Reply to: Agent wants copy of passport to submit application

[edison]

I was offered a role at a retail bank and was asked to take my passport to one of their branches for a perm employee to take a copy and certify it.

I also had to do this once for a mortgage application with one of the large UK banks.

[SueEllen]

My contract required a copy of passport too. Photocopy was fine if signed by a professional (teacher, doctor, etc). Good thing having a teacher friend

Get a doctor friend as well plus a lawyer and an accountant. They all come in useful if you need various forms certified.

[l35kee]

My contract required a copy of passport too. Photocopy was fine if signed by a professional (teacher, doctor, etc). Good thing having a teacher friend

[northernladuk]

This is fairly normal, the company i worked for wanted front, back, inside and photo. Not the first time that was done either.

I think it is paranoia and as you said earlier in the thread, they have probably been scammed before...

I'm a rebel. I scanned the front of my partners passport and my photo page on the same scan. Want to see if the agent questions how I have the photo page and front cover in the same page... but they won't

[scooby]

Funny coincidence but I've just had an agent requesting a scanned copy of the photo page (yeah ok with that) and scan of the front cover??? WTF erm, OK then.

This is fairly normal, the company i worked for wanted front, back, inside and photo. Not the first time that was done either.

I think it is paranoia and as you said earlier in the thread, they have probably been scammed before...

[northernladuk]

Funny coincidence but I've just had an agent requesting a scanned copy of the photo page (yeah ok with that) and scan of the front cover??? WTF erm, OK then.

[Hobosapien]

Other forms of ID.

Go to be photo ID. Not sure what other than passport or driver licence card would qualify if an individual had neither and had no desire to obtain either just for this purpose.

If only the government had gone through with identity cards for everyone.

[billybiro]

Your interview is with the client but it's the agent that needs to check you eligible to work in the UK so taking to interview is no good. They have a legal requirement to check.

His contract will be between the Agent and his Limited, won't it?

Do they issue passports to Limited companies?

Supply the agent with a letter on your Limited Company's letter head stating that [MyCo Ltd]. has performed all necessary due diligence and can confirm that [OP's Name] is eligible to work in the UK. Sorted.

[SueEllen]

What If you don’t have a passport?

Other forms of ID.

[northernladuk]

What If you don’t have a passport?

Fair question but if not having one is a blocker to your livelihood wouldn't it be worth getting one?

[stek]

What If you don’t have a passport?

[BrilloPad]

For the current gig I was asked for scan of passport. I provided. I was then told it had to be witnessed by anyone. Having a random person sign it, they then asked for "I certify this is a true likeness of". Then they decided they needed an original scan with nothing on. They had lost my original email.

No surprise the UK is going to the dogs.

[Hobosapien]

You could always just send a scan certified by a solicitor. I would have thought that that's enough due diligence.

...

I was told it had to be the original, no scan or certified copy. Fortunately I had an old passport still in date as had recently renewed it, so sent that and they accepted it. Only indication it wasn't current is the missing corner that the passport office cuts off when returning old ones. They didn't say it had to be current.

[borderreiver]

An agent has asked me for a scanned copy of my passport in order to submit my application to the client (a Government body). This is before I have even been offered an interview. Is this normal?

I have never been asked for my passport before an offer has been made.

Please let me know your experiences with this.

Thanks,

A.

You could always just send a scan certified by a solicitor. I would have thought that that's enough due diligence.

I would never send my passport in the post though. By courier maybe, but I'd want the agency to pay for that.

[Hobosapien]

Scan the first page say you will be happy to bring it with you to the interview (if you get one). Personally I would not be happy posting it to them at all.

I agree. Email scan and take original with you, though agency may need you to visit their office to check it in person to comply with the rule 100% (a scanned copy will not suffice).

If you get the interview and offer then you are in position (they won't want to lose you easily) to ask the agent to visit you to see the original, or meet them halfway at a motorway services or train station.