UK advisory for visa applicants and temporary residents

The UK government’s advisory, last updated on May 12, concerns visa applicants and temporary residents that are impacted by COVID-19 special measures.

Those in the UK with their leave to remain expiring between January 24 and May 31, 2020, will have their visas extended till May 31, 2020 if they are unable to leave the UK, either due to travel restriction or owing to being in COVID-19 self-isolation.

If, however, the individual intends staying in the UK long-term with their leave expiring between January 24 and May 31, they can apply from the UK for switching over to a long-term UK visa. The application can be made until May 31, 2020.

This includes applications wherein the applicant would usually be required to apply for the visa from their home country. Requirements of the route applying under would have to be met and the UK application fee to be paid.

Applications can be made online. Terms of the leave will remain the same till a decision is given on the application.

Those on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa and facing business disruption will no longer be required to employ a minimum of 2 people for 12 consecutive months each. The 12-month period of employment requirement can be made up of multiple jobs over different months.

The time period when employees were furloughed will not be counted towards the 12-month period.

Individuals that have applied for a Tier 4 visa and are awaiting a decision on their application, can start with their studies or course before the visa application has been decided, provided certain conditions are met.

These include –

-        Sponsor being a Tier 4 sponsor

-        Having been given a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies [CAS]

-        Having submitted an application before the expiry of their current visa, evidence for the same will have to be shown to the sponsor

-        The course to be started is the same as mentioned on their CAS

-        Having a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme [ATAS] certificate, if needed

Note. – If the application is rejected later as being found to be invalid or refused altogether, the individual must stop their studies or course.

Those that have applied for a Tier 2 or Tier 5 visa and are awaiting a decision on their application, can start work before a decision is given on their visa application, provided certain conditions are met.

These conditions include –

-        Being assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship [CoS]

-        Having submitted an application prior to the expiry of the current visa, evidence for the same will have to be shown to the sponsor

-        The job that will be started is the same as in CoS

Note. In case the application is refused or rejected being found to be invalid, the sponsor will have to stop sponsoring. The individual must stop working for them.

The UK government has also made changes in the restrictions on the number of hours that certain visa holders can volunteer or work in the UK. There is no longer any limit of the number of hours that an individual can work or volunteer per week if they are working for the NHS, if the individual is –

-        Tier 4 student

-        Tier 2 worker and their NHS job is a secondary job for them

-        Visiting academic researcher

-        Holder of a short-term UK visa and permitted to volunteer

Those applying for Innovator, Start-up or Global Talent visa are advised to make their application as per plan. All applications shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for such visas that have their endorsement from an endorsing body expiring due to being unable to travel to the UK might still be eligible for a visa.

Those with their 30-day UK visa for working, studying, or joining family in the UK either expired or due to expire soon, can request a replacement visa. They can apply free-of-charge for the replacement visa with revised validity dates. Applications can be made until the end of 2020.

If you are looking to Study in the UK, Invest, Work, Visit, or Migrate to the UK, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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