With the UK’s move to an all-digital immigration status entering its final phase, community organisation Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network (LRMN) opened a dedicated eVisa advice clinic on 5 November. Every Wednesday afternoon staff and volunteers now guide migrants through creating a UKVI account, uploading facial biometrics and linking existing Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to the new electronic status. Physical BRPs expire on 31 December 2024, after which proof of status will be entirely digital.
The Home Office insists the transition will streamline right-to-work checks and border crossings, but charities warn that many vulnerable residents lack smartphones, email addresses or digital literacy. LRMN’s drop-in – backed by instructional videos and multilingual leaflets – fills a gap by offering one-to-one support, especially to refugees granted status before 2019 whose documents may be nearing expiry.
![Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network launches weekly drop-in to help residents switch to the UK’s new eVisa system]()
For employers the shift has practical implications: from 2026 only a share-code generated by the migrant will constitute legal proof of the right to work. HR teams must update onboarding processes and train staff to spot eVisa-related scams. Landlords and universities will also rely on the online status checker, eliminating photocopies of BRPs.
LRMN’s project is part of a wider civil-society mobilisation. Assisted Digital, Migrant Help and local councils are setting up similar sessions, anticipating a late-December surge. The government has promised extra funding for public Wi-Fi kiosks, but critics say delays in releasing an accessibility strategy risk leaving thousands in immigration-limbo come January.
Businesses with large migrant workforces are advised to run internal awareness campaigns and schedule “status-health checks” before year-end to avoid inadvertent overstays or payroll interruptions. Although the eVisa carries no fee, forgetting to create an account could bar travel, cause issues at banks and invalidate DBS checks.
The Home Office insists the transition will streamline right-to-work checks and border crossings, but charities warn that many vulnerable residents lack smartphones, email addresses or digital literacy. LRMN’s drop-in – backed by instructional videos and multilingual leaflets – fills a gap by offering one-to-one support, especially to refugees granted status before 2019 whose documents may be nearing expiry.
For employers the shift has practical implications: from 2026 only a share-code generated by the migrant will constitute legal proof of the right to work. HR teams must update onboarding processes and train staff to spot eVisa-related scams. Landlords and universities will also rely on the online status checker, eliminating photocopies of BRPs.
LRMN’s project is part of a wider civil-society mobilisation. Assisted Digital, Migrant Help and local councils are setting up similar sessions, anticipating a late-December surge. The government has promised extra funding for public Wi-Fi kiosks, but critics say delays in releasing an accessibility strategy risk leaving thousands in immigration-limbo come January.
Businesses with large migrant workforces are advised to run internal awareness campaigns and schedule “status-health checks” before year-end to avoid inadvertent overstays or payroll interruptions. Although the eVisa carries no fee, forgetting to create an account could bar travel, cause issues at banks and invalidate DBS checks.
