Coronavirus and the UK immigration system (as of 06 April 2020)

Visa extensions and other concessions

If you are in the UK and your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020

Your visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

To get this extension, those affected must fill in an online form by the following link: https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/homeoffice/public/webform.asp?id=199&id2=5C97E7

The blurb on the online form says that “we’ll respond to you within 5 working days”. Replies to successful extension requests are worded as follows:

Your leave has been extended under existing conditions until 31 May 2020. You will not be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment in any future applications. However, you must make plans to leave as soon as you are able to do so. This will only apply where you hold an existing valid visa which has already expired or is due to do between 24 January and 31 May.

Between 24 March and 6 April, the Home Office wanted applications for an extension under this policy to be submitted by email to the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre. That set-up has since been replaced by the online form.

Switching

The guidance also includes information on switching visas. It allows people to “apply from the UK to switch to a long-term UK visa until 31 May 2020. This includes applications where you would usually need to apply for a visa from your home country”.