Assisted Digital service offers telephone or face-to-face help to those struggling to fill in online forms
The Home Office announced in guidance published yesterday that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is now offering an 'Assisted Digital' service to help people complete some immigration applications.
The government-wide Assisted Digital service aims to ensure people who have low digital skills or confidence, or who are without regular Internet access, can get the support they need to use government digital services (you can read more about the background to Assisted Digital here).
UKVI's new Assisted Digital service is being delivered in collaboration with public libraries, the national digital training provider We Are Digital, and the migrant support charity Migrant Help UK.
It will offer help with immigration applications being made online, though people who are making an application through the Tier 1 (entrepreneurs/exceptional talent), Tier 2 (people working in the UK) and Tier 4 (people studying in the UK) routes will not be eligible to use the service.
For applicants who are eligible, it will mean that you can now get help completing an online immigration application in the following three ways:
- Telephone support to complete the online form – a skilled advisor from Migrant Help UK will talk you through completing your application form online.
- Face to face support at one of 18 public libraries across the UK to access and complete the online form - you can either walk in at your convenience or book an appointed time with a library staff member who will help you complete your online application form.
- Face to face support at home to complete the form – a tutor from We Are Digital will visit you in your home and help you complete your online application form.
We Are Digital will be the point of contact for the new UKVI Assisted Digital service and, if you wish to use the service, you can contact them by phone on 03333 445 675 or via e-mail at visa@we-are-digital.co.uk.
You can read the Home Office guidance here for further information, including the list of 18 libraries where Assisted Digital services are available.