Due to the current pandemic caused by COVID-19, the Home Office has closed all their Visa Application Centres around the world and has deferred determination of all visa applications until further notice. However, the Home Office is still functioning normally for in-country applications.
I obtained a UK visa but I am unable to leave my country, do I need to resubmit another visa application?
Those who have obtained their visas or have received an email from the Home Office granting them with the visa will need to inform the Home Office in order to extend their visa automatically rather than re-submit a new application. This is applicable if you were unable to leave your home countries owing to the Covid-19 outbreak or have been unable to collect your passport and visa because the UK visa centre are closed.
I am currently in the UK on a visitor visa. My visa has expired and I cannot return home. What shall I do?
The Home Office have announced that if you are either:
then you will need to inform the Home Office and your visas will be extended until the end of May 2020 (until further notice). This will prevent you from being considered as an over stayer, damaging your immigration history and impacting any future applications.
My Residence Permit is due to expire soon, can I extend it?
If you are residing in the UK on a long-term visa and you need to either
you can submit your application along with supporting documents by post instead of at the UKVI Centres.
I am currently on a Tier 4 (student) visa, can I switch to Tier 2 (General Worker), without leaving the UK.
If you are residing in the UK on a long-term visa and you want to apply for a different visa to stay in the UK long-term, the Home Office is also temporarily expanding the in-country switching provisions. This will mean you can apply to switch routes, such as from Tier 4 (student) to Tier 2 (General Worker), whilst remaining in the UK.
I am employed and working with the NHS but my visa is due to expire. What will happen?
If you are a doctor, nurse or paramedic working for the NHS then your visa will automatically be extended by one year. This only applies if your visa is due to expire before 1 October 2020. The extension will also apply to your family members with a visa.
You will not need to apply for this extension and the government will contact your employer directly if you are eligible. If you believe you are entitled to this extension but have not yet been contacted then we would recommend that you discuss the matter with your employer to investigate further.
Furthermore, the government have announced that there no restriction on the number of hours you can work or volunteer each week if you are a
Can I claim asylum in the UK?
You can still claim asylum by contacting the Asylum intake unit appointments and register your claim. The Home Office will contact you (probably once locked down is over) with appointment details.
Can I still appeal against the Home Office decision?
As for the Immigration Courts and Tribunals, you will still be able to appeal against the Home Office decisions.
If you have an appeal hearing that has been listed in April or May, the Immigration Tribunals have adjourned all existing oral hearings, and all appeals will proceed by way of Case Management Hearing via telephone or Skype. All appeal bundles (witness statements, skeleton argument and supporting documents) should be sent electronically before the Case Management Hearing.
Nadia Bazzaz – Immigration Solicitor
Experienced senior immigration lawyer with a proven track record of delivering high quality and first class support to multi-national clients who are in need of professional immigration advice. I'm a…
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