There have been major changes to the right to work checking processes in recent years. Adjustments made by organisations to immigration compliance processes following the end of the Brexit transition period and adjusted right-to-work requirements continue to require careful consideration and review.
A large number of new hires are required to demonstrate they hold permission to work in the UK following Brexit. Some existing employees may have lost the right to work in the UK by failing to register for settled or pre-settled status. The move towards an electronic system of issuing permission to work means that use of UK Visas and Immigration’s online checking system is now essential. Online checks are now mandatory in the case of certain right to work statuses. The introduction of Identity Verification Technology (IDVT) checks and the end of COVID-19 adjusted checks have brought new requirements and challenges to businesses when conducting right to work checks and we are now seeing increased UKVI focus on compliance practices in businesses more generally.
This course is led over two mornings by lawyers from our UK immigration team and is the second in a series of modular immigration training courses which we will offer throughout 2025.
Delegates will gain an insight into
- strategic and practical issues that HR professionals need to consider when reviewing immigration processes and creating a system which is compliant with the new requirements; as well as considerations on how this system should operate
- making a manual and online right to work check and using the Employer Checking Service
- in-depth consideration of IDVT in line with Home Office requirements
- managing leave to remain expiry for existing employees
- how to object to civil illegal working penalties
- additional requirements for student workers
- managing informal contact from the Immigration Enforcement
- practical worked examples of managing problems
Programme Outline
Our first module assesses the requirements of conducting an effective right-to-work check and the circumstances in which this may be conducted through physical documents, on-line or IDVT.
The following module will consider how to effectively manage right-to-work issues as they arise. The issue of right to work intersects with other legal areas and, in addition to the potential problem of immigration non-compliance, we will address GDPR and the issue of discrimination in applying such checks. We will also review the role of audits and inspection in identifying past non-compliance and the reasons to make such checks. The penalty regime will be considered in depth, as will handling compliance visits and informal queries.
Both modules will be supported by observations from our trainers as to how these issues have been managed in practice, with breakout sessions intended for practitioners to share experiences and suggestions. There will be adequate time for questions within each session.
Please note: Module 1 will take place on 8 October 2025 and Module 2 will be held on 9 October 2025.
Module 1 - 9.30am - 11.30am
Operating effective right-to-work checks, the legal requirements and implementing a system in practice.
Making the relevant checks from start to finish including practical examples of recording checks:
- physical right to work checks;
- on-line right to work checks;
- IDVT right to work checks (including considerations for selecting a IDSP)
- Practical steps to addressing each issue
Module 2 - 9.30am - 11.30am
Handling right-to-work problems
Identifying potential issues:
- non-compliance
- GDPR
- Discrimination
EEA employees and transition
Ukrainian nationals and right to work checks
Managing the process through audit and inspection
The penalty regime and action to take on discovering non-compliance
Working with Immigration Enforcement
Common challenges and practical resolutions to these