The government is urging everyone currently relying on physical documents to prove immigration status to ensure that they switch to the online eVisa by the end of the year. What does HR need to know?
The previous government initiated the digital transition along with the new electronic travel authorisation for UK visitors, insisting that these changes would make showing immigration status smoother and more secure.
Yet mounting concerns for those caught out by the eVisa’s hard deadline of 31 December are only now being addressed by immigration minister Seema Malhotra. With all biometric residence permits (BRPs) expiring at the end of December and the new eVisa taking over from all legacy physical documents and stamps as proof of immigration status, many still experience difficulties setting up accounts. Others may not be aware of the digital change, which will not affect people’s UK immigration status but will affect how they prove their right to work, rent, access benefits and travel.
Read more: Should the UK introduce a digital nomad visa?
What should HR teams do?
Most employers’ right to work checks will have used the UKVI online service and aren’t affected by the eVisa transition. HR teams should be aware that where an employee’s permission lasts into 2025 and beyond, BRPs have a standard expiry date of 31 December 2024. So, where they’ve only done a manual check of a BRP (which sufficed until April 2022), their statutory excuse (defence against civil penalties for...
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