Coronavirus and the UK immigration system (as of 29 April 2020)

UK visa application centres

Outside the UK

All UK visa application centres overseas are closed.

The Home Office says that those with appointments at a closed visa centre should be contacted. Those awaiting a decision and who want their passport back should contact the company which runs the visa centre in question (either TLScontact or VFS Global). But “if applicants are concerned about their passport, they can contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team at [email protected]”.

As mentioned above, those with a visa for travel to the UK that they haven’t been able to use before it expires can now request a free replacement.

Free visa extensions will be automatically granted to more crucial overseas health and care workers

Frontline workers, including midwives, radiographers, social workers and pharmacists, with visas due to expire before 1 October 2020 will receive an automatic one-year extension. It will apply to those working both in the NHS and independent sector and include their family members.

The extension comes into effect immediately and is for all visas expiring between 31 March and 1 October 2020. Those benefitting from this extension will be identified by health and care employers across the UK. Any NHS workers who have paid for an unresolved application will be offered the option of a refund.

The Home Secretary has also confirmed family members and dependants of healthcare workers who sadly pass away as result of contracting the virus will be offered immediate indefinite leave to remain.