Immigration solicitor Vina Madhavji provides an overview of the Governments recent announcements during the COVID-19 lockdown in relation to those seeking Visa Extensions or seeking to switch to a long term visa where leave has expired since 24th January 2020 or due to expire by 31st May 2020.

The Home Office has announced that applications to switch to a different category of visa which would ordinarily require you to leave the UK to submit your application can be submitted from within the UK until 31 May 2020. Applications can be made online and the terms of your visa remain the same until the application is decided.

Furthermore, visa applications for an extension of leave to remain can still be made on the relevant form for your category of current leave. Online applications can still be made.

The Home Office guidance further confirms that if your visa expired since 24 January 2020 or is due to expire by 31 May 2020 then it will automatically be extended until 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19). You will need to make a notification to the Home Office if you were not intending to stay in the UK.

Further details can be found via the gov.uk website.

If you need advice on any immigration issue, contact Vina on 01254 31 12 82 or complete our online enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you.