Originally posted by mupsuit@Jan 20 2006, 06:51 PM
As the wife of a British Citizen with a spouse visa in your passport you have the right to work - NO FURTHER PERMISSION REQUIRED

When you get a job the employer will "register" you for a National Insurance Number - this takes a few weeks to come through and you need to attend an interview

My wife has been trying to get a job but so far it seems that the employers are reluctant to take her on becasue she does not have an NI number

we will keep trying
Ok, I think we touched on this subject a few months ago, but an employer cannot obtain a NI number, you will need to apply at the local job centre or social security office, only they can issue NI numbers after an interview.

Having worked in payroll for the last 10 years, changes made by IR in last 2 years mean that employers in the UK now cannot take on staff without a NI number, the onus is on the employee to obtain one. There are exceptions to this rule where an employee gets a temporary NI number (maybe this is what you are referring to mupsuit), but a permanent one must be obtained.

Elsa had hers very quick - no more than 6 weeks, and the staff at the local Social Security office were very helpful.