The UK government has initiated a major drive encouraging immigrants, including Indian nationals, to switch from physical immigration documents to eVisas. This is part of the government’s broader plan to digitise its entire border and immigration system by 2025. Those holding biometric residence permits (BRP), visa vignette stickers in passports, ink stamps confirming indefinite leave to remain, or biometric residence cards (BRC) are all required to transition to the online eVisa system.
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Most of the BRPs are set to expire by December 2024, and hence are being transitioned online in phases. The status is digital and the immigrants can access it through a personal account that will be created with UKVI. India-origin British Home Office Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra has asked all immigrants holding physical documents to take a step towards the eVisas. She said that free consultation and help would be provided for those who require information about the process.
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Within the scope of the transition plan, the UK government has provided 4 million in grant funding to organisations of voluntary and community sector across the UK. These funds will be used to face challenges that the needy persons might encounter while switching to eVisas. Other organisations like Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council and Advice NI will offer support in an independent manner. Further, a public relations campaign will also be launched at the national level to educate people about the change and to prepare them to act before the many immigration documents expire in December 2024.
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The pros of this toward eVisas are security, lower costs as well as effectiveness. However, eVisas cannot be used for forgery like the physical documents, lost or stolen, as it is an online document unlike the actual physical hard copy documents. They will facilitate the ability of visa holders to safely use their immigration documents online and in a couple of hours. The Home Office stressed that moving to eVisas will not alter the immigration status or status of any person or their rights.
The digitalisation of the immigration system will help to improve the process and ensure a more secure environment for the immigrants in the UK. Therefore, through the elimination of the use of documents like the BRPs, and shifting the focus on digital access, the UK government seeks to improve on the efficiency of the immigration services. Most of the visa holders should start using a fully automated system by 2025, with an aim of providing better and more secure service to the users.