The Home Office has postponed the full rollout of eVisas after problems with the scheme.
It comes after human rights campaigners warned that hundreds of thousands of people who have the right to live and work in Britain may not be able to access their new eVisas and prove their immigration status.
The Government was due to replace physical biometric residence permits (BRP), which show proof of the right to live, work and claim benefits in Britain, with digital eVisas from the December 31.
The proposals were first announced in April, under the previous Tory administration, as a way to “ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system”.
But there were multiple complaints from applicants who had failed to gain access to the new digital system, sparking fears that people could be left stranded abroad because of IT glitches.
The Home Office earmarked £4million to support organisations to help vulnerable people who may struggle to obtain an eVisa without assistance. A national campaign to raise awareness of the scheme was due to launch this week.
However, Migration Minister Seema Malhotra has now confirmed that airlines will accept travellers with expired UK residency permits until “at least March 31” .
In a written ministerial statement on Wednesday, she said: "We remain concerned that some of the risks of the rollout, particularly to those making the transition from BRPs and legacy documents, were not clearly identified and managed under the previous administration and have been consulting stakeholders on other issues raised by them, along with the wider concern that this change could lead to another Windrush.”
Ms Malhotra added: “In order to smooth the transition to eVisas, we have decided to allow carriers to accept a BRP or EUSS BRC [EU Settlement Scheme biometric residence card] expiring on or after December 31, 2024 as valid evidence of permission to travel until at least March 31 and this date will be kept under review."
Foreign nationals with “leave to remain” who are placed on “3C leave” were said to particularly prone to getting error messages while trying to renew their immigration status and generate an eVisa.
Their rights to work, study or claim benefits in the UK are protected while their claim is assessed, but many employers and landlords insist on seeing a physical document confirming their status.
Nick Beales, the head of campaigning at Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London, told the Guardian: “In June, the high court ruled that the Government’s failure to provide people on 3C leave digital proof of status was unlawful.
“The new Government though has refused to implement this ruling, suggesting that like their predecessors they have learned nothing from the Windrush scandal and remain committed to preserving the hostile environment.”
