The global Coronavirus pandemic has caught everyone out. It is no surprise that there will be visitors to the UK that will be running out of time on their visas. With travel restrictions currently in place, the UK Government has stepped in with measures to help.
Visa Extension
If you’re in the UK and your visa expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020, your visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The extension is not automatic. You will need to contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT). You need to update your records if your visa is coming to an end.
In order to extend your visa, you should provide the Coronavirus Immigration Team with the following information:
- Your full name, remember to include any middle names
- Your date of birth in dd/mm/yyyy format
- Your nationality
- Your previous visa reference number
- And finally the reason why you can’t leave the UK, for instance the border has closed
You can contact the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre by emailing CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk (emails must be in English) or by calling 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Calls are free of charge. If you have already emailed, please do not contact them by phone.
The Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre aims to reply to emails within 5 working days.
For any Immigration queries that do not relate to provisions associated with Coronavirus, please contact the general immigration helpline rather than the number listed above.
What happens if I want to stay in the UK long term?
The latest Government guidelines also cover changes to the system for those who wish to apply to stay in the UK longer. For the moment, you are able to apply from the UK to switch to a long-term UK visa until 31 May. This includes applications where you would normally have to apply from your own country.
The visa requirements and UK application fee remain unchanged.
Applications can be made online. The terms of your leave remain unchanged until your application is approved.
Currently, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS), Service and Support Centres (SSCs) and Wosskow Brown Solicitors offices are temporarily closed because of stay-at-home measures.
Our Immigration solicitor Mohammed Nazir is happy to accept instruction via phone or video calls. You can contact Nazir initially via email or by calling 0114 256 4796.
UKVCAS and SSCs are currently not booking appointments. You will be contacted if you already have appointments booked with UKVCAS or SSCs. The UK Government guidelines state:
Your immigration status will not be negatively affected as a result of you not being able to attend an appointment
UK Visa Help
Despite many UK Visa Application Centres being closed or offering limited services, our team at Wosskow Brown Solicitors are working to assist where ever we can. Our very own Immigration Solicitor – Mohammed Nazir has put together a short video to offer guidance during this unprecedented situation.
جو لوگ برطانیہ میں کورونا وائرس کی وجہ سے رک گئے ہیں یا جنہوں نے امیگریشن درخواست جمع کرانی تھی انکی سہولت کےلیے اس ویڈیو میں تفصیلات موجود ہیں۔آپ مزید تفصیلات کے لیے واسکو براؤن سالیسیٹرز سے رابطہ کر سکتے ہیں۔
