A landmark study has exposed the UK's new digital-only immigration system as a source of significant stress, fear, and potential exclusion for migrants required to use it. The research, conducted by Migrant Voice and the University of Warwick, details a system plagued by errors and technical failures that jeopardise people's rights to work, rent, and travel.
Technical Glitches and Shifting Deadlines Cause High Anxiety
The digitalisation of immigration status, which began in 2018, reached a critical point this year when the government mandated that nearly all migrants entering or legally residing in the UK must obtain an eVisa to prove their rights. This move made them the first group subjected to a compulsory digital-only identification system.
Researchers interviewed 40 migrants, many of whom reported high levels of stress while attempting to digitalise their status under tight deadlines. A pervasive fear emerged: the inability to prove legal status digitally if the system failed, potentially leading to a loss of rights. One participant referenced the Windrush scandal, stating, "I don't trust the system... There were already situations of Europeans applying that were completely vanished from the system."
Real-World Consequences: Jobs, Homes, and Travel at Risk
The report catalogues a series of serious practical problems. Individuals faced errors, shifting deadlines, and technical failures that directly impacted their ability to work, rent property, study, travel, and access public services. Many felt vulnerable and anxious when trying to rectify mistakes they did not create.
Compounding the issue is a widespread lack of understanding among those required to check the digital status. Employers, landlords, airline staff, and border officials often displayed confusion about the digital checks, leading to delays. In some cases, migrants were forced to explain the system themselves.
Specific hurdles included overly complex processes, language barriers, and persistent technical glitches. A common point of failure was generating the crucial "share code" needed to prove the right to work or rent. Even contacting the Home Office via email or helpline frequently left people unsure of the correct steps.
Vulnerable Groups at Heightened Risk of Exclusion
The study warns that migrants with limited digital literacy, language barriers, or disabilities are at a particularly high risk of being excluded by the system. Those who understood English noted the unfairness of a system not translated into other languages, forcing reliance on friends, community groups, and online platforms for guidance.
Dr Derya Ozkul from the University of Warwick summarised the findings: "In our research, we heard from individuals losing employment opportunities, missing flights, having their personal information shared with others, struggling to complete processes due to technical issues, and worrying that they had lost their legal status."
She issued a stark warning: "This report should serve as a warning to everyone about what can go wrong when systems are made compulsory and digital-only, without offering any alternatives." The evidence suggests the push for a fully digital border is creating significant unintended consequences for those it is designed to manage.
