The way someone proves their immigration status in the UK has been changed permanently since the system became fully digital, and physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) cards expired on 31 December 2024. Millions of people must now manage and share their immigration status via an online account.
For lots of migrant families, the transition has not been straightforward, and many have found the process stressful to deal with. At Berlad Graham, our immigration team has been helping clients understand what the change means for them, resolve issues with their UKVI accounts, and ensure their status is correctly recorded before it causes difficulties with work, housing, or travel.
In this blog, we explain what an eVisa is, what you must do if you haven’t acted yet, what to do when things go wrong, and when to seek legal advice from an immigration lawyer.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is essentially a digital record of your immigration status stored through your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account. Instead of receiving a vignette sticker in your passport, your immigration status is held electronically and linked to your passport or travel document.
eVisas replace BRPs for almost everyone who previously held one, including those who held family visas, work visas, student visas, or with settled or pre-settled status.
While the underlying permission has not changed, including the visa conditions, expiry date, and any restrictions that applied to your BRP, how you access and share proof of that status has.
The Home Office has been focused on moving towards a fully digital immigration system, phasing out physical visa stickers, for several years. Digital visas are said to be more secure, easier to update, and harder to forge or lose. They should also be easier to update in real time when personal details change, such as a new passport or a change of address.
However, the rollout has not been without a few hiccups, and the transition has caused difficulties for many people trying to switch over to the new system.
What Should You Do?
If you’re applying for a visa, or you already have one, you’ll need to set up a UKVI online account (if you haven’t already).
Via your UKVI online account, you can:
- View your immigration status
- Share your status with employers, landlords, etc.
- Update your details if you renew your passport or if your personal information changes
If your partner and children are joining you in the UK as ‘dependants’, then they will need to have their own UKVI online accounts to access their visas. Dependants cannot share an account with the main visa holder.
Common Problems with the New Digital System
Throughout the eVisa rollout, there have been various reported problems, system failures, and technical difficulties. It is thought that several hundred thousand people still need to switch from their previous Biometric Residence Permits and Residence Cards and set up their UKVI account. This is not just a minor issue; the technical difficulties mean that a significant number of people living in the UK have no reliable way to prove their immigration status or eligibility to live and work in the UK. The knock-on effect can affect their right to work, their ability to claim benefits, or their ability return to the UK after travelling abroad. Some of the most common reported issues have been:
- Incorrect details being recorded on the eVisa – including incorrect visa category, conditions or dates
- Passport not linked to the eVisa. If you renewed your passport and did not update your UKVI account, airlines and border officials may not be able to confirm your permission to travel.
- Problems accessing the ID Check app. The biometric verification step requires a compatible smartphone. People without access to a suitable device have struggled to complete the process.
- No UKVI account despite having a valid immigration status. Some people granted status in older categories, or those with legacy stamps and vignette stickers in older passports, were not automatically migrated to the new system. They may need to take a separate step to access their eVisa.
- Duplicate accounts. Some people inadvertently created multiple UKVI accounts, which has caused confusion when trying to view or share their status.
Steps To Take If Your Status Is Not Showing Correctly
If details in your UKVI account do not look correct, or a share code check returns an error, do not ignore it. Unresolved errors can affect your right to work, ability to claim benefits, access to housing, and ability to travel. All errors must be reported immediately, and a form is available on the government website to report mistakes in your eVisa details. If you need help accessing or using the online immigration status services, you can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre for further advice.
How Can Berlad Graham Help?
Although many people have found the eVisa transition problem-free, this has not been the case for everyone. Account errors, missing status records, and linked passport problems have caused major difficulties, and in some cases, families have found themselves unable to work, rent or travel as a result.
At Berlad Graham, our immigration lawyers have been helping overseas nationals with visa applications for many years. We are on hand to help you understand your options and prepare a strong family visa or ILR application in line with current and future requirements. Our immigration team in Uxbridge can help you with:
- Personalised advice based on your immigration history
- Gathering and presenting supporting evidence
- Support with completing and submitting your visa application
- Understanding what steps to take if there is an error or discrepancy in your status
Our dedicated team of lawyers can assist with all types of visa applications and are experienced in dealing with Home Office requirements. Some individuals may have several immigration routes available to them, and we can advise on the best option and help secure the visa you need.
We can also advise on the next steps if your visa application is refused. This could involve preparing a new application and gathering the necessary documentation or submitting an appeal with evidence supporting your claim. Our team holds the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum accreditation, and we work with individuals and families across a wide range of visa categories.
Read our previous blog for related information: The New UK Immigration Rules: Information Families Need to Know.
Family Visa and ILR Application Solicitors Uxbridge
To speak to our friendly, experienced, professional visa applications lawyers in Uxbridge today, please call 0330 175 5655 or email info@bglaw.co.uk.
