71 organisations, including Migrants Organise and the3million, have written to the government to express significant concerns that the transition to eVisa puts individuals at risk of being denied their lawful rights and entitlements including access to benefits, health and social care, and housing. The letter urges immediate action to prevent risk of denial of lawful rights and entitlements.
If you or someone you are supporting are having issues with proving your status and, as a result, are being denied support from the DWP, JobCentre, local authorities or the NHS, you can show them the letter and briefing below. You can find step-by-step guides to apply for an eVisa here and more information here.
From 31 December 2024 onwards, all physical Home Office Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP) and Biometrics Residence Card (BRC) will expire. This does not mean that their right to remain in the UK (and entitlements associated with that leave to remain) are also due to expire; however, individuals will need to create an eVisa account in order to be able to show their status and entitlements in the UK.
This digital-only system has been deeply flawed, prone to glitches and errors, leaving people frequently unable to prove their status and assert their rights. Those who are less digitally literate are excluded by a process that they are unable to grapple with. Many have experienced an unwillingness to engage with the technical processes required of the system on the part of those tasked with checking immigration status (including landlords, prospective employers, and airline counter check-in staff). The Guardian in a March 2024 article reported that database errors had affected the status of 76,000 people.
Even more alarming is the fact that other government departments seem to be equally unaware of this transition. We are seeing the Department of Work and Pensions, for example, already stopping individuals’ welfare benefits on a mistaken basis that their immigration status and entitlement will expire on the 31 December 2024.
We, the 3 million and 69 other organisations have now written to the government to express our significant concerns that another Windrush-style scandal is going to happen again: the transition to eVisa will affect around 4 million people and individuals are at risk of being denied their lawful rights and entitlements including access to benefits, health and social care, and housing. Our communication urges the government to take immediate action to mitigate these risks and ensure people are able to access their lawful entitlements. You can read the letter, preceded by a one-page briefing, below:
