Once you’ve registered for your eVisa, there may be times when you need to provide proof of your immigration status to others. Here’s a quick guide on how to do that and what you should keep in mind.

How to Prove Your Immigration Status

If you need to show your UK immigration status to someone, you can easily obtain a Share Code.

Simply visit this link (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status) and log in to your UKVI account using your passport or BRP card number along with your date of birth.

Important Note: If your UKVI account was created using a passport, log in with your passport number. If you used a BRP card, log in with your BRP number.

What Can You Use Your Share Code For?

Your Share Code can be used for various purposes, including:

• Employers verifying your legal status and its validity.
• Landlords checking your immigration status.
• Applying for a driving license or provisional license.
• Applying for student loans.
• Enrolling in UK schools or training programs.
• Personal finance applications (like bank accounts, loans, mortgages, or credit cards).
• Applying for housing assistance or government welfare programs.

Please note, your Share Code can only be used by others if you actively share it along with your date of birth. Keep your Share Code and personal information secure, and only share it with trusted entities. Each Share Code is valid for 90 days.

How to Share Your Share Code with Employers

When providing your Share Code to an employer, you have two options:

1. Directly through UKVI:

Go to this link (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status) to generate your Share Code. You can fill in your employer’s email address, and the code will be sent directly to them.

2. Copy and Paste:

You can also copy the Share Code and privately send it to your employer along with your date of birth.

For Employers: Checking Employees’ Immigration Status

If you are an employer or need to check someone else’s immigration status, visit this link (https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status).

Travelling In and Out of the UK

Biometric Residence Permit cards will now remain valid for travel until at least 31st March 2025.

If you change your passport or personal details, it’s crucial to log into your UKVI account and update your passport information.

Your eVisa is linked to the passport details in your UKVI account, which will be referenced during your travels.

You can use the document you registered with when applying for your eVisa as proof of your legal status while travelling (as long as it meets entry requirements).

If you hold multiple nationalities, ensure you use the passport linked to your UKVI account for travel or add details of your other passports to your UKVI account.

Note: The immigration officer will only recognise the passport you uploaded to your eVisa account for entry into the UK.

For example, if you’ve registered a Hong Kong SAR passport but decide to travel with an unregistered BNO passport or an updated Hong Kong SAR passport, the officer may not find your UK visa associated with the unregistered passport. It’s important to upload any passports you hold before obtaining a UK passport.

Updating Your UKVI Information

To update your personal information, visit the UKVI update website:

[Update UKVI account] https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details/update-your-ukvi-account

Log into your account and choose to add a new travel document. Ensure that any photos uploaded are clear and legible.

The process is straightforward and once submitted the request, it will take up to 2 weeks to be approved. You will receive an email about the new Identity documents approved and you’ll see your new document details in your account.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your eVisa and ensure a smooth experience in the UK.

Home Office will replace the existing BRP with eVisas from 1st January 2025.

If the current expiry date of your newly issued Biometric residence permits (BRPs) cards is on 31 December 2024 and your right to stay is longer than 31 December 2024, you can check the length of your status using the following link.

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

Home Office will announce details about the new system (eVisas) in early 2024.

You can check with your immigration adviser in 2024 about the details of the new system.

If you need to prove that you have the right to work in the UK, please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work
If you need to prove that you have the right to rent a house in the UK, please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent

ShipMed Medical Services

Shipmed Medical Services
25 Glenwood Drive
Glenwood
Durban

Telephone:

• +27 31 261 8291

Email:

• uktb@shipmed.co.za

Online appointments:

• You can book your TB appointment online on the IOM website

The following should contact the clinic instead of using this online system:

• applicants with previous registration (those who have done UK TB screening before)
• applicants aged 10 years or under
• applicants booking for family members; you can only book family members who are 11 years old or over

Operating hours:

• Mondays to Fridays: 8am to 4:30pm

Closed on IOM and national holidays.

Test fees

11 years and above: R2,500

Below 11 years: R1,250

Certificate reissue (IOM only): R100

The cost of the test is in addition to the visa application fee. You are unable to pay at the clinic.

Payment details (IOM only)

You must pay your fee using the following banking details before you arrive at the clinic. The booking reference number given must be used on the payment slip.

• Bank: FNB
• Account name: International Organisation for Migration
• Account number: 62165532724
• Branch: Brooklyn
• Branch code: 251345
• Swift code: FIRNZAJJXXX

The fee is not refundable if you test positive for TB or decide not travel to the UK, or your visa is refused. For most applicants, this is where the testing process will end and your certificate will then be issued.

Step-by-step procedures (IOM only)

• the medical examination will be processed on Tuesdays (chest x-ray) and on Wednesdays (physical exam)
• all visa applicants must attend the clinic for the assessment with all the required documents
• the initial examination will include a counselling session and signing a consent form
• applicants aged 10 and under will go through a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued
• applicants aged 11 and above will have a chest x-ray done; applicants will then be reviewed by the doctor with the chest x-ray result before a certificate is issued
• additional sputum smears and cultures medical procedures may apply in case of abnormal chest x-ray findings and could take up to 8 weeks to get the final results
• a TB clearance certificate will be issued to the applicant on the day of the examination if the examination result is considered free of active pulmonary TB disease
• if you do not return within 7 days for sputum collection, you will not get a TB clearance certificate
• you will be given further testing or told to contact your own health care provider if the examination results are abnormal but the abnormality is not related to TB disease
• the TB clearance certificate expires 6 months from the chest x-ray date if you had a chest x-ray done, or 6 months from the physical examination date if you don’t need a chest x-ray
• the TB clearance certificate is valid for 3 months if you have been in contact with a family member with active pulmonary TB
• female applicants may be requested to undergo a pregnancy test, in case there is uncertainty as to whether they may be pregnant
• pregnant applicants can decide not to get a chest x-ray examination and instead either give sputum for a TB test on 3 consecutive mornings or delay the TB screening until after giving birth

As we know, on the 22nd of July 2020, the UK announced the BNO Visa route for people ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.

This post provides the most updated information currently available on the Hong Kong BNO Visa including when it will be available, price and the current political context.

Since the announcement, information has slowly been made available.

For convenience, here is a brief summary of the most important details:

• The BNO Visa will try to avoid splitting up family units
• There are 30 month and 5 year visa lengths available
• The 30 month visa will cost £180 per person and the 5 year visa will cost £250 per person
• The visa will be available from the 31st of January 2021
• Dependants can apply (but must do so at the same time)
• Applicants need to prove BNO status but a current valid BNO passport is not required
• The Immigration Health Surcharge will apply (which means applicants will have access to NHS services)
• Applicants will be able to seek employment and attend school if they are under 18

BNO Visa Updates

Since last week, the only further information from the Home Office has been a series of rebuttals to claims from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA).

The OCMFA claims that conferring the right of abode to holders of the BNO passport is a breach of the Joint Declaration and considers the change in policy, ‘gross interference’.

The Home Office has responded by clarifying that BNO passport holders do not have the right of abode in the UK and confirmed its adherence to its obligations under the Joint Declaration.

With less than a week to go, the UK continues to maintain a fine balance between supporting Hong Kong citizens and responding to the National Security Law being imposed on Hong Kong.

The next update is likely to be when the actual visa becomes available, next week. Until then, here is a summary of the BNO Visa requirements. A more detailed factsheet is also available from the Home Office.