The Home Office has confirmed that many people with the right to live and work in the UK are unable to access electronic visas and are unable to show proof they are allowed to stay in the UK.
Human rights activists have warned that any problems with people accessing e-visas could lead to a scandal involving hundreds of thousands of people. Those affected are allowed to remain in the UK but cannot demonstrate the right to work or rent a home.
At the end of this month, most physical documents proving the right to stay in the UK, such as biometric residence permits, will expire as the Home Office moves to a digital immigration system.
The Guardian has learned that some particularly large migrant groups are unable to obtain e-visas, despite being entitled to apply for and receive them.
Hundreds of thousands of people have particularly tough Home Office visas, known as the 10-year route, and must pay large fees to renew.
Many of the people who take that route are low-income people of color. People in this group face a delay of about a year each time they renew their visa, and while they wait they are granted “3C leave”, which allows them to work or rent property.
However, many people who applied for e-visas while waiting for their visas to be renewed have hit a wall when applying online. One screen says I have an e-visa, but when I try to open it I get an error message. It says: “We cannot verify your status. This may be because your status is not yet available for viewing on this service.”
Nick Beals, head of campaigns at the Essex and London Refugee and Immigration Forum, warned that the e-visa issue could lead to a Windrush-style scandal.
He said: “In June, the High Court ruled that the government's failure to provide digital identity documents to people on 3C leave was unlawful. However, the new government has no intention of implementing this ruling.'' It refuses to do so, suggesting that, like the previous government, it has learned nothing from the Windrush scandal and remains committed to maintaining a hostile environment.
“As the visa system will be digitized in less than a month, it is important that all those eligible for entry have immediate access to electronic visas. Otherwise, by 2025, tens of thousands of people on 3C leave It is certain that thousands of people will be unfairly suspended from work, stripped of disability benefits, and denied other basic services.
A Home Office source told the Guardian that the digital visa system had been developed in stages, so some people who applied before digital record status was created would not have received digital 3C leave. It is said that there was not.
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The ministry claims having a digital-only entry status increases security, but many claim they were unable to access electronic visas.
Others who obtain them may not be able to access their digital accounts online due to lack of internet access or technical glitches in the system. eVisa is updated online and there is no QR code to download.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Even if you are unable to verify your immigration status online, all individuals can prove their rights through a variety of means that can confirm their entitlement to employment, study and other benefits.” said. With the move to a digital system, the number of people who have taken 3C leave will be able to be viewed and verified online. ”
