Immigration Corner | How to share your eVisa with a prospective employer

Dear Mr. Bassie,

I have been asked to share my United Kingdom eVisa with a prospective employer over there and I would like to know how I should go about doing this. Any assistance would be appreciated.

S.S.

Dear S.S.,

A person’s eVisa shows their identity and immigration status. This includes what rights he/she has in the United Kingdom (UK), for example to work, rent or claim benefits.

Persons can get a share code to prove their immigration status to people such as employers or landlords, or when they travel. They will need to give them their date of birth but will not need to show them their eVisa.

Persons should be aware that the person who uses the share code will see some of their personal details. Please note that when given the share code the holder will be told what the person will see.

A share code lasts for 90 days. Persons can use the share code as many times as they need before it expires and they can get a new share code whenever they need one.

Viewing the eVisa and getting a share code

The prospective employer or others will need the details of the eVisa holder to sign in to your UKVI account. This could be their:

• passport

• national identity card

• biometric residence card (BRC) - this can be valid or expired

• expired biometric residence permit (BRP)

• UKVI customer number

They will also need access to the mobile phone number or email address the holder uses to sign in to the UKVI account.

Report an error with the eVisa

Persons should report an error with their eVisa if their eVisa is wrong - for example it shows the wrong date of birth or immigration status. Please note that the holders can view their eVisa but they cannot use it to get a share code

The holders of the eVisa should update their UKVI account before they get a share code if they have changed their name or nationality and/or if they need to change the photo because he/she cannot be recognized from the current one.

If it is not possible to view the eVisa, persons should check that they have finished setting up the UKVI account to access the eVisa. Please note that persons can use different services to prove their right to work or prove their right to rent if they cannot access an eVisa. Also, assistance is available to those persons who may need help to recover their UKVI account if they are having problems signing in to view their eVisa.

It is advisable that persons contact UKVI online if they have other questions about their eVisa or UKVI account or they can also watch eVisa support videos.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com