No Biometric Permit, No Share Code, But we do have a UAN

[Randombob13]

Good afternoon,

My wife has recently been successful in getting a job offer for a large Government Agency.

As part of the pre-employment checks, they have asked her for a Share Code.

My wife has Indefinite Leave to Remain as a result of marriage to me. She does not have a Biometric Residence Permit, so cannot generate a Share Code. We contacted UKVI who said that she would have to transfer her Visa to a Biometric Residence Permit. As you will know, this can take 6 months.

In the meantime, the UKVI have issued her with a 16 digit Unique Access Number which UKVI say can be used by the Employer using the Employer Checking Service.

The large Government Agency has said they cannot accept this and she MUST have a share code or the job offer will be removed. But, they should be accepting this - UKVI are shocked that they are not. I think that the person doing the checks is just following a process that is outdated, incorrect, and is unwilling to deviate from the process.

We have sent her employer instructions on how to use the Unique Access Number, and still they insist on having a Share Code. We have even told the employer that, if my wife lost her BRP, we would have the same situation. Still, they refuse to listen.

We contacted our MP for advice, and the MP's secretary said that UKVI are right and the Employment Checking Service must be used, together with the 16 digit Unique Access Number. The MP's secretary was also concerned that other people in a similar situation may have been refused work.

My questions here is, what are your experiences of using a Unique Access Number instead of a Share Code? For those who have applied for a Biometric Residence Permit, how long does this take you? Lastly, this feels a little discriminatory because, despite strong evidence and instructions on how the large Government Agency can check my wife's status, they are refusing to do it. I understand that they have withdrawn job offers for people in similar situations.

[AmazonianX]

Good afternoon,

My wife has recently been successful in getting a job offer for a large Government Agency.

As part of the pre-employment checks, they have asked her for a Share Code.

My wife has Indefinite Leave to Remain as a result of marriage to me. She does not have a Biometric Residence Permit, so cannot generate a Share Code. We contacted UKVI who said that she would have to transfer her Visa to a Biometric Residence Permit. As you will know, this can take 6 months.

In the meantime, the UKVI have issued her with a 16 digit Unique Access Number which UKVI say can be used by the Employer using the Employer Checking Service.

The large Government Agency has said they cannot accept this and she MUST have a share code or the job offer will be removed. But, they should be accepting this - UKVI are shocked that they are not. I think that the person doing the checks is just following a process that is outdated, incorrect, and is unwilling to deviate from the process.

We have sent her employer instructions on how to use the Unique Access Number, and still they insist on having a Share Code. We have even told the employer that, if my wife lost her BRP, we would have the same situation. Still, they refuse to listen.

We contacted our MP for advice, and the MP's secretary said that UKVI are right and the Employment Checking Service must be used, together with the 16 digit Unique Access Number. The MP's secretary was also concerned that other people in a similar situation may have been refused work.

My questions here is, what are your experiences of using a Unique Access Number instead of a Share Code? For those who have applied for a Biometric Residence Permit, how long does this take you? Lastly, this feels a little discriminatory because, despite strong evidence and instructions on how the large Government Agency can check my wife's status, they are refusing to do it. I understand that they have withdrawn job offers for people in similar situations.

Presumed you passed the response from UKVI to the government agency employer?
This is more akin to dysfunction where both agencies cannot see eye to eye on a way forward on this matter.