The UK Home Office has issued advice UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus.
If you’re in the UK
- You are expected to take all possible steps to leave the UK or apply to regularize your stay. Do not worry, you are allowed to access Visa and Immigration services as these are considered an essential public service.
- If you intend to leave the UK to return to a red-listed country but have not been able to do so and you have a visa, leave or ‘exceptional assurance’ that expires before 30 November 2021 you may request additional time to stay, known as ‘exceptional assurance’. You can submit a request for an ‘exceptional assurance’ by emailing cihassuranceteam@homeoffice.gov.uk with the following details:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Home Office, GWF or any other reference number
- Type of visa
- Expiry date of visa
- Reason for request
- Evidence of flight or evidence showing reason you can’t leave
- The subject header of your email should read “Request for an assurance”
- In your email, attach evidence that you cannot leave the UK. For example, you can submit a copy of a confirmed flight ticket or evidence of flight unavailability.
If you intend to stay in the UK
- If you intend to stay in the UK, apply for the relevant permission to stay. Submit a permission to stay application form from within the UK.
- You need to meet requirements of this application and pay the corresponding UK application fee.
- If you are switching into work or study routes you may be able to commence work or study while your application is under consideration, depending on the terms of your current permission.
- You can also apply for permission to stay to remain in the UK if you have been issued with an ‘exceptional assurance’. You must submit your application before the expiry of your ‘exceptional assurance’.
If you have overstayed your leave
- If your visa or leave expired between 24 January 2020 and 31 August 2020 there will be no future adverse immigration consequences if you didn’t make an application to regularize your stay during this period. However, if you have not applied to regularize your stay or submitted a request for an exceptional assurance you must make arrangements to leave the UK.
For Visa Applications
Most UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) have reopened for existing customers. You can check which UKVCAS centres are open and book an appointment if you have not already done so.
There are changes at the UK border:
- Know about the advisory on entering the UK and the red, amber and green list rules for entering England before you apply for a visa.
- Check the travel advice issued by your carrier and check what you need to do before you leave for the UK.
- Applications for transit visas and visas for work, study or residence in the UK continue to be processed from all red, amber and green list locations.
We can help with your visa concerns. We at Alpha Future Migration Consultants have well-versed UK immigration consultancy in Dubai office that can help you sort out your visa issues. Contact us for a one on one free session with our UK immigration lawyer, in person, via the phone, or online.