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Process-DV-How to Verify Documents-Archive

You must check that the documents are genuine and the person presenting them is the prospective or existing employee, the rightful holder and allowed to do the type of work you are offering. You must check that:

  1. photographs and dates of birth are consistent across documents and with the person’s appearance in order to detect impersonation;
  2. expiry dates for permission to be in the UK have not passed;
  3. detail of any work restrictions is noted
  4. the documents are genuine, have not been tampered with and belong to the holder;
  5. the reasons for any difference in names across documents can be explained by providing evidence (for example, original marriage certificate, divorce decree absolute, deed poll). These supporting documents must also be copied and a copy retained.

 

If we are given a false document, we will only be liable for a civil penalty if it is reasonably apparent that it is false. This means that a person who is untrained in the identification of false documents, examining it carefully, but without the use of technological aids could reasonably be expected to realise that the document in question is not genuine.

 

Things to look out for:

  • Spelling mistakes
  • Errors in dates
  • Have any pages been substituted? Counterfeit pages could be indicated by:

Worn/modified stitching

Passports are made up from sheets of paper which are then stitched together and cut to size. The pages and cover should therefore all be in perfect alignment. To forge a document it may first be taken apart and then re-assembled by hand, making it difficult for all the pages to sit flush as before.

  • Has the photograph / image been substituted? Check for:

Damage around the photograph / image

Any safeguards over photograph / image e.g. ink stamp, emboss, laminate affected (Most photographs and digital images in passports or ID cards will be protected by an ink stamp, an emboss, or a laminate with visible safeguards. An ink stamp is produced with wet ink and should not be printed).

In this forged USA passport a new face has been added to the original holders image.  Many forges will print a new image (or parts of an image) onto a thin clear laminate and place it on top of the page.

Note below: the printed portion of the stamp on the photograph in the forgery differs from the stamp on the rest of the card.

 

  • Have any details been altered? Check for:

Damage to paper around details e.g. date of birth (A forger will often alter details in conjunction with changing a page or photograph/image). Note below: The passport has been forged by changing the date of birth. The forger has rubbed over the original pen ink and then over-written a new date.

  • Does the document have any holographs?

Many documents have holographic devices which are highly detailed and display different colours and designs when rotated and tilted.  Below is an example of a counterfeit document which has the word “Genuine” throught out it.


  • Check the text  – does the document have raised printing (Intaglio)?

Genuine intaglio printing will have raised print which an be identified by touch.  Below is an example of some non raised print