A cautionary tale for expats. I originally applied for this role online after making my way through all the paper work and attachments to check the terms of the role. I filled out the application with all my details, filled in the eligibility questions (note: they do *not* ask about residency despite it later being integral to ensuring you can take up the position) and gave my non-UK address and contact details. All the information provided with the job spec included vague guidelines on residency, but fail to explicitly say "you *must* have lived in the UK for the past 5 years to qualify for this role".
I was invited to interview and eventually placed on the reserve list for the position. A couple of weeks later I got a call (on my non-UK number) asking me to come to the office for an 'informal chat' about another similar position. After this chat, I was offered this position, subject to security clearance.
Throughout both interviews and all my correspondence with the department, my residency outside of the UK came up numerous times. If UK residency is essential, you'd think this would have raised concern. I also submitted documentation as requested, which included a non-UK driving licence and utility bill - still no concerns raised by the HO.
Finally four months after my original application I was emailed by a Government Recruitment Service team member to advise they wouldn't be able to proceed with my security checks due to my lack of UK residency.
I never heard from the person who offered me the position, despite multiple emails. Anyone else I spoke to shut the conversation down by advising that they don't complete checks before offering the interview. Arguably, if residency is as essential as nationality it should be a clearance question on the application form. Each person I have managed to have contact with has quoted from a different document each time with a vague reference to "normally being resident", "reasonable period of residency" or even that (my favourite!) "residency outside the UK is not an automatic bar" to clearance, which only serves to demonstrate the lack of clarity surrounding residency.
Trying to explain that while I understand clearance checks cannot be performed before candidates are offered a position, but that basic requirements should be considered before an interview is offered has only fallen on deaf ears.
Applying for other CS jobs, I have made a habit of emailing the contact to check these details - I've received incorrect information on a number of occasions, so it seems no one really knows.
