Local Regulation

If you have just landed in the UK and are looking out for a job, then you probably don’t have an address of your own. Now, this can have several repercussions, but the worst of them all is not being able to open a bank account without proof of address. After all, being able to afford a place of your own in the UK, even on a rental basis isn’t going to be easy. Without a steady job, paying for one is going to be a nightmare, so your only option is to open a UK bank account without proof of address. So if you don’t have a job or a house yet, then the below-listed options should sort that out for you. However, before we explore them, let us quickly glance into the types of banking options you have and also figure out who should look for a no ID bank account in the UK. Types of UK Bank Accounts without Proof of Address If you are looking up for a no ID bank account in the UK, then you have three options to choose from. The first one is through the regular physical bank, which refers to Barclays, Lloyds and other banks that you can walk in. The second option is to cling onto technology and refers to options, which is usually through mobile phone payment systems. Usually, most mobile payment systems keep the entry criteria quite flexible. However, to get a phone connection in the UK, you do need an address. Also, this comes with an inflexible capping so we don’t consider this one to be a viable option. However, the third and most convenient option is Small World, a reliable money exchange intermediary. You can conveniently create accounts for yourself and your family members, who you

As you may know, a National Insurance Number is needed in the UK to be able to work in the country, but in the meantime, from the moment you have requested it and until you are officially granted one, are you allowed to work? The answer is yes, but you should be aware of the following: First of all, to be assigned with an NIN you should request an appointment by telephone for a personal interview. This means you will not be able to start up the process until you have arrived to the UK, although a wise thing to do is to call from your home country and request an appointment to cut down the waiting time. With enough time, you can schedule an appointment for a few days after your arrival and get your NIN in a period of 2 weeks. If you find a job before having your NIN, you can be hired as long as you are qualified to work in the UK without a working permit, that is i.e, if you have a European passport. In this case, your employer will ask you to request one as soon as possible. In the meantime, he or she could register you in the company under the “emergency tax code”. These codes are assigned by the HMRC and indicate how much money the employer needs to allocate to pay incomes and your social security. The tax codes depend on your marital status, age, income and if you have contributed earlier to the social security, amongst other things. Remember that the “emergency tax code” implies that your employer might not be withholding the correct amounts for taxes and social security, as this is a generic code. You might be paying more or less than you actually should that is why it is crucial to communicate your NIN as soon as you have one

Before you get your National Insurance Number in the United Kingdom, it is better to know what it is all about. What is a National Insurance Number? This is your own individual Personal Account Number. It is given distinctly to a person and it is retained by that person throughout his or her lifetime or residency in the United Kingdom. This number ensures that the contributions of National Insurance and the taxes that are paid by people are recorded properly against each person’s name. The National Insurance Number also serves as reference information when you have to communicate with the Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs). This Number is made up of alpha-numeric details. It involves letters and numbers and it will never change, once it has been assigned. You will be able to find this National Insurance Number on your P60, on your work pay-slip, and on all letters concerning your pension, tax or benefits. You will also find this number in the national Insurance section of your own personal tax account. Who has to pay National Insurance? You have to pay National Insurance contributions when you are employed in the United Kingdom and you have to be above sixteen years of age. This is subject to your income and earnings being above a certain stipulated amount. It applies to An employee who is earning more than £162 a week. A self-employed person who is making a profit of more than £6,205 a year. Why is it important? You have to make National Insurance contributions in order to qualify for fixed benefits and also to get your State Pension. You require a National Insurance Number before you begin to pay National Insurance contributions. When you start earning between £116 and £162 every week, your contributions have to be treated as a sum that is being paid to

When you belong to a certain nation, then that has a massive impact on your personal preferences and shapes your personality. So, if you’ve just moved into London for better career prospects, then there’s a lot that you leave behind — your family, friends, local food and more. However, what most expats usually miss is spending quality time with those who have similar preferences — those from your homeland. To help you fill this void, we are now going to help you connect with those who come from a similar background as yourself. So, for the sake of your overall development, we’ve listed some expat associations, which can provide a great platform to network with like-minded people. Benefits of Expat Networks You get to socialize with those from a similar background.   You can discuss and share information pertaining to visas, and other legal obligations. You gain access to useful information on best foreign exchange rates and low transaction fee on overseas transfers. You get to know the best places to find the food that you love and miss. Expat Networks for South Africans in the UK ​ If you are from South Africa, and have recently immigrated to the UK, then you are going to have a tough time coping up with the UK lifestyle, which is definitely a lot formal. So, if you simply want to loosen up and hang out with someone from your homeland, and crave for a long talk over some delicious braai and South African wine, then try finding your “chommies” through one of the reliable expat networks. Now this used to be quite difficult in the yester years, but now all you need to do is sign up with a reliable expat network, online. You can also try the Saffers and a dedicated Facebook Group with extremely helpful

The right to choose a Nation’s leader rightfully belongs to its citizens and this is why most countries reserve the right to vote, solely for its citizens. However, some nations like the UK extend this right to qualifying foreign residents. So if you are wondering whether or not, you can vote in the UK’s possible snap elections, then don’t worry, we have covered it all up for you. Ever since the 2016 referendum, it is pretty clear that the UK would eventually severe itself from the Europe Union (EU), as the majority have voted in favour of Brexit.  If you are working or studying in the UK then you definitely know about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to exit the EU by the end of October 2019. Also, there are rumours about a snap poll, just in case, there is a roadblock. After all, Brexit has been delayed for quite some time as the Bill seems to be pendingAfter all, Brexit has been delayed for quite some time as the Bill seems to be pending before the UK parliament, awaiting a nod from the MPs. So if you are curious about your rights as a foreigner working or studying in the UK and aren’t quite sure of whether you can vote or register to vote, then here’s some useful information. We shall now break this down on a case to case basis, so whether you are a member of the EU or hail from one of the Commonwealth Nations, we’ve covered it all up for you.Can Foreigners vote in the UK?​London’s strong economy attracts people from all over the world, and if you are in London or any other part of the UK, then depending on a certain set of criteria you may or may not have the right to vote. The UK confers

Most people working away from their country of origin, are unaware of their legal rights. Some even presume that they don’t have any, but that’s far from the truth. As a matter of fact, your rights as a human being are protected, no matter where you are. So if you are working in the UK, then irrespective of whether you are a legal or illegal immigrant, you have certain rights in place and we shall now discuss the most important ones. Before we do that, here’s a quick overview of the difference between a legal and illegal immigrant in the UK. An illegal immigrant is one who does not have the right to stay in the UK, or one who’s right to stay in the UK has expired and has not been renewed within the specified timeline. Conversely, a legal immigrant is one who has the necessary documentation and is legally permitted to stay and work in the UK. Now that you know the difference between the two, let us discuss some of the working rights of both legal and illegal immigrants in the UK. Employer’s Obligation to check the Employee’s Right to Work By the local rules and regulations, all Employers in the UK are under the legal obligation to verify the work permit documentation of their employees. If an employer fails to do this and ends up hiring someone who is not authorized to work in the UK, then this could lead to dire consequences. The trouble begins with a ‘Referral Notice’ and the Employer gets only 28 days to respond to it. The only way out for an Employer is to prove that they diligently checked the applicant’s right to work. The ‘Referral Notice’, which is a Civil Notice can impose a penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal