The Home Office currently issues BRPs for all immigration applications made from within the UK. BRPs are credit-card sized standalone documents which an applicant carries with their original passport as evidence of their UK visa.
To fully comply with European Regulations, the Home Office will be rolling out the use of BRPs to non-EEA nationals who are making their applications from overseas for UK visas for a period in excess of 6 months. This will be completed country by country in phases over a four month period, expected to commence in March 2015. Some key points include:
- The applicant will apply for their visa from overseas as usual. Once the application is approved, the applicant's passport will be endorsed with a 30 day short validity multientry vignette / sticker. The start date of the 30 day visa will be the travel date as indicated on the online application form
- If the applicant does not travel within the 30 day period of the short validity multi-entry visa, the applicant must apply for a replacement short validity visa
- The applicant will receive a letter from the Home Office informing them of the Home Office decision. Assuming approval, the letter will include notification that the applicant must collect their BRP within 10 days of their first arrival in the UK from the designated Post Office. The designated Post Office will be the most convenient to the UK address as provided on the online application form. There will not be an additional fee for the collection process
On arrival to the UK
- The overseas national will need to have the following documents
with them:
- Their original valid passport containing their 30 day short validity multi-entry visa
- The original Home Office decision letter
- On arrival to the UK, the vignette will be endorsed / stamped with a date of travel
- The overseas national will need to attend at the designated Post Office (as stated on the Approval Letter) within 10 days of their arrival in the UK
Employer right to work checks
- If the BRP has been issued / collected before employment commences:
The employer should conduct the Right to Work check basis the BRP If the BRP has not been issued/ collected before employment commences:
- The employer should conduct the right to work check basis the short validity vignette
- Prior to the expiry of the 30 day short validity visa, the Employer must conduct a further check basis the BRP
Whilst we do not believe the new process will impact timelines for overseas entry clearance applications, we do envisage teething problems with triggering the 30 day short validity multi-entry visa as well as the issuance/ collection of BRPs from a designated Post Office. We will keep you informed of future developments.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.