The University is an international institution with a global reputation for excellence. To continue to welcome international employees to the University, we are obliged to meet certain requirements in line with relevant UK Government legislation.
Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, the ÃÛÌÒTV has a legal obligation to:
Failure to check an employee or worker's right to work is a breach of Home Office guidance and could result in a civil penalty if the University is found to be employing an illegal worker. This risks losing our licence to sponsor anyone requiring a visa (this applies to staff and students).
If you are going to be an employee, casual worker via UniWorkforce, or a sponsored visitor (via the Government Authorised Exchange UK visa route), HR’s Recruitment and UniWorkforce Team will contact you with options on how you can arrange a right to work check.
You will need to undertake a right to work checkÌýin line withÌýyour status in the UK.
You have two options to demonstrate your right to work in the UK if you are a British citizen or Irish citizen:
Remote digital check
If you have a current passport or Irish passport card, you have the option to have a remote digital check, removing the need for you to have your original documents checked in-person. If you choose this option, you will be sent a secure link for you to verify your document. Once you have completed your steps, youÌýwill be invited toÌýattend a mandatory Teams video call to confirm identity, which completes the check.
In-person check
You will need toÌýbring in your original right to work document(s) and have these checked in-person by a University member of staff.ÌýThis will normally be your passport but you can explore all acceptable documents via the Ìý(copies will not beÌýaccepted).
You can use this option if you hold any of the following:
You will need to prove yourÌýright to work using the Home Office online right to work check service available via . You will be asked to attend a video call to complete the visual step of this check, and to provide a copy of your passport to verify your identity.
If you have an eVisa, you can watch a video on how to prove your immigration status:Ìý
If you are employed on a contract and have an end date on your visa/permission to work in the UK and you are continuing to work, HR will be in contact with you approximately three months prior to your current visa/permission expiry date to ask you about your intentions for your continued right to work in the UK. ​​​
If you have a new visa, you will be invited to a follow-up right to work check. If you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to extend your Skilled Worker or Government Authorised Exchange visa, please let your HR contact know.
For further general information on right to work checks, please contact Ask HRÌýin the first instance.Ìý They will try to answer your query, sign post you to the relevant information or escalate it to another HR team to action or respond to.
Internal University members can also view the right to work pages available via our
Thank you for completing your digital check, authenticating your right to work documents for the ÃÛÌÒTV.
If you're a casual worker, please emailÌýuniworkforce@soton.ac.uk,Ìýto confirm you have completed this step of the right to work.Ìý
If you're being offered a permanent or fixed term position, please emailÌýrecruitment@soton.ac.ukÌýwith your vacancy number to confirm you have completed this step of the right to work.Ìý
Once we have reviewed your check we will contact you to organise a Teams video call where we verify your identity based on the digital check. This only takes a few minutes and is a Home Office requirement to complete your right to work check.
If you have a query or don’t hear from us please emailÌýrecruitment@soton.ac.ukÌý(if contractual work) or Uniworkforce (if casual work) with your vacancy number.