An e-Visa is a digital record of an individual’s status of immigration and can be viewed by people (for example airlines) who need look over someone’s status. The EU Settlement Scheme 2018 meant that many EU citizens living in the UK, already have an e-Visa.
"Migrants are living in fear [...] because of a flawed Home Office programme"
The Programme Manager for migrant digital justice at Open Rights Group, Sara Alsherif expresses his concern in a statement: “Yet again, migrants are living in fear that they won’t be able to prove their right to be in the UK because of a flawed Home Office programme.”
Fears of becoming stranded overseas, not being able to properly access healthcare and losing the ability to work and rent property are becoming more severe. The Legal Director of Immigration Law Practitioner’s Association, Zoe Bantleman, has stated that it is likely many will not be aware of the new requirements until the deadline has passed and they attempt to rent property, start a new job, or re-enter the nation.
Elderly people are another group that may struggle to use the new system, or even be aware of the new system itself.
The Home Office has said that it is sending out emails, regarding the need to set up the new system, to those who need them. It has been reported that many of these emails are not being sent to the correct people and are only standardised. On March 19th, the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association sent a letter to the Future Border and Immigration System Programme highlighting fears of solicitors being “flooded” with emails, which made it “impossible to identify which client this notice is intended to reach.”
Digital immigration systems have been majorly flawed in recent times, which heightens concerns over the new e-visa system. Earlier, this year over 76,000 people were listed with incorrect photographs, names or immigration status, due to the Home Office’s immigration database defect.
