Comments | brits_americans: National Insurance Number

dithering in brits_americans

National Insurance Number

Nov 18, 2005 13:44

I have an interview to apply for my NIN on Monday morning. Can anyone tell me what to expect at the interview? I read that it usually lasts about an hour and a half. I'm not worried about it, I'd just like to know what to expect.

Thanks.

national insurance number

Comments 9

choptliver November 18 2005, 14:42:36 UTC

I may not be much help because when I got mine, they said the procedure was going to change soon to a longer, harder thing. But what I had was basically a long review of facts. They took copies of pages of my passport, my UK documents, and had me tell them pretty much everything you would expect in an immigration interview. They want to be sure people are really entitled to work in the UK. They were nice about everything in mine, it was all just checking. I hope someone comes along with more current info than my 5 year old info, but as (at least when I started writing) this had no comments, I thought I'd give you something to start with.

dativesingular November 18 2005, 14:59:07 UTC

My interview wasn't that different. It just seemed to be checking that you lived where you said you lived, that you were in the UK legitimately, and that all your documents were in order (I had to sign the xeroxes that they made of each one).

dativesingular November 18 2005, 14:57:48 UTC

For me, it wasn't scary at all. I'm in a different situation than you--I had to bring documentation that I was a fully enrolled student, proof of my residence (housing contract, letters sent to me), and a letter from my employer describing what my job was. Basically, it was an hour and a half of being asked questions like "what will you be doing at your current job,". More than anything, it was him filling out a bunch of papers and us BSing about the differences between the states and the UK. I got my letter with my NI number a week later, and am still waiting for my card. Completely painless. :)

ghamina November 18 2005, 16:51:17 UTC

It took me nearly two hours for mine, but that was because they had a massive problem with a large group of eastern European workers (slaves, really) who had been brought into the country by unscrupulous hotel owners and promised work. They were not being paid anything, living in bedsits and didn't speak much English. There were also cops all over the place because a very large, very drunk man had come in to look at the job listings and was falling into people, shouting and trying to damage the computers. They didn't even look at my paperwork, just copied everything and had me sign things in between running around trying to get everything else sorted out. There weren't any difficult questions because they were so busy with other things.

I don’t think my experience was normal though…

missedith01 November 18 2005, 16:57:18 UTC

The key is taking the right documents. Call in advance and ask if they haven't already told you what they need to see. The purpose of the thing is really to establish your identity - so take proof of that, at the very least.

They do a handy leaflet which you might have already?

dithering November 20 2005, 11:58:49 UTC

I didn't have a copy of that. Thanks.

The woman who called me to schedule the interview told me to bring my passport, lease agreement for our flat, offer letter and paystubs if I have any (which I don't). But that was all she asked for.

I figured I'd bring my birth certificate and my marriage license as well. I've also seen some people saying they've asked for their spouse's passport so I'll also bring that.

ashfae November 18 2005, 19:30:25 UTC

Mine took about ten minutes and was a basic handing over of faces. Name rank serial number, no more. Very easy.

dithering November 20 2005, 11:54:22 UTC

But don't they go over a 8-12 page application with you question by question? It doesn't seem possible in 10 minutes.

ashfae November 21 2005, 11:18:29 UTC

They did, but the only questions it involved were name/rank/serial number types--where do you live, how long have you lived there, where do you work, what sort of visa do you have, how many times have you left the country recently. For me at least they were all rote, because I've answered the same questions over and over and over while applying for the visas I needed to get and stay here. It was more of the same. So while it sounded like a long application, it really didn't take much time at all.