COVID-19: Home Office updates 30-day entry visa guidance

IMPACT – HIGH

The Home Office has updated its guidance for foreign nationals outside the U.K. whose recently approved 30-day entry visa to work, study or join family in the U.K. has expired or is due to expire.

Key Points:

• If the 30-day visa to travel to the U.K. has expired or is due to expire, a replacement visa can be requested free of charge until the end of 2020; however, foreign nationals cannot travel on an expired vignette and must follow the steps outlined below.
• Those affected are required to contact the Home Office’s Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre via email. The visa applicant’s name, nationality, date of birth and the ‘GWF’ visa application reference number must be provided. The subject line of the email must be entitled “REPLACEMENT 30 DAY VISA.”
• Affected applicants will be contacted once visa centers reopen to allow the replacement 30-day visa to be endorsed in the passport.
• Once they arrive in the U.K. on the re-issued 30-day visa label, they will be able to collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The guidance confirms any such individuals will not be penalized for late collection of the BRP while the COVID-19 measures are in place.

Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication.