eVisa status update after naturalisation

[4004]

Hello all, it's been a while, but I'm yet again hoping to draw on invaluable advice/experience of this forum.

My situation is similar to that in the locked thread here. Just received the certificate (delayed due to a comms breakdown with HO), need to travel very soon for reasons outside my control, still have the plastic ILR BRP (expiring Dec, as all of them are) since existing passport requires a UK visa for entry.
My travel period may extend beyond Dec-24.

I considered asking HMPO for a fast tracked application given the reasons for my travel (even though this service is not available for first time applicants), but with the hassle of referees and potential other delays, I don't think this will allow me to travel as soon as needed anyway.

My question, thus: when would my eVisa status be updated/invalidated, barring me from boarding the aircraft back to the UK, if I have to return after Dec-24? I probably need to clarify that I mean the status as shown on the webpage for eVisas, as legally it becomes invalidated instantly on certificate receipt - however this is not something the boarding agents would know or care about, if I can still show an evisa/get a share code.
Ignoring for now the fact that airline staff may still want to see my (then expired) BRP if their processes haven't been updated by then.

Many thanks

[contorted_svy]

It is hard to know what will happen after the 31 Dec transition date. Best advice would be to travel with a UK passport. If your eVisa doesn't show (as it will be expired) and the airline agent refuses to board you, what will you do? Your eVisa status is technically already invalid as you naturalised.

If you choose to travel without a british passport, take the original of your naturalisation certificate with you. It is not a travel document but it is the best evidence you will have of your nationality. The airline agent may well not accept it but it should get you through at the UK border.

When are you due to leave? Do you have a passport from a "visa free" country?

[4004]

airline agent refuses to board you, what will you do?

Try another airline, or ask the British embassy for an emergency travel document, potentially.

If you choose to travel without a british passport, take the original of your naturalisation certificate with you. It is not a travel document but it is the best evidence you will have of your nationality. The airline agent may well not accept it but it should get you through at the UK border.

Yes, this was my thinking - although if eVisa don't actually get updated, I might get through even without it (not that I want to try my luck).

When are you due to leave? Do you have a passport from a "visa free" country?

13 December, may move forward depending on other factors. I do not have a visa free passport - likely wouldn't have been a problem if I did

[alterhase58]

ask the British embassy for an emergency travel document

Not an option
https://www.gov.uk/travel-urgently-from ... k-passport

[4004]

Travel to Calais then?..
The airline check in staff/Timatic are arguably the biggest hurdle here - if they can accept some webpage with my photo on it (or a code if they are that advanced in their evisa implementation), provided that webpage still exists and shows my Settled status

[lolo2]

Try another airline

This might not be that easy either.

We've seen some posts here about how unpleasant might be to deal with airline staff abroad who decide to make their own interpretation of the UK immigration rules.

provided that webpage still exists and shows my Settled status

The issue here is whether you can maintain the same status on/after 1st January 2025 when this eVisa system will be officially live, provided you already received the naturalisation certificate.

For example, I still can see my status as "settle" on the UKVI/eVisa system, and I received a naturalisation certificate/British passport a few months ago, but who knows when this will change.

[4004]

We've seen some posts here about how unpleasant might be to deal with airline staff abroad who decide to make their own interpretation of the UK immigration rules.

Yep, but I'd rather deal with that than risk not getting a passport on time or not travel, in this particular case. If this was a normal leisure trip, I'd just suck it up

The issue here is whether you can maintain the same status on/after 1st January 2025 when this eVisa system will be officially live, provided you already received the naturalisation certificate.

For example, I still can see my status as "settle" on the UKVI/eVisa system, and I received a naturalisation certificate/British passport a few months ago, but who knows when this will change.

Indeed, this is the sort of anecdotal evidence I was expecting - maybe with some facts thrown in if anybody has them. You'd think HO would be clearing things out before the go live, not hold off any status updates until 00:00 on 1st Jan 2025, as romantic as that is

[contorted_svy]

Unfortunately we don't know when/how this will be implemented. You have two weeks, I would gamble and apply for a BP. Average waiting times are 11-12 days. Is there any way you can move your flight by a couple of days?

[4004]

Not really a gambling person, plus I can envisage a few hoops with my referees and whatnot, so best case timelines likely won't apply.
I can't postpone the flight, only bring it forward, due to the nature of the matter I am travelling for

[lolo2]

If can't postpone the trip and have the flexibility to travel soon and return by/before 31-12-2024, then the BRP card should be enough for the carrier's staff to allow you boarding the flight back. The eVisa status will be less relevant.

This is not precisely the best thing to do but we don't know the nature of your trip either.

[contorted_svy]

Then I would suggest to come back before the 31/12 if you are not a gambling person as you risk not being let boarding a plane. I would still bring the naturalisation certificate. Not sure if the nature of your emergency would fit with this. but you could come back, immediately apply for your BP, then leave again afterwards.

[4004]

Thanks, yes I've considered this option, but if I need to overstay into 2025 that would mean coming back, waiting for the passport, and returning would likely not make sense.
At the moment I'm trying to make arrangements for the passport application, in case I decide to chance it. If not, my plan is to travel around and find out