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Changing to e-visas - update from Home Office
Received via stakeholder forum -
The Government is urging all those across the UK who use a physical immigration document to take immediate action to transition to an eVisa, as part of plans to digitise the UK border and immigration system. All visa holders who live in the UK and use a physical immigration document, such as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), to prove their rights are urged to take action now at Get access to your eVisa: Overview - https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa/check-access-your-evisa
In addition, up to £4 million of support will be available from this month to a UK-wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to provide valuable and independent support for vulnerable customers, as part of the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas.
The four national grant funded bodies are today confirmed as Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council, and Advice NI, which are all now offering immediate, free support for vulnerable individuals in their transition to an eVisa. Dozens of community-based organisations, spread across the UK, will join the network of organisations actively offering support in the coming weeks. Details of these organisations and how to contact them will be published on gov.uk.
The Home Office has also today confirmed that a targeted advertising campaign will launch in Autumn 2024, building on existing communications activity to raise awareness of the transition to eVisas amongst those affected.
The Home Office has posted a GOV.UK News Story on this announcement - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/evisa-transition-vulnerability-support-confirmed - and an animated graphic on its official X channel - https://x.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1836352012805448142 - and we would welcome sharing and reposting of this by stakeholders to help raise awareness of eVisa transition and the support available.
Useful links:
· More information on what customers need to do and by when, including for customers who currently hold a physical immigration document, and a full list of grant funded organisations offering support, is available at http://www.gov.uk/eVisa. For a full list of organisations, which will be updated over time, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evisa-community-support-for-vulnerable-people
· Further information on eVisas can be found at: https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/18/media-factsheet-evisas-2/
· We would appreciate sharing the guidance videos on your platforms and widely with stakeholders Online immigration status (eVisa): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-immigration-status-evisa-help-video
· Download the eVisa Partner Pack. It includes a factsheet for you and organisations, helpful materials to inform your colleagues/organisations you may collaborate with of the transition to eVisas including a suggested email to send, and drag and drop copy for intranets. Please adapt these resources as you see fit- https://homeoffice.brandworkz.com/BMS/albums/?album=3435&lightboxAccessID=9DCD0592-A9F9-45D9-BE76EEF9D44B9B30
In addition, up to £4 million of support will be available from this month to a UK-wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to provide valuable and independent support for vulnerable customers, as part of the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas.
I look forward to this, because so far I am struggling to find BSL provision, for example video about e-visas with sign language interpreter.
Anyone had any luck with it ?