AQW 17413/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 25/10/2024
Answered On Date: 11/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in relation to their responsibilities for integration, to detail the support they are putting in place for relevant people in Northern Ireland who will be moved from physical residence permits to an eVisa system under new Home Office rules.

Answer:

We are aware that Home Office has funded organisations here to provide free help and information to vulnerable people who need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and access their e-Visa.

Officials have already engaged with Advice NI, the initial organisation funded by Home Office, to understand how it will assist refugees to access their e-Visa. Following a further announcement on 18 October 2024 of two additional organisations to be funded by Home Office here, officials will also now engage with North Down YMCA and South Tyrone Empowerment Programme.