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Problems in getting the NIN

2K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Johanna 
#1 ·
I’m Italian born in Argentina, I have both nationalities. I have Italian passport but I have never lived in Europe. I’m planning to go to live to the UK but an Italian friend who was also born in Argentina but lived in Italy more than 20 years told me that he had problems to get the National Insurance Number because he was born in Argentina and has Argentine nationality too.
He finally got the NIN because he proved that he lived in Italy for more than 20 years. I will not have this possibility, even though I travelled with my Italian passport all over the world and I’m register as Italian living overseas.
Can I apply for the extended right of residence as EEA as a job seeker and apply for the NIN?
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
#2 ·
That doesn't make any sense. You have to have a National Insurance Number if you have a job in order to pay the correct taxes and make the correct National Insurance contributions. It doesn't have anything to do with your nationality. I think your friend is confusing this with something else. Perhaps eligibility for medical treatment under the NHS.
 
#4 ·
Thank you nyclon for your comment. Let me clarify.
I will be seeking for a job and as soon as I get one, as far as I understand, I will need to apply to the NIN. My employer will ask for it. But if I have problem to get one, I will have a problem to work. So, it is important for me to be sure that I will be able to get one as soon as I get a job. I recheck with my friend and he confirmed that this is exactly what has happen with him and with other person in similar situation. It happen during the 'Evidence of identity' interview.
Thanks.
 
#3 ·
I’m Italian born in Argentina, I have both nationalities. I have Italian passport but I have never lived in Europe. I’m planning to go to live to the UK but an Italian friend who was also born in Argentina but lived in Italy more than 20 years told me that he had problems to get the National Insurance Number because he was born in Argentina and has Argentine nationality too.
He finally got the NIN because he proved that he lived in Italy for more than 20 years. I will not have this possibility, even though I travelled with my Italian passport all over the world and I’m register as Italian living overseas.
Can I apply for the extended right of residence as EEA as a job seeker and apply for the NIN?
It shouldn't be a problem as your Italian passport in itself is sufficient proof that you are able to work. Living in Italy or another EU country shouldn't be a pre-requisite for getting your National Insurance Number.

There are, however, residence rules for certain things, such as paying home student fees for unis and getting certain state bursaries for vocational courses such as nursing and teaching. Also you won't get jobseekers allowance and similar benefits if you haven't contributed to social security funds in Italy or another EU country.

But there are no such rules for just getting your NIN.

See Applying for a National Insurance number : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits
 
#5 ·
It shouldn't be a problem as your Italian passport in itself is sufficient proof that you are able to work. Living in Italy or another EU country shouldn't be a pre-requisite for getting your National Insurance Number.

There are, however, residence rules for certain things, such as paying home student fees for unis and getting certain state bursaries for vocational courses such as nursing and teaching. Also you won't get jobseekers allowance and similar benefits if you haven't contributed to social security funds in Italy or another EU country.

But there are no such rules for just getting your NIN.
Thank you Joppa, you are very clear as it is the link you sent me. I don’t want to claim for home student fees or jobseeker allowance. I just want to avoid making all the move to the UK and then have the problem when I got a job.
My friend confirmed me that he knows somebody else that had the same questioning during the 'Evidence of identity' interview. The official asked: “what is your main nationality? Because if you are Italian just because your mother was, this is not enough for us”. I don’t know if there is a “unwritten rule” against the double nationalities. Do you know if there is any way to ask “officially” this information? I’m not sure whether I should contact the European enquiries contact centre: 0845 010 5200 (I don't know whether I can call it from overseas) If you have any other recommendation, please let me know.
Thanks.
 
#6 ·
Don't be daunted.

During my immigration travels I have found all kind of problems with immigration officers that are over zealous but were over stepping the mark.

You have your Italian passport, you are an Italian citizen, you should make clear to anybody questioning you that you don't see the relevance of questioning your Argentinian links (EU treaties mention nothing about main nationalities afaik, you either are EU national or you aren't end of the history.

If they persist, ask them to show you the rule that requires them to take extra steps to verify your identity.

Don't be confrontational, but show that you know what your rights are (keeping in mind recent events it would not surprise me if some immigration officials are being over zealous about anybody with links with Argentina).

Nobody can guarantee your paperwork is smooth, there are always people out there to make your life difficult, but at least in theory you should not be pestered about your Argentinian connections.
 
#8 ·
It is my understanding that you present your new employer with a temporary NINo which should read:
TN dd mm yy M/F
where TN stands for temporary number
dd mm yy is your date of birth (day month year format NOT american style of month day year)
M or F is whether you are Male or Female

So, for example, mine would be TN 24 07 41 M since I was born on 24th July 1941 and I am male (or was the last time I looked :D )
 
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