*** UPDATE ***
- UK visa holders with visa expiring before 1 September 2020 can benefit from the grace period explained below.
- UK visa holders with visa expiring before 1 September 2020 can apply to switch to another visa within the UK.
The UK government has declared that there will be no new extension available for people holding a visa expiring between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020.
UK visa holders were able to extend their visas up to 31 July 2020 if they could not leave the UK and return to their home countries due to travel restrictions or self-isolation under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the recently re-imposed compulsory quarantine for travellers coming to the UK from Spain, the UK government refuses to grant further extensions due to the COVID-19 on account of the lifting of travel restrictions globally.
The good news is that UK visa holders with a visa expiring before 1 August 2020 will be granted an extra month’s grace period, until 31 August 2020. *** UPDATE *** This now also applies to UK visa holders with visa expiring between 1 August to 31 August 2020.
This is to allow individuals to organise their departure from the UK.
UK visa holders do not need to make any application nor contact the Home Office to benefit from this grace period.
The same conditions of stay will apply during the grace period. This means that if the UK visa holder was allowed to work or study, s/he will be able to do so until the end of August.
If UK visa holders wish to leave the UK but cannot do so by 31 August 2020, they will be able to make a request for additional time to stay. This will be an exceptional indemnity, short-term protection against any adverse action or consequences of the leave expiring.
If UK visa holders want to stay in the UK after 31 August, they will have to apply for a relevant leave to remain in the UK, provided they meet the requirements. It remains possible to apply within the UK, even if it is normally a requirement to apply from outside the UK.
Lastly, individuals who have overstayed because their leave expired between 24 January 2020 and 31 August 2020 will not suffer from any adverse immigration consequences, as long as they leave the UK or apply for a new visa by 31 August 2020.
If you would like more information or advice on your UK immigration matters, please contact our expert team of London immigration lawyers at Barar and Associates at barar.london@bararassociates.co.uk or call us on 020 7487 8370. You can access more information about us via https://bararassociates.com/.
