Employers who intend to employ a non-EU worker must ensure that appropriate right to work checks are carried out in order to prevent illegal working. The process normally requires a physical inspection of UKCI-prescribed documents, in the presence of the worker.
However, since this would be difficult to do under the circumstances, employers can instead assess documents in a video call during which a worker holds his or her original document, enabling a visual on-line inspection by the employer. A copy of the document should be submitted by the worker electronically in advance of the call to allow the employer to verify the emailed document against that which appears in the video call. Employers relying on this method should record the date of the video call and refer to it as an “adjusted check undertaken on [insert date] due to COVID-19”.
Employers may during the video call also chose to access UKVI’s online right to work checking service (with the worker’s permission). Alternatively, the employer can undertake a check using the Home Office Employer Checking Service, but the outcome might be delayed.
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