The Disclosure & Barring service (DBS), announced mandatory changes to the ID verification process earlier this year. The new process has been running in parallel with the existing ID checking guidelines for a three-month transition period, but this ends on 3rd December 2018. After this date the new guidelines must be applied.
The changes have been summarised by our DBS specialists Personnel Checks as follows:
- The following identification can now be used for non-European Economic Area applicants;
- Resident Card – A Permanent Residence Card issued by the Home Office to the family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland
- A Positive Verification Notice issued by the Home Office Employer Checking Service to the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the named person may stay in the UK and is permitted to do the work in question.
- New forms of ID verification.
It is now possible to use an Irish passport card as Group 2b verification, unless the ‘Passport’ has been used as Group 1 verification.
A live video link can now be used by ID verifiers as an alternative to face-face examinations of identity documents, however they must be in possession of original copies of the ID documents.
- Changes to requirements
A Passport is no longer mandatory as an additional item for these three documents;
- A current Residence Card (including an Accession Residence Card or a Derivative Residence Card) issued by the Home Office to a non-European Economic Area national who is a family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland or who has a derivative right of residence.
- A current Immigration Status Document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder with a valid endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
- A current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
If you have any questions in relation to the changes in process or in terms of DBS checking in general then please get in touch on 01924 827869.