07 April 2020
Immigration Practitioners’ Group - Home Office Update
On the 6th April
2020 the Home Office issued an online form for people who can’t extend their
visa and can’t return home due to Coronavirus travel restrictions.
https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/homeoffice/public/webform.asp?id=199&id2=5C97E7
The guidance states; “No
individual of any nationality whose leave has expired or is due to expire
between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020, and who cannot leave the UK because of
COVID-19, will be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment in the
future.”
However practitioners should
be aware that this extension appears to be limited to people in the UK short
term who did not plan to stay but can’t leave due to Coronavirus restrictions.
The guidance indicates it is not designed for people who intended to remain in
the UK long term. Persons with visas expiring which they intended to renew or
persons who intended to apply for long term leave should continue to do so
through the normal online application forms. Applications for long term visas
will be permitted from within the UK for applications where the applicant is
normally required to return to their home country. Further information can be
found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents?utm_source=9755065e-406a-43a2-b9a5-d137701e7017&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
Practitioners should monitor
this guidance carefully. The Law Centre’s coronavirus immigration database is
also being regularly updated with information to assist practitioners:
https://www.lawcentreni.org/news/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-updates-in-one-place