The UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) department is going digital from 31 December 2024 for all immigrants who currently hold some form of status in the UK and who are not yet British Citizens.
Most people will be familiar with the Biometric Resident Permit, aka BRP card, whilst others may have a wet ink stamp in in old passport, or carry around a letter confirming their status. The majority of BRPs expire on 31 December 2024. In preparation, UKVI stopped the issue of BRPs to new customers, due to the limited value to customers of providing a physical document valid for a very short period.
All these different forms of providing proof of status, will now be replaced with an E-Visa from midnight on 31 December 2024. This does not mean that a person’s status changes on this day, it’s merely about how to prove your status that is changing. Everyone who currently has a BRP card, wet ink stamp in a passport, or another form of proof, that is not yet an E-Visa, must create an E-Visa as soon as possible. They are warned against delaying until close to the cut-off date to avoid delays or any last-minute errors become known and not having enough time to get these rectified before travelling.
As with the role out of any large digital scheme, there may be teething issues. It is the responsibility of each to report any errors using the dedicated page on the UKVI website, with a new form launched by the Home Office : new form for reporting problems. Once submitted, people should receive a response within ten days either confirming that the E-visa has been corrected or asking for further information.
https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa
It is important to report any errors and creating the E-Visa before travel and leaving the UK, in order to prevent any travel inconvenience when embarking on a flight, and avoiding any issues with immigration on return to the UK. Even after having successfully created an E-Visa it remains the responsibility of each individual to check that their details are up to date, such as updating any new passport details before travelling.
UKVI has long been canvased to delay the implementation of the cliff edge date of 31 December 2024. The concern is that people could get stuck abroad and be unable to return to the UK, which could trigger a Windrush-type scandal, because the online account creation process is difficult for many people, such as those who have lost their BRP and have no other form of identity documentation.
On 4 December 2024, UKVI finally gave in to the pressure and issued a statement advising that as an additional safeguard, BRP and BRC holders should keep their old BRP/BRC cards that has expire on or after 31 December 2024 and continue to carry these when travelling internationally. UKVI has confirmed that these cards will be accepted as an additional type of acceptable evidence by airline carriers until 31 March 2025, when the date for the E-Visa and digital switch will be reviewed again
Those with dependents and children, need to create an individual account and E-Visa for each dependent.
At present, those granted entry clearance, will still get a vignette sticker in their passports to allow travel to the UK within a certain time-window, after which they create an E-Visa either immediately or when they arrive in the UK.
If you have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you should already have an E-Visa. It is advisable for EU nationals to access their online account to check their status.
Few helpful links from UKVI website:
e-Visa Community support for vulnerable people
The UKVI’s switch to digital is also important for employers employing foreign workers. For the past few years employers have had to complete a ‘right to work check’ using the UKVI online employers checking service, and so they should already be familiar with the digital system. However, they should be aware that their workers will no longer have a physical card or other hard copy evidence of their right to live and work in the UK and that all proof of status will be online from 31 December 2024.
For any immigration assistance, please contact our expert team by clicking here.
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