Jobcentre appointment and paperwork

phil399 wrote:Hi,

I'm going to move to England in a few months. I'm trying to see how long it takes to do all the paperwork and get things settled (getting a proof of address, opening a bank account, getting a NI number, and so on).

Can you help me?

- When you move in and pay the council tax online, how long does it typically take to receive the council tax bill by post? You notify the council with the necessary form that you are the new tenant. Only then do you get a council tax bill for the year. This is assuming you are renting a property on your own, which to be honest is very difficult if you have just arrived in the UK as you have no credit history or record here and you need a lot of money. Depending on where you are planning to stay and what type of accommodation you choose (sole occupier/share house etc) will depend on whether you pay council tax or not.

- When you pay the TV licence online, how long does it take to receive the TV licence bill by post? A few days.

- When you call the Jobcentre to make an appointment to get a NI number, how long does it take to get an appointment? Not long but also depends where you intend to be in the UK.

- Can you choose the date/time of the appointment at the Jobcentre (if you are already working or taking English lessons) or do they choose the date for you? You should be able to choose but they are not freely available. Job Centre has many functions and slots are limited.

- Does the Jobcentre ask for a proof of address? Are they very strict (for example: council tax required) or quite relaxed (for example: tenancy agreement for a flatshare accepted)? Yes they do. Where else or how else do you prove where you live for them to send your NI card.

- If you are not yet working, does the Jobcentre ask for your resume, the proof you are looking for some work, and so on? Possibly

- After the Jobcentre appointment, how long does it typically take to receive the letter with your NI number? Not long, less than an hour. Your wait to be seen at the centre might be longer than the appointment.

Thanks for your help If you could tell me roughly how long it took for you, that would help me a lot