The UK Home Office has announced that it will soon be much easier for employers to carry out checks to let them know whether foreign nationals have the right to work in the UK.

From spring 2012, firms will be able to go online to verify that the details contained on a foreign employee's biometric residence permit (BRP) are correct.

The Minister of Immigration, Damian Green said in the statement that it is vital that employers are given the tools they need to meet their obligations. He also announced that from 29 February 2012 BRP’s will be issued to more categories of foreign nationals, including refugees and those granted permission to settle in the UK.