On July 20, 2022, the Ministry of the Interior announced more details of the digital immigration system strategy. The planned system transformation will involve digital processes for applying for travel permits and identity verification for immigration applications, as well as transiting the border with an electronic visa and proving rights within the UK.
New Immigration Plan
Legal Immigration and Border Control Strategy covers the Ministry of Home Affairs’ vision in the following areas:
● Plan to come to the UK
● Submit an application
● Travel to the UK
● Cross-border
● Residence in the UK
● Cross-system improvement
If you plan to come to the UK
Ministry of Home Affairs intends:
● Provide clearer customer guidance on GOV.UK, a simplified set of work visa guidance will be launched later this year;
● On the basis of the success of checking whether you need a UK visa and checking whether you are eligible for a skilled worker visa, launch other interactive customer support tools;
● Create a series of "How to do" videos to help customers complete how to apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA), prove their identity or apply for a sponsor license, etc.;
● Establish a fully digital system for individuals using the UK immigration system by 2025;
● Reduce customer inquiries by improving customer information and application process;
● Provide digital self-service for customer inquiries using chatbots and voice robot services.
If you apply to come to the UK
"Default Digital" system
Immigration System's "Default Digital" agenda will be further advanced, and more people will be able to register their biometric information digitally (or be able to reuse previously registered biometric information), apply online and receive an electronic visa instead of proving their identity in kind.
E-visa
The government believes that e-visa is safer, updated, and easy to apply and maintain. However, the problem currently known is that EU settlement plan applicants will be able to access their UKVI account, which is currently being investigated by the independent monitoring agency. Minimizing such problems, combined with effective central services, is essential to ensure that individuals are in a favorable position.
will improve digital customers’ accounts this year and next year to improve usability. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also exploring linking government information and services, including through the government's One Login program.
visa stickers and biometric immigration documents (biometric residence permits) will be replaced by electronic visas in December 2024. This deadline coincides with the expiration date of a large number of existing biometric immigration documents. These are currently only valid until December 31, 2024, even if the holder's immigration permit expires after this date.
The reason for the initial short electronic visa date is that the encryption technology in the current electronic cards does not meet EU requirements from January 1, 2025. However, since the UK left the EU, the Home Office has continued to grant relatively short dates, hoping to phase out these cards by the end of 2024. Before this date, individuals will receive guidance on how to convert their proof of identity into an e-visa.
Although the policy file is not covered, employers also need to be prepared to conduct online duplicate work rights checks for employees with limited immigration permits that rely on short-term biometric residence permits as evidence of their work rights. The workload of these inspections is quite large for larger employers.
Employment Guarantee
In terms of recent developments, the Home Office has conducted an automatic check with the UK Taxation and Customs Agency to verify that the salary of skilled workers meets their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Due to resource constraints, the timetable for employment guarantee reform has been revised. This is likely to refer to the need to use resources to process Ukrainian program applications.
is now expected to review service standards in spring 2023 to reduce the time it takes to secure employees. The new “guaranteed visa” service is now expected to be launched in early 2023 for limited promotion.The “Management License” service will be launched in limited quantities by the end of 2023, and the “Become a Sponsor” service will be launched in early 2024.
Travel to the UK
Travel License Program will be implemented in 2023, and under this plan, all travelers need a UK or Irish passport, e-visa or e-travel permit. This can have huge costs and practical implications for individuals who currently use physical documents such as indefinite residence stamps or proof of residence to prove their long-term residency in the UK.
ETA is expected to be implemented in three phases, first with a private beta release in the first quarter of 2023, followed by a second-quarter to third quarter of 2023 for citizens currently eligible for e-visa waivers, and will be used in other countries from the third-quarter to fourth quarter of 2023.
Border crossing
Ministry of the Interior hopes to improve and standardize border infrastructure by 2025. It is also designed to provide a higher level of automation for handling guests arriving in the UK and to improve the availability and functionality of E Gates. It has been proposed to reduce the eligible age for using E Gates from 12 to 10 years old.
The role of border guards officials will focus on special passengers, such as those who need to verify their identities, those with risky conditions, those with specific intelligence, agency-guided interventions or security issues. According to the recommendations made by the independent review of the border defense forces issued on July 20, 2022, the border defense forces can also be reformed as an organization.
resides in the UK
The main plan change in this field will be to increase inter-system communications of immigration identity information between government departments and public authorities.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the UK General Administration of Taxation and Customs (HMRC), and the NHS in England and Wales have implemented such information sharing. In 2022 and 2023, these will be extended to the Driver and Vehicle Permit Agency (DVLA), Social Security Scotland, Student Loans Company and some local authorities.
This development may bring more convenience to many people who currently need to go online to prove their rights to third parties. However, if the system data for immigration status is incorrect and any errors cannot be resolved quickly and effectively, there is also a risk of significant damage to the individual.
Communication and participation
The Ministry of the Interior intends to carry out publicity activities for system users as the progress of its change plan progresses. These will cover topics such as the requirements for an upcoming ETA application, as well as how to use an e-visa, UKVI account and online services.
The Ministry of the Interior will also continue to listen to advice from consulting groups and key stakeholders, including those in the business, academia and non-profit sectors.
The above is the latest information about the UK electronic visa compiled by Bosi for everyone, which is useful for every friend who travels to the UK and plans to go to the UK.
If you have any questions during this process, especially for immigrants to the UK, please add Bosi’s immigration consultant to consult!
