FAQ on BRPs during Covid-19

Persons not able to fetch their BRPs 

If you have applied for your UK visa outside the UK, you have to collect your BRP once you are in the UK. On your decision letter, there will be a note to tell you where you have to collect your BRP. The collection point will be either at a Post Office or your sponsor (where relevant).  

Normally, a person has to collect the BRP within ten days of arriving in the UK. However, Covid-19 has complicated things. Many people cannot collect their BRP within ten days of arriving as they have to self-isolate or due to other Covid-19 related reasons. 

The good news is that the Post Office will keep a BRP for 90 days, and persons can fetch it when they have finished self-isolating. Note that you cannot nominate someone to collect your BRP if you are self-isolating due to Covid-19. 

Some Post Offices are closed due to Covid-19. In such cases, a person can fetch it from the relevant branch as soon as it re-opens. 

Breytenbachs are also able to request special permission from the Home Office, for someone to fetch your BRP on your behalf, where the person is unable to, due to sickness and other special circumstances. Please speak to your consultant.  

BRPs that has not arrived at the Post Office and other problems 

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we also had clients who complained that their BRPs were not at the relevant Post Office in due time. 

In such cases, the Home Office advises that clients contact the delivery provider TNT, to track and rearrange delivery. If you have no success doing that, you have to report your BRP as missing to the Home Office at the following link – https://www.biometric-residence-permit.service.gov.uk/not-arrived

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Home Office advises that it currently takes over 30 days for them to respond. The Home Office also recommends that you only contact them if you have already contacted the delivery provider for help and they could not find your BRP. Or in cases where you do not have a consignment number to track your delivery. 

Unfortunately, at this stage, it seems to be a waiting game. 

BRPs expiring on 31 December 2024

Many clients are very concerned that when they receive their BRPs, it is only valid till 31 December 2024, although their leave to stay in the UK is beyond that date. 

The Home Office advises that UKVI will update their information on updating the BRP in early 2024.  Clients do not need to do anything, and this will not affect their immigration status. It will not affect your right to work access service, benefits or travel. 

The simple reason for the BRPs not being valid past 31 December 2024, is that the UK Government intends to introduce new technology. The new technology means that the current cards will be replaced by that date. The replacement will be free of charge. The Home Office will issue the new BRP card/technology with the remainder of the leave period. 

How Breytenbachs can help you 

Breytenbachs have a team of highly experienced consultants, who can assist with your  Immigration matter. Please email us with your query at info@bic-immigration.com or visit our website at www.bic-immigration.com 

Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.