APPLYING IN THE UK – Our expert advice for VISITORS currently stuck in the UK due to the Coronavirus with visas expiring before 31st August 2020 that want to switch to a long-term UK Visa without going back to their home country
The latest Coronavirus guidance confirms that if you have already emailed the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) at the Home Office, and extended your leave in the UK to 31st July 2020, you DO NOT need to email them again to extend your visa until the 31st August 2020. If this situation applies to you, you have the following three options:
- You can leave the UK before 31st August 2020 – and remember to keep copies of all email correspondence you had with the Home Office for when you next apply for a UK Visitor Visa (or arrive using your passport) to prove you did NOT overstay but were stuck here due to the lockdown.
- You can submit an online UK Visa application in the UK to switch into a longer-term residence visa (if you qualify) – if you can satisfy the rules for any longer-term residence visas (such as a Tier 2 Work Permit, a Tier 4 Student Visa, UK Partner Visa, etc.), you only have until 31s August 2020 to apply.
- You can email the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) if you cannot leave the UK before 31st August 2020. If you find you cannot leave the UK before the final 31st August 2020 deadline, you MUST email the Corona Virus Immigration team to explain the reason why you are stuck in the UK and remember to attach documentary evidence to prove the reason you are stuck. You should also submit evidence to prove you have taken every reasonable measure to try to leave, but it is out of your control. The Home Office will assess each person’s situation on a case by case basis, and provide further instructions about any exemptions they may grant you until you can leave.
Should you need to contact the Home Office’s Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) via email, you can use the following email address – CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk
When you email the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT), you must provide the following details:
- your full name (include any middle names)
- your date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
- your nationality
- your previous UK Visa reference number
- Explain why you cannot go back to your home country – for example, if the border has closed or you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, etc.
- Attach PDF documentary evidence to prove you cannot leave the UK, and to show you have taken all steps possible to try and leave.
The Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) at the UKVI will confirm when they have received your request AND if your UK Visa has been extended. We recommend that you ALWAYS look after this evidence (either an email or letter from the Home Office) in the future to ensure you can always prove you never broke the UK immigration rules during the Coronavirus crisis when applying for any further UK Visas.
Anyone that has already contacted the Coronavirus Immigration Team and received an email back confirming their short-term UK Visa has been extended due to the lockdown will automatically have their visa extended again until 31st August 2020. The Home Office has stated that you can stay until that time, but if you cannot leave the UK by 31st August 2020, you MUST email the CIT team to get permission to stay beyond this date.
Applying within the UK to switch from a short-term (i.e. Visitor Visa) to a long-term UK Visa to be able to live here (such as a UK Spouse Visa, or Tier 2 (General) Visa – We are even more pleased to confirm that due to he extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19 & the Coronavirus, the Home Office have relaxed the rules for the first time! All visitors that cannot leave the UK due to the Coronavirus regardless of their current visa expiry date can apply for a long-term UK Visa WITHOUT having to return to their home country or country of residence to apply! This is fantastic news for hundreds of our clients, as the latest Coronavirus guidance update permits you to switch Visa in the UK until 31st August 2020. Please note that we do NOT expect this date to be extended for the fourth time, and you should plan to either leave the UK before 31st August 2020 or submit a residence visa application before this deadline expires.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR IN THE UK AND WANT OUR EXPERT ASSISTANCE AND FIVE-STAR SERVICE TO ASSIST YOU, REQUEST A CALL-BACK NOW OR CALL US ON +44 (0) 203 178 2048.