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[turanga_leoda]

Hiya

Comments

[caramel_betty]

A British colleague who needed to retrieve her NI number from the system (because she didn't live in the UK when it would have been sent to her) had to wait about 4 weeks. As I was sat next to her when she made the call, I gather from her that only certain job centres can do it - she asked to go to the job centre right next to the office, but was sent miles away - and many job centres have been closed over the last few years.

So yes, it's perfectly possible to wait that long.

[toastedcheese]

I think it took me a while. However, I was able to start work before I had a number; all my employer needed to see upfront was my work visa.

[catyak]

Some employers insist that by law they have to have your NI number before they can employ you, but that's wrong. As you found, they just need proof of entitlement to work and can use a temporary NI number for paying contributions until such time as the NI people get their collective arse into gear and provide one.

D

[lareinadeluz]

Second this. Well, except that the lady I spoke with on the phone decided to get into an argument with me about the validity of my visa (Indefinite Leave to Enter). Ugh.

Anyway, she ended up agreeing to send me the forms and voila! I got my NI number in a letter not too long after, and then a card like...weeks later. Never needed an appointment/interview.

[_nicolai_]

Back when I first got a job I also had to get an NI number (due to unusual circumstances in my past life), I was able to start work wth a promise I would supply an NI number by the time they were doing the payroll.

[december_clouds]

Mine didn't take that long, but I did go to the appointment. Please note that it was not at any of the closest Job Centres! This was a pain for me because it was at the JC in a place I'd only been to once, so I made my husband go with me!