Just putting this down here in case this helps anyone. I am moving to the UK in September, and typically you are supposed to collect your BRP after you move there. However, since the BRPs are being replaced by e-Visas, I created a UKVI account and applied for an e-visa after my second stage was approved. The validity of the e-visa matches the validity of your second stage application. It just helps you set up for moving there by giving you access to proving your right to work and right to rent. I did not receive an email from the Home Office before I applied for my e-Visa. You can head to here in order to create your account for your e-visa. I waited about a week in order to get my e-Visa approved.
I’m also trying to open a bank account/get a sim before I move there, however, all of the banks/telecom providers I have looked at require you to have a registered UK address before you can open an account with them. If anyone has a different experience, please do let me know.
With regards to my BRP, does anyone know if I still need to collect my BRP if I have the e-Visa which replaces the BRP?
It’s a slightly complicated situation for me. I am planning to move after Jan’2025 and thought I had to travel before the initial temporary visa of 90 days to collect the BRP card so I can use it while relocating next year.
However, I was able to sign up in the UKVI portal and they issued my e-visa in a few hours. I was able to get it even for dependents. I raised the question via the paid support and this is the response I got. This means if you are traveling before 31st December and intend to reenter the UK, then you need to take the BRP card.
If you have been issued/ granted an E-Visa you will not need to collect your BRP Card unless you intend to enter the UK before 31 Dec 2024 when BRP cards are still needed to leave and re-enter the UK.
Does this mean, individuals travelling post December’24 and have got a valid visa does not have to make a travel just for collecting the BRP card ?
btw @hSurti@pahuja Did you receive any specific document as e-visa ? I got the email that an e-visa is now available and when I followed the link I could see my picture taken along with my immigration status, visa type, and period granted.
great, that’s really helpful @BharathV. And yes, if you are travelling post Dec '24, you do not need to collect your BRP (there will be no BRP per se).
To answer your question, no there is no specific document. You log into the UKVI website and that’s how you access your e-visa.
@hSurti I have a question: usually one is supposed to enter the UK within 90 days of the visa vignette issue if applying from outside the UK to collect the BRP.
In my case that 90 days will fall before 31st December 2024. I am happy to not travel to pick the BRP and travel post 31st December but is that ok if I do not travel within 90 days?
I was also thinking of making a travel just for the sake of BRP but you can reapply for a vignette again(170 Pounds) if yours expires before 31st December. That is much cheaper than making the travel just for the BRP.
Yep, exactly as @BharathV mentioned, you can reapply for the entry vignette if you cannot travel within 90 days. But if that was your plan, why didn’t you just apply for a later date in the first place. I knew I wanted to travel in Sept. so the visa I applied for starts in Sept
Because my current visa expires on 26th Aug so I had to submit for extension before its expiry, had no choice. I applied for extension on 21st - pushed it to the end but still the 90 days will be within this year.