Updated to include visa extension for healthcare workers whose visa expires between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. Find out more in the visa extensions for health workers during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance. Updated to clarify information for those in the UK whose visa will expire after 31 July 2020 but need to urgently make a new application. If conditions allowed you to work, study or rent accommodation you may continue to do so during the period of your exceptional assurance. Confirmation of your refund will be sent to you by email once we’ve made a decision on your application. Free one-year visa extensions will be automatically granted to eligible overseas health and care workers whose visas were due to expire before 1 October 2021. Frontline health workers from overseas will be given a free one-year UK visa extension, the Home Office says. Tourist Visa extension due to Covid-19. You can carry out supplementary work in any role at any skill level during the coronavirus outbreak. The government is committed to continuing to support overseas health and care workers and make it as easy as possible for talented people wanting to work in the sector to come to the UK. We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Added a link to guidance on how to cancel your visa. The free visa extension scheme for international nurses working in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic will continue for longer, the home secretary announced today. Most UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) have reopened for existing customers. The 12 month period you’re required to employ someone for can be made up of multiple jobs across different months but this must be equivalent to 2 full time jobs. You should clearly explain the compelling or compassionate reasons for your visit in your application form and alert the VAC staff during biometric submission. Employers will be relieved to hear that on 3 April, the Home Office finally published some guidance on the application of furlough to sponsored migrants in the UK. Their visas will be extended for a year, free of all fees and charges, including the Immigration Health Surcharge. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is issuing employment permits by email only during COVID-19. If you can’t leave the UK because you have coronavirus, you’ll need to submit confirmation of your positive coronavirus test result. You will need to clearly state that you’re making a subsequent application. If you cannot travel during this time, you may need to apply again to update your vignette. Do not contact the test centre directly. Approximately 170,000 overseas nationals from across 200 countries work for the NHS, many of whom have a UK visa that can be extended by 12 months. The Home Office has announced free UK visa extensions for overseas health workers. Updated to add information on the 5 working day response time for helpline emails. To help those staff from overseas, we are extending their visas to provide security while they continue to tackle this virus. You’ll need to pay the fee associated with your new application and request a refund for your earlier application. Updated to clarify for those whose visa or leave expires after 31 August 2020. You can read detailed guidance on the temporary measures in place for Student sponsors, their students and short-term students in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. If your ILR/ILE lapsed on or after 24 January 2020, and you’ve been unable to return to the UK due to travel restrictions in place relating to coronavirus, you may apply under the Returning Resident visa route to return to the UK and get indefinite leave. Updated information about how to submit request for exceptional assurance because of technical difficulties with the online form. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Coronavirus - if your visa is ending and you can’t leave the UK If your visa expires before the end of June 2021, you need to follow the coronavirus visa guidance on GOV.UK. Your endorsing body must provide you with an endorsement letter. Updated information if you’re in the UK and your leave expired between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020. Updated to add a link to the coronavirus immigration helpline contact form. This is advice for visa customers and applicants in the UK, visa customers outside of the UK and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus. For more information on how you can book your English Language Test, contact either: We have contacted you if you made an appointment to attend a UKVCAS that is still temporary closed to let you know it has been postponed. You do not need to contact the Coronavirus Immigration Helpline or mailbox again once you have replied to the confirmation email. If your endorsement from an endorsing body has expired because you’ve not been able to make an application for a visa, you may still be eligible. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you’ll have until 31 December 2021 to pass the exam. Amended ‘If you’re in the UK’ section, updating exceptional assurance visa or leave expiry date to 30 June 2021. Updated 'If you're outside the UK' section to include information about applying for a visa to the UK. Please note that if you wish to apply for a long term visa in the UK it is better to do this than to apply for a short UK visa extension to 31 May 2020. The Department of Health and Social Care has laid out a limited number of scenarios where an individual may apply for an exemption from the requirement to enter managed quarantine on arrival in the UK on medical and compassionate grounds. We will consider all applications on a case by case basis. Updated 'If you’re applying to enter the UK or remain on the basis of family or private life' section to explain that the period for requesting exceptional assurance has been extended. If you’re applying to enter the UK or remain on the basis of family or private life. The previous order authorised immigration officers to grant a 60 day extension at any time from September 29, 2020 to January 29, 2021. Please submit your request for an exceptional assurance by emailing cihassuranceteam@homeoffice.gov.uk with the following details: The subject header of your email should read “Request for an assurance”. You can find a list of all approved test centres outside the UK. On 26 March 2020, Workpermit.com reported that the Home Office would grant UK visa extensions to all foreign nationals stranded in Britain due to coronavirus. Please note that this is a chargeable service for overseas customers. If you do not reply to the confirmation email within 48 hours you must complete the form again for us to consider your request. Please check the travel advice issued by your carrier and check what you need to do before entering the UK. You’ll need to make sure you’re permitted to travel to that country beforehand. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases. You are expected to make your next application as soon as possible. You should also follow this guidance if you have a family visa (known as ‘leave to remain on the basis of family or private life’) and it expires between 1 March and 31 May 2021. This concession has been extended to 30 June 2021. If you have been in a country or territory on the: You must follow these rules even if you have been vaccinated. Get updates on UK travel advice, Europe travel ban, Italy travel advisory, France travel ban and many more. However, UK immigration advocates argue that a one-year visa extension is nowhere enough Visa nationals who cannot return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to extend their visa. LONDON — EU citizens are being detained and held in immigration removal centers after trying to enter the U.K. for work without visas or residence status, in a further blow to post-Brexit relations between Britain and the Continent. Guidance on travel from Red, Amber, Green list countries published. Use the subject heading ‘Returning Resident Refund Request’ followed by the GWF number you received when you submitted your application. Time when your employees were furloughed will count towards the 12 month period if they have been paid at least 80% of their normal salary. Your endorsement will be accepted if both: Applications that do not meet these requirements will be considered on a case by case basis. Most UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) have resumed services where local restrictions allow. If you’re advised that you must book an appointment at your nearest VAC to submit your passport application, you should check if it’s open. If your VAC is closed due to coronavirus restrictions, you can apply online and select a VAC in another country worldwide to submit your application and biometrics. As VACs reopen their services, we will prioritise returning customer passports. Updated to reference that most UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) have resumed services where local restrictions allow. We strongly advise that you only apply for a new visa, or apply to replace an expired vignette, when you are confident you can travel to the UK. Updated to add information on some VACs reopening. Anyone who has already travelled to the UK during thier current period of Tier 4/Student permission, will be able to make … We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. You’ll be asked to provide new supporting evidence. The information you provide will be sent to a caseworking team who will contact you to explain whether you may be eligible under the Covid Visa Concession Scheme and, if so, the next steps. 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