eVisa letter doesn't look right, but is expected - for Mum

michaels

YBR said:

michaels said:

We got comms via email for MIL.  Wife (who has a smart phone but is not the most techy) and MIL were eventually able to get the system to work on a smart phone but they struggled.  MIL would have been clueless on her own.

If I may ask, how recently did your MIL come to the UK, or get a BRP? It feels like the system is stacked towards more recent arrivals, perhaps.

Possibly, probably more recent arrivals are likely to already have a UKVI account set up and comms via email?

OhWow

YBR said:

 but the deadline is the end of the year. Any advice?

It's eVisas from 1 January 2025, which is why the BRPs had an expiry date of 31 December 2024. They are contacting everyone with a BRP at the address/email on their records, reminding them of this.

It must be over a decade now since employers could no longer accept an ILR wet stamp or vignette in an old passport and required a BRP.

OhWow

michaels said:

We got comms via email for MIL.  Wife (who has a smart phone but is not the most techy) and MIL were eventually able to get the system to work on a smart phone but they struggled.  MIL would have been clueless on her own.

If your MIL came to the UK too, was that under the Brexit EUSS (for the EEA and non-EEA citizens using EU rules)? If they did, they would have had a BRC and not a BRP. Didn't the HO set up eVisas for BRCs a while ago?

YBR

OhWow said:

It's eVisas from 1 January 2025, which is why the BRPs had an expiry date of 31 December 2024. They are contacting everyone with a BRP at the address/email on their records, reminding them of this.

It must be over a decade now since employers could no longer accept an ILR wet stamp or vignette in an old passport and required a BRP.

We know that the eVISA is required and even tried to sort this a few months ago; they won't have details for everyone going back 50+ years - email didn't exist then, and few people stay in one place that long. One of the things that is concerning is that the letter she did receive is NOT addressed to her.

Employers requiring a BRP may be the case but Mum's over 80 and not had an employer in the last 48 years. On that timescale the current rules are very recent! For her it's about proving her residence status when returning from abroad.

Brie

OhWow said:

YBR said:

 but the deadline is the end of the year. Any advice?

It's eVisas from 1 January 2025, which is why the BRPs had an expiry date of 31 December 2024. They are contacting everyone with a BRP at the address/email on their records, reminding them of this.

It must be over a decade now since employers could no longer accept an ILR wet stamp or vignette in an old passport and required a BRP.

Really?  No one seems to have told my current employer!  I've not got a BRP and never been asked for one!  (I'd ask what it is but I'm sure I can google it....)

Brie

Ah - just an fyi - the gov.uk site doesn't seem to have anything about a BRP being a necessity as long as there is an appropriate stamp in the passport.  My problem is that my stamp is in a very very old passport.  But I've got additional ILR that have been added in later ones.  Off to check if I have to quit working....(yes please!)

Brie

ongoing hijack.....does anyone know what it means if the immigration official has written VIPP over one of the entrance stamps.  Someone had stamped the passport with a right to remain for 6 months, which then someone else had scribbled over saying "incorrect".  It gets confusing!!!

But yes I will apply under the windrush at  some point.  Not apply for anything more as too expensive and too long to be without a passport should I need to travel to over there!

bengal-stripe

I received my notification to set-up an eVisa (I'm holding ILR since 1983) early September. Since it was electronic, I cannot judge the paper quality, but it also was addressed to 'Dear Sir / Madame'. So I believe your letter was genuine.

There is a help service available (with Home Office support) by 'we are group'; they offer support either by phone or face-to-face. They should be able to give you authoritative information and further help, if needed.

https://www.gov.uk/assisted-digital-help-online-applications

frayedknot

At least BRP card holders are getting a letter, those with vignettes who have long-standing ILR aren't even getting told about this, and those who are currently out of the country can't even apply from abroad as things stand.

A vignette is still valid for right to work purposes if it is in a current, not expired, passport. I realise that because they haven't been issued for some time most will be in old passports unless the holder has paid  to have them transferred to a new passport.

As to the original question, this would only be an issue if she left the UK and wished to return. There is a feeling that those with vignettes, which don't expire unlike BRPs, will still be able to use them without evisa for a grace period after 1st Jan but that's not official as yet.