In spite of delays related to the rollout of digital visas for non-EU migrants, the United Kingdom’s government has not applied any changes to the deadline of December 31, 2024, until which period over four million migrants would need an eVisa.
From January 1, 2025, their Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) will no longer be accepted as valid proof of immigration status and residency rights, VisaGuide.World reports.
Previously, the Home Office said that persons would be eligible to apply in order to access the new “eVisas” from June, however, the Home Office has recently said that applications would open later in 2024.
The Home Office’s announcement has caused concerns among the immigration lawyers after in spite of delays, there have been no changes to the December 31 deadline for transition to eVisas.
Zoe Bantleman of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) told the Guardian that the new government has “inherited chaos” in the digital immigration system, amplified by the hostile environment and the carriers’ liability regime.
To prevent a large-scale second Windrush scandal, the new home secretary has only five months to take urgent action before the biometric residence permits [BRPs] of 4 million people expire, leaving them undocumented.
From 2025, BRPs No Longer Accepted as a Valid Proof of Immigration Status
Through the biometric residence permits, all internationals are allowed to stay in the UK for at least six months, considered as valid proof of their immigration status and residency rights, however, from next year, such permits will be replaced with eVisas under the Home Office digitization programme.
From January 1, 2025, over four million non-EU migrants will need to obtain an eVisa, after their BRPs are not accepted as proof of immigration status and residency rights.
Changes related to the issue are hardly noticeable after a few reports in this regard have been published up to this point. A large number of them may not learn from the new rules until they find their BRPs are no longer available.
In order to obtain a eVisa, applicants are required to set up a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI_ digital account, which can be made only upon invitation from the Home Office.
In June this year, the Home Office said that applicants could open a UKVI account online, however, the time frame was not considered enough for about four million applicants.
This apparent change to the Public Beta timeframe is of great concern as it places millions of people with extant leave in a state of uncertainty with no secure time frame as to when they might be able to transfer their immigration status online, despite the self-imposed impending BRP expiry date of 31 December 2024.
Bantleman said that she has not yet received any reply to this letter addressed to the Home Office on behalf of ILPA earlier this month. At the same time, the government has given no explanation related to the delay either.