Responding to a recent report that identified what critics claim represents ‘a systemic failure’ of the immigration regime, ministers have again downplayed the extent of data issues with digital records
Government has acknowledged that some users of electronic immigration documents “have experienced data accuracy issues”.
But, in contrast to warnings about a “digital status crisis”, ministers have claimed that “overall system accuracy is very high” and only “a small number” of document-holders have been affected by data problems. Government has also reiterated that it will successfully eliminate all physical immigration documents and replace them with digital alternatives by the end of this year.
This drive to digitise the immigration system has raised serious concerns among various civil-society organisations – chief among them the3million. Late last year, the campaign group published a report based on the experiences of almost 2,000 people that had reported problems with their digital status. Extrapolating from this data across the breadth of the immigration system, the3million warned of a looming “crisis” in which “nearly 940,000 people who could be impacted by eVisa issues [will be left] struggling to prove their rights in the UK”.
The issue has piqued the interest of parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which recently asked the Home Office to provide an update “on data security issues and delivery progress” with the new digital immigration regime, according to a recent letter to MPs from migration and citizenship minister Mike Tapp.
One of the primary criticisms made by the3million is that “government has refused to disclose the scale of error reports submitted directly to the Home Office, despite numerous Freedom of Information requests and parliamentary questions”.
Tapp’s letter did not provide any precise clarity on this question, but did suggest that the problem was only minimal – and not as potentially widespread as has been claimed.
“Overall system accuracy is very high, though a small number of users have experienced data accuracy issues,” he said. “These can arise either where an individual has more than one historic record such as multiple legacy immigration records created over time, or where two similar records have been incorrectly linked for example, due to closely matched biographic details.”
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The minister provided MPs with information on various measures being taken by government to tackle any issues with information accuracy.
“Our approach includes immediate correction and protection: when a case is identified, we apply established procedures to correct records swiftly, protect customer data, and confirm the person’s current immigration status,” he added. “[It also includes] refined matching and stronger safeguards: we continue to refine automated data-matching processes to minimise errors; we have strengthened safeguards; and we have a dedicated team in place to resolve referrals rapidly. [There is also] targeted review of the immigration database: we have undertaken a full assessment of our immigration database to identify any potential data accuracy issues related to the scenarios above. All flagged cases are reviewed by trained caseworkers to determine if action is required.”
‘On track’
Updating the committee on government’s overall progress in digitising immigration documentation, Tapp wrote that “eVisas have replaced physical documents, such as biometric residence permits and visa vignettes, in the majority of immigration routes, with visitor vignettes to follow shortly”.
These ‘vignettes’ comprise paper stickers placed inside passports to indicate authorisation to visit or work in the country of issuance.
“We remain on track to replace all in scope physical immigration documents, such as visa vignettes, with eVisas by the end of 2026, although older physical documents that are still valid will continue to be accepted as proof of status,” the minister added. “As we expand digital services, we continue to embed secure-by-design delivery, underpinned by clear governance and continuous monitoring. Embedding secure practice within the eVisa programme In response to the committee’s wider concerns regarding cultural change across government in data security practices, the eVisa programme continues to embed secure‑by‑design delivery, supported by clear governance and operational discipline. These measures complement the technical controls in place and support a consistent approach to protecting personal data.”
Tapp’s reassurance are unlikely to assuage the concerns of the3million and others that have been long-time critics of wholesale digitisation and the abolition of paper documents.
The organisation said that its recent report “challenges Home Office claims about the system’s security and reliability, revealing a Digital Status Crisis: a systemic failure in which people with lawful rights cannot reliably prove those rights, echoing the injustices of the Windrush scandal”.
Tapp’s predecessor as migration minister, Seema Malhotra, revealed last year that the Home Office was receiving a monthly total of more than 100 complaints from the public about the eVisa system.
