Roza’s blog: The e-Visa Scheme

Roza’s blog: The e-Visa Scheme

Roza Salih, our participation officer recently organised a session as part of our Migrants’ Project in partnership with Leap Sports Scotland’s ‘Just Active’ Group about the new UK e-Visa scheme. We had heard that many migrants found the process confusing and were unable to complete their application. We felt it was the right time to hold a session to provide guidance for migrants, especially refugees.  

Read Roza’s full birefing here.

The e-Visa Scheme has been subject to challenges and delays which has impacted on migrants’ rights. Many migrants have barriers to English language, so it is not an easy process to fill in the application by themselves. Further, others have worried due to technical difficulties as the scheme is completely digital and requires a smart phone.

What is an e-Visa? An e-Visa is a digital record of a person’s immigration status. It can be viewed online and accessed by people and organisations who need to check someone’s legal residence. Click here for our PowerPoint presentation and further information.

It appears that the Home Office have made this change, moving from physical documentation to digital, without taking consideration of how this will affect migrant communities. Due to this the introduction of the e-Visa scheme has been extended a few times. This is after migrant rights campaigners lobbied the UK Government for these extensions. The Home Office initially set a date to replace residence permits between 31 October 2024 and 31 December 2024 when most were due to expire. However, following further pressure from migrant rights organisations the UK Government announced that they will extend the deadline first of all to 31st March 2025, and then 1st June 2025. Please see below link for this information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-have-now-taken-action-to-access-their-evisa

HRCS have hear individual stories of migrants who have been refused travel because their BRP has expired, or where border control staff have not been trained well about what documentation is required for travelling abroad or enter the UK.

One of the main challenges is that refugees are required to have a smart phone. Many refugees do not have access to a smart phone and have therefore been unable to get their e-visas as without the smart phone, it is impossible to apply to the scheme.  

If you know someone who needs a free mobile phone, they can apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund Scottish Welfare Fund - help with living costs - mygov.scot through their local council.

In the UK Parliament there have been many discussions over this hot immigration topic given the amount of enquires MP’s offices have received or organisations contacting elected members to put pressure on the UK Government for extensions given the precarious situation many migrants have endured to access their e-visas online.

To make sure that the people who attend the workshop on the day had support on to fill in the application face-to-face we developed a great relationship with Citizens Advice Scotland who have support workers to help with this. Click here for Citizen’s Advice Scotland’s presentation slides.

HRCS believe it is a migrants fundamental right to access proof of their identity and know their human rights. We are too familiar with migrants’ rights being overlooked and ignored. Therefore, holding information sessions and support programmes such as this builds awareness of rights and supports integration.  We hope as an organisation to continue to enhance and build a stronger understanding of human rights amongst migrant communities as we believe this will build trust and integration within our communities.

e-Visa Do It Yourself Guide (English)

Roza Salih

Participation Officer