The Home Office is set to suspend the issuance of Visas after problems with the program.
It comes after human rights campaigners warned that hundreds of thousands of people who have the right to live and work in Britain could be unable to get their new visas by proving their immigration status.
The government had to retaliate biometric residence permits (BRP), which show proof of the right to live, work and receive benefits in Britain, and digital Visas from December 31.
The proposals were first announced in April, under the previous Tory administration, as a way to “ensure stronger control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthen border security and prevent abuse of the immigration system”.
But there have been many complaints from applicants who have been unable to access the new digital system, leading to fears that people could be left out of the country due to IT glitches.
The Home Office has earmarked £4 million to support organizations to help vulnerable people who may struggle to get an eVisa without help. A national program to inform people about this program should be launched this week.
However, the Minister of External Affairs, Seema Malhotra, is now hoping to set up the rollout of the project.
There were concerns that the project had to be carried out on New Years Day – a bank holiday – meaning problems would be difficult to solve.
Foreign nationals with “residual status” who are placed on “3C leave” were said to often receive error messages when trying to renew their immigration status and create an eVisa.
Their rights to work, study or claim benefits in the UK are protected when their application is assessed, but many employers and landlords insist on seeing a document proving their status.
Nick Beales, head of campaigning for the Refugee and Migrant Forum for Essex and London, told The Guardian: “In June, the High Court ruled that the Government’s failure to provide people with 3C to leave digital evidence was unlawful.
“The new government refused to implement the decision, suggesting that like their predecessors they had learned nothing from the Windrush scandal and remained committed to protecting a hostile environment.”
The Home Office have been contacted for comment.