Many of those who applied for a visa outside the UK and were granted their 30 day vignette to enter, but were unable to travel due to the virus, had been left in a limbo of what to do. There was an increasing worry amongst people having to incur extra costs to apply for a replacement.
The UKVI have updated their guidance today and have given much needed guidance on this issue:
If your 30 day visa to work, study or join family has expired
If your 30 day visa to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family has expired, or is about to expire, you can request a replacement visa with revised validity dates free of charge until the end of this year.
To make a request, contact the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre. You’ll need to include your name, nationality, date of birth and your GWF reference number with ‘REPLACEMENT 30 DAY VISA’ in the subject line. If you’ve already contacted us about this, please let us know in your email.
You’ll be contacted when our VAC’s reopen to arrange for a replacement visa to be endorsed in your passport.
You will not be penalised for being unable to collect your BRP while coronavirus measures are in place.
This process will be in place until the end of 2020.
We are pleased that UKVI have taken positive steps to help those stuck overseas and that the process is free of charge. Now the question remains as to when the VAC’s open and how much backlog there will be.
If you have any questions or require our assistance with your immigration matter, please call us on 01403 801801 or contact us on [email protected]