UK has been in a lock down due to the current global corana virus situation. UK Visas and Immigration, The Government department dealing with UK Visas has issued their Corona Virus guidance.
The guidance is very clear about people who are in UK with Visas which expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020 and who cannot travel back to their country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus. It is stated that their visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 and they must contact the Corona Virus Immigration Team (CIT) to update their records if their visa is expiring.
They should send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the following details
- your full name (include any middle names)
- date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
- nationality
- your previous visa reference number
- why you can’t go back to your home country, for example, if the border has closed
The CIH team will let you know when your request is received and when your visa has been extended.
According to me and from a reading of the guidance this only applies to individuals whose visa is finishing and who were planning to go back to their country. But as far as I understand this does not apply to those who are in UK on a spouse or a human rights visa or any other visas which can be extended from within UK.
Those who are in the UK on a spouse visa or a human rights visa or a PBS visa which is expiring now has to apply online for an extension before their current visa expires. The Visa applications are now online and the date of application is the date of online submission of the application. I don’t believe that their visa will be extended until 31st May 2020 if they send an email to the CIH Team and dont make an application in time.
Currently, the biometric enrolment is suspended as the centres are closed. But the home office has stated in the guidance that the immigration status will not be negatively affected as a result of you not being able to attend an appointment or enrol biometrics at the Post Office or the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) centres.
This means that as long as you have submitted your visa application online and paid the relevant visa fees, your visa will be extended by way of sec 3c and your current visa conditions will continue to apply until a decision is made in your application, even if you are not able to enrol your biometrics.
I, therefore, recommend everyone who already has leave to remain in UK and who are not planning to travel back to their respective countries, to submit an application for the extension of their leave to remain before it expires. In most visa categories if you don’t apply for a visa before it expires or within 14 days of the expiry, then you become and overstayer and this will break the continuity of your leave to remain which can affect your Settlement applications.
As per the advice of the government, we are currently not meeting clients at our office to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus.
However, we are still open for business as we can work from home and all new and existing clients can contact us by phone (02082151205) and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We shall continue to process visa applications on time and provide our expert legal advice if you contact us by phone or email. You can either scan your documents and email it to us or you can send them by special delivery to our address by post and we will be able to process your visa applications.
