Living in the UK
What Rada should have known
Rada shouldn't have had to put up with the treatment she got from her boss. There are rules about how long you can work for, how much you get paid and when you get holiday and sick pay.
Not only was Rada missing out on her rights, she was also working illegally. As an A8 national who arrived here after May 2004 Rada has to register with the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) - see Working in the UK.
If you're not registered both you and your boss are breaking the law, and your boss can be fined up to £5,000.
If you are an A8 national, you have the same rights as all EEA nationals to come to the UK and stay here for three months. If you have family members who are not EEA nationals, they can also come but may need a visa. For more information see links to other websites.
You can stay for longer than three months if:
- you are a worker - see Working in the UK; or
- you are self-employed or have set up a business. You have to follow the same rules as British people and you can get all the benefits which British people who are self-employed or in business can get;
but if you are:
- a student; or
- a pensioner; or
- you just want to be here
you have to have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK. This is known as being 'self-sufficient'. (Sometimes you can get financial help temporarily - select the Benefits link in the menu on the right hand side for more information.)
If you are an A8 national you are also an EEA national, but have fewer rights than other EEA nationals during your first 12 months of work in the UK.
Documents
If you are entitled to stay in the UK you can apply for a Registration Certificate to prove it. You don't have to get one but it may be worth your while as it shows that you're entitled to the same rights and benefits as British nationals.
You can get a certificate if you can prove that you are:
- self-employed; or
- self-sufficient; or
- are working legally in the UK (The Home Office says that you must have been working legally for 12 months, but some experts think this time limit is illegal, and it may change.)
Apply using form EEA1. You can download it from the Home Office website. Use the link on the right hand side of the page or call 0870 241 0645. The Home Office has to issue the certificate immediately.
If someone in your family is not an EEA national they have to apply for a Residence Card to prove that they have the right to stay in the UK with you. They can only get a Residence Card if you are entitled to a Registration Certificate. Apply using form EEA2 which you can also download using the link on the right. The Home Office will give you a certificate to prove that you've applied for the Residence Card. They have to issue the card itself no later than six months after the application has been made.
Tip! Always use the Post Office's Recorded Delivery service if you're sending documents to the Home Office and always keep a copy of anything you send.
Now read about working in the UK.
