UK visa application and the issue of visas have been delayed due to COVID-19. HO reactivated the immigration system and reopened visa centres since the UK government partially lifted lockdown from 1^st of June.

To limit the spread of infection, International travellers arriving in the UK on or after 8 June 2020 are being told to go into quarantine for two weeks and must self-isolate.

Those without accommodation lined up “will be required to self-isolate in facilities arranged by the government”. The quarantine is very full-on: those subject to it “should not leave their accommodation for 14 days”.

If the entry clearance (vignette) is expired, the applicant should re apply for the replacement before entering the UK. The Home Office advertised the concession for people who have secured entry clearance to the UK however was unable to use it before it expired in 30 days. If 30 days visa(vignette) to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family has expired, or is about to expire, the applicant can request a replacement visa with revised validity dates free of charge until the end of this year.

In order to get the free replacement, email the coronavirus helpline with “your name, nationality, date of birth and your GWF reference number” and put REPLACEMENT 30 DAYS VISA as the subject line.

All UK visa application centres overseas were closed for some time but some are now re-opening. VFS Global announced a “phased resumption of services in certain Visa Application Centres” from 1 June. More centres are expecting to re-open depends on each country. The opening centres are in Australia, New Zealand, some cities in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand.

All visa application centres within the UK phased re-opening of Service Points from 1 June 2020. But no new appointments can be made for now. The centres will only be working through customers who had an appointment cancelled: “if you did not have an existing appointment, prior to the suspension of the service, you will not be able to book an appointment at this time”.

Those who are being offered a rescheduled appointment should get an email “explaining the next steps they need to take to rebook their appointment”. Applicants who made application after 1st June needs to wait for some time to book an appointment.

Migrants whose visa stipulates that they can have “no recourse to public funds (NRPF)” are in a difficult position. Without access to benefits to make up for loss of work, many face destitution. Government guidance issued on 23 April says that there is some support available to migrants with no recourse to public funds, including:

But the Government hasn’t announced a blanket policy to change NRPF restrictions. However, it is expected that NRPF might change. The High Court found on 7 May that aspects of the no recourse policy are unlawful. As a result, the Home Office updated its policy on applying to have the condition lifted where the person is only “at risk of becoming destitute”, as opposed to already destitute. Revised Home Office guidance should make it easier for migrants with family visas or private life visa holders to claim benefits if necessary.