for this job a year ago! It seems like it’s no secret but their recruitment process seems so clumsy!

Anyone? Thanks!

OP posts:
Isleepinahedgefund · 03/04/2019 08:12

Oh yes Brexit is hampering things.

Many people are being/have been hired because Brexit will increase demand on frontline services/policy making. If Brexit doesn't happen or is significantly delayed, that will affect staffing decisions. There's a lot of "wait and see" just now because who knows what's actually going to happen....

Plus it's the start of a new financial year and staffing affects budgets. They might be wanting to wait to start people for that reason too.

LP1988 · 04/04/2019 11:26

Do you think its worth chasing HR for a start date if I got my SC letter confirming I am cleared on Monday?

Chevonn · 04/04/2019 11:59

Yes that’s what u did and I git a reply 3 days later

Chevonn · 04/04/2019 12:00

Lol typo error. That’s what I did and got a reply 3 days later

Isleepinahedgefund · 04/04/2019 19:59

Yes, if you know your checks are complete then definitely start making a nuisance of yourself with HR!

LP1988 · 04/04/2019 21:05

Thanks for the advice everyone! I got my start date today and my contract is being sent shortly!

Redaus · 05/04/2019 11:02

Hi guys,

I've been waiting around 10 weeks for SC clearance for a job in the cabinet office and my status has just changed from the old "Pre-employment checks are in progress and we'll contact you if we need more info" to:

"Your application is currently going through pre-employment checks with either higher level checks and/or Health outstanding."

I rang the NSVS vetting people and they said they've completed their part and handed it over to HMRC for their decision although stressed 'this doesnt mean it's passed'.

Does anyone have any clue where I am or how long I've got to go?! I've seen some horror stories on this forum of 6 months and just want to get started!

Isleepinahedgefund · 05/04/2019 13:03

6 months is perfectly usual.

Redaus · 05/04/2019 14:06

@ISleep I have seen 6-12 weeks consistently for SC clearance and was told that when I was offered the job.

In my mind, if everything but "higher level checks and/or health checks" are outstanding and the vetting portal says they've been completed and waiting on HMRC for a final decision, it shouldn't be much longer? Maybe I'm clutching at straws...

Morrissey1 · 12/04/2019 14:05

A word of warning to anyone who had been posted abroad!

After 5 months of waiting I finally got a start day of the 15/04. However yesterday, so close to my start date they inform me I don't meet the Home Office residency requirements and can't start the job. Just days before I start! So distressed, they near enough ruined my life.

No one had told me off this requirement before and it has not been a problem for friends mine who were in similar positions to me. I worked in china for 8 months for the FCO yet it is still a problem. I'm going to appeal but please becareful anyone as they can make mistakes.

Isleepinahedgefund · 13/04/2019 21:12

That's terrible! They should not have confirmed a start date until all the checks had been completed if your being eligible to take up the post was dependent on the outcome of them. The offers always say not to hand in your notice until checks are complete.

Had they informed you that you were cleared? Had you signed a contract?

RighteousSista · 28/04/2019 09:24

One job (MOJ) took 4 months and I had been working as a temp.in the same job and already had clearance but they had to repeat process for premier role. Another i had been temping for 9 months then got the permit role whilst telling it took 13 weeks and my temp contract had to be extended to cover the breach. Never ever leave a job whilst waiting for clearance!

Chevonn · 03/05/2019 22:09

Has any1 got a start date coming up soon?

Ayns1981 · 09/05/2019 12:52

Anyone here waiting for a start date for the asylum EO caseworker jobs in Liverpool? I passed the SC on Tuesday 7th May (interview and assessment in January, provisional offer February) I CAN NOT WAIT to start!!!! This process has been sooooooo long - I feel like I am constantly checking my emails 🙄

Spinsaunaswim6 · 10/05/2019 23:25

I have also passed SC clearance and waiting. I think we just have to be patient now .

HurryUpThisSmileIsKillingMe · 14/05/2019 12:55

Finally, I have a start date at the beginning of June. Eight months in total. When I first posted back at Christmas I had no idea it would take quite so long. I've been really glad to have found this thread though as it's really helped me through the long process. It's not been great having to wait such a time but at least there has been some reassurance from some of the feedback here.

Ayns1981 · 14/05/2019 13:05

@hurryupthissmileiskillingme when did you get your SC back? Mine was completed and I had the confirmation email last week, I am hoping I also get a June start date 😖 I applied for this post in October last year 😔😔

HurryUpThisSmileIsKillingMe · 14/05/2019 13:14

I've just double checked. I'm really sorry to tell you this but my clearance was completed at the end of March! So about eight weeks ago. Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear.

HurryUpThisSmileIsKillingMe · 14/05/2019 13:19

I also applied last Autumn. Chase them. I waited for a few weeks expecting things to move along once I had clearance but after advice on here I started to chase. The HR person I dealt with said that chasing is always good. It does prompt them to move things along for you. I was suprised she admitted that and I'm sure it helped.

Chevonn · 14/05/2019 13:20

@Ayns1981. Email them and say your checks have been completed and you need to know when you r starting because you want to book a family holiday and do not want to book it and find out you have training the same time

HurryUpThisSmileIsKillingMe · 14/05/2019 13:24

Yes, Chevonn is wise, it was this poster who prompted me to call!

Thank you Chevonn

Ayns1981 · 14/05/2019 13:30

@thissmileiskillingme thank you so much, What email address did you use? I don’t have any HR details 😔

HurryUpThisSmileIsKillingMe · 14/05/2019 14:19

If you have any contact details for the team who interviewed you, use those. I did that for the one person whose name I remembered but got 'out of office'. So I went via the GRS web page, the generic 'query about an application' part. Took a week but someone did reply via email but with phone number at bottom. I called and they later put me in touch with right department. It took weeks and I felt like a bit of a stalker Confused

I honestly believe this all helped move things along. Sorry there is no straight forward answer. Think we are all slightly different.

Chevonn · 16/05/2019 09:32

Has anyone in here already at port and done the PCP 2 final exam ?

Spinsaunaswim6 · 17/05/2019 17:22

I'm looking at a start day in July in Bootle with training away in Leeds. Anyone else?