The eVisa database keeps a record of a person’s full name, date of birth, nationality, and a facial photograph. But these traits are by definition often a very close match for identical twins, including Webb, whose name is similar to that of her sister.
Many such cases
Monique Hawkins, acting CEO of the3million, which campaigns for the rights of EU citizens living in the U.K., said problems with the eVisa system sometimes left people unable to prove their identity when they needed it most.
“We have seen many cases where someone else’s immigration status is entangled with another person’s eVisa account. We had hoped, after repeatedly raising this issue, that the Home Office had taken more steps to prevent it happening. It just shows how, despite claims that the eVisa system is highly resilient, it can fail people at the critical moments they need it to work,” she said.
Hawkins said it was “crucial that people have a genuinely stable means by which to prove their status” and described the digital-only system as “rushed,” adding: “We regularly see people not only denied boarding, but also compensation, as carriers and the Home Office play a blame game shifting responsibility between each other.”
While a Home Office spokesperson did not dispute Webb’s account, they defended the eVisa system, arguing it had worked for many people.
“Over 10 million people have already successfully used eVisas to prove their immigration status,” the spokesperson said. “As we expand our digital system, we are committed to data accuracy and ensuring that the safeguards in place to support eVisa users are accessible to anyone reliant on the digital system. In the rare cases where errors are identified, the majority of cases are resolved within 24 hours.”