WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME (WRS) From May 1 2004, most nationals of the new member states (except Cyprus and Malta) who wish to work for more than one month for an employer in the UK need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme. Once you have been working legally in the UK for 12 months without a break you will have full rights of free movement and will no longer need to register on the Worker Registration scheme. You can then get a residence certificate confirming your right to live and work in the UK. If you have already registered on the Worker Registration Scheme, and have been working in the UK for 12 months, you may now wish to apply for a residence certificate. Do I need to register to work in the UK? You will need to register with the Home Office if: you are a national of one of the new Member States (apart from Malta and Cyprus) subject to the Worker Registration Scheme you start a new job on or after 1 May 2004 you have been working in the UK before 1 May without permission.
You will not be subject to the worker registration and therefore do not need to register if one or more of the following applies: you are self-employed you have been working legally in the UK for 12 months or more in the job you held on 1 May 2004 you have been working legally in the UK and have stayed in the same job after 1 May 2004 you are providing services in the UK on behalf of an employer who is not established in the UK you are also a citizen of the UK, another EEA State (other than one of the 8 new Member States) or Switzerland you are the family member of a Swiss or EEA national (other than one of the 8 new Member States) who is working in the UK you are the family member of a Swiss or EEA national who is living in the UK as a student, or a retired or self sufficient person.
When should I register? You should apply to register with the Worker Registration Scheme as soon as you start a new job. If you do not apply within one month of starting a job, your employment will be illegal after that date. It will be illegal until you are issued with a registration certificate and you may have to stop working. How do I apply? We can apply and obtain a Worker Registration Scheme Certificate on your behalf.
You will have to submit us the following documents : What happens next? If your application is successful, you will send you these papers : • A registration card This includes your name, date of birth, nationality, your photograph and a unique reference number. The registration card is valid for as long as you are registered on the scheme. • A registration certificate This is in the form of a letter. This authorises you to work for the employer named in your application. We will send a copy to your employer. The certificate expires on the date you stop working for that employer. If you are no longer working for that employer when the certificate is issued, the certificate is not valid. • Your passport or ID card You should keep the registration card and certificate in a safe place. How long will it take to decide my application? Currently it takes anything between 10 and 27 days to receive WRS certificates for our clients. What if I change my employer? If you change jobs, you must apply for a new registration certificate which authorises you to work for your new employer. This application, and any further applications to change employer, is free of charge so you do not need to send in a further £70. The £70 registration fee is for the registration card so you will only have to pay this the first time you apply for registration. I have a non-EEA national spouse overseas. Do I still need to registrer under WRS scheme ? If you have a non-EEA spouse, about to marry such a person or just want to invite such a person to stay with you in the UK, a British Diplomatic post will certainly require such a person to produce proof that you either have a WRS certificate or EEA Residence Certificate (whichever applied), so we strongly recommend that you do obtain them as soon as possible. What we can do for you As British lawyers, we will do our best and even go that extra mile for you. We can help you with the necessary paperwork that will be needed to ensure that your application meets the Immigration requirements.
Please expect us to do the following for you, when you instruct us to represent you or a member of your family: Full and professional assessment of your case Advice on whether you should consider a different immigration programme or category Strong and weak points of your application Advice on correct list of documents Advice on evidence required Instructing your sponsor, relative, employer or college (if required) Final check of your documents before submission to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post Creating a professionally looking paginated immigration bundle Drafting representations and cover letters to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post Working with interpreters (if required) Submission your application to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post - Correspondence with the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
Keeping you updated by post, E-mail or phone on the progress of your application If something goes wrong : requesting a review or reconsiderationAny further in-country/out-of-country immigration assistance
The above list is not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a professional immigration advice.
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