The UK is transitioning to a completely digital immigration system with eVisas. That means physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and passport stickers are not going to be utilized. Rather all visa information will be held and retrieved on the web. The transition started in 2018 with the EU Settlement Scheme and will be fully implemented by 2024. They will be contacted for registration to a UKVI account on which they can access their new eVisa for those who have physical visas in place.
What Are eVisas and How Do They Work?
A UK eVisa is a virtual record of your immigration status in the UK. And it carries important information such as your visa for living, working, or studying in the UK. You will not have paper copies and you will access your visa information online, using your UKVI online account.
You’ll need to: 1. Go to your eVisa.
- Login to your UKVI account and connect your passport.
- Sign up and get a new one-time password.
- Login using the password to see your biometric and immigration records.
- The system will populate your current visa status as soon as you log in.
Benefits of eVisas
- Enhanced Security: eVisas are not lost, stolen, or compromised, as physical documents can be. This reduces fraud and frees up time for dealing with stealing or losing BRPs.
- Rapid Delivery: Once your visa is granted, you get your visa immediately. Not even need to wait for the paper to come in.
- Faster Entry: eVisas makes it quicker and simpler for you to show that you are an immigration visitor to enter the UK.
- Easy Sharing: You can get a share code from your eVisa so your employer or landlord can quickly see your visa information. This also makes it easier and more consistent to check status.
Potential Drawbacks of eVisas
There are lots of benefits to eVisas, but there are some problems:
- Troubles in Transition: As UKVI implements eVisas in 2024, it could be that visa holders don’t receive their registration notices on time, or are unable to complete the process correctly.
- Border Force Training: The UK Border Force will be required to train in the application process of eVisas on arrival in the UK and there will be delays at the border in the early days.
- Problems with the Technology: While UKVI was rolling out online immigration statuses to EU citizens, there were a few issues. There were applicants who no longer had status, or saw the wrong information when they logged in. These kinds of technical problems could reoccur, and the visa holders would be in a mess if their eVisa was not accessible or correct.
- No Physical Evidence: Another major worry is that, without a physical BRP, there will be no physical evidence of visa holders’ legal immigration status in case of technical problems. Even if you’re able to apply for eVisas online, when the system crashes, you won’t be able to prove your legal rights to employers or immigration authorities.
The UK will also fully move to eVisas in the future (which means no one will be able to validate immigration status with the aid of paper documents until 2024). There is a lot of good in eVisas — security, convenience, quick access — but there is also some bad news — mostly technical issues and lack of actual proof. Just be sure to know what is going on and if you don’t want any troubles, you have to log in to your UKVI account.
And if you are new to the new visa process, or have any confusion on your status, Law and Visas can help get you out of the hole and into the right headspace.
