The Home Office has issued new guidance on undertaking Right to Work (RTW) checks in light of the coronavirus crisis. This applies to all new employees and workers who started from 30th March and to repeat checks carried out from this date. For those who started before this date, follow previous guidance issued by the Staff Immigration Team on undertaking RTW checks.
New RTW procedure during the coronavirus crisis
- Ask the worker/employee to submit a scanned copy or a photo of their original RTW documents via email or using a mobile app.
- Arrange a video call with the worker/employee – ask them to hold up the original documents to the camera and check them against the digital copy of the documents.
- Record the date you made the check and mark it as “Adjusted check undertaken on [insert date] due to COVID-19”
- If a department, add RTW record to CoreHR as normal but indicate in the notes section “Adjusted check due to COVID 19”.
- Make a record of all individuals who have a RTW check made under this procedure
After the coronavirus crisis measures end
For all worker/employees still active whose names have been recorded with an adjusted check, and within eight weeks after measures ending;
- Conduct a new RTW check with the original documents
- Mark this check with the wording “The individual’s contract commenced on [insert date]. The prescribed right to work check was undertaken on [insert current date] due to COVID-19.”
- Amend your list of List B’s if required
If a worker/employee does not have documents or cannot provide copies, or if you have issues, please contact the Staff immigration Team
