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The Home Office is transitioning to a digital immigration system and will be replacing physical biometric resident permit (BRP) cards and other status documents such as passport endorsements and vignette stickers with e-Visas.
All BRP cards currently have an end date of 31 December 2024 even if the individual has been granted permission to enter into or stay in the UK for a longer period. The Home Office has now announced that anyone who holds a valid BRP card which expires on 31 December 2024 can now create a UKVI account, even if they have not yet received an invitation to do so from the Home Office. This also applies to their family members, including their spouse and/or children who must all create their own UKVI account. A UKVI account can be created using the following link: Create a UKVI account. Once a UKVI account/ e-Visa has been created, the individual will be able to see their immigration status online and be able to share this with third parties, for example landlords or employers. In addition, an e-Visa will assist with travelling in and out of the UK once physical BRPs have been phased out. Please note that creating a UKVI account/ e-Visa is not an application to extend a visa. Individuals should still apply for an extension if their leave to remain or visa will be expiring before 31 December 2024 in the normal way. The Home Office has released a short video to explain the process of creating a UKVI account which can be found here: How to create a UKVI account. Some employees may already have a UKVI account, for example if they extended their permission to remain in the UK under the Skilled Worker route, are an EU national or have status under the EU Settlement Scheme and used the IDV app to make an application. Employees who already have a UKVI account do not need to create another account. However, for employees who applied for their visas from outside the UK or for employees who attended a biometric appointment in the UK, they should create a UKVI account if they have not already done so previously. At the moment only BRP card holders can apply for a UKVI account. For employees who have a physical document showing their settled or indefinite leave to remain status, for example a vignette sticker in their passport or a wet-ink stamp, they are advised to make an No Time Limit (NTL) application first to obtain a BRP card and then create a UKVI account once they have received their new BRP card. It is anticipated later in the year that applicants who apply for a NTL application will automatically be granted an e-Visa, but as yet we are not sure when this will be implemented.
Further details regarding these changes can be obtained by reaching out to your usual contact in our Global Immigration & Mobility team.
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