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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Chaminda Jayanetti

Fears of new Windrush as thousands of UK immigrants face ‘cliff edge’ visa change

The biometric residence permit
An estimated 500,000 non-EU immigrants in the UK will need to replace their physical biometric residence permits with digital e-visas. Photograph: mundissima/Alamy

Lawyers and migrant rights campaigners have warned that the government is heading for a repeat of the Windrush scandal after imposing a “cliff edge” deadline for immigrants to switch to new digital visas.

By the end of this year an estimated 500,000 or more non-EU immigrants with leave to remain in the UK will need to replace their physical biometric residence permits (BRPs) – which demonstrate proof of their right to reside, rent, work and claim benefits – with digital e-visas.

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