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Writer's pictureLatitude GB

What does Coronavirus mean for my Visa?


As the COVID-19 crisis escalates across the UK and Europe, it seems that more temporary travel restrictions are being put in place with each passing day.


Just this morning (March 18th), it was announced that the European Union will be enforcing a strict ban on travellers from outside its community for the next 30 days, in order to contain and curb the spread of the virus.


Closer to home, the UK has been preparing for an inevitable spike in cases, as it is reported the number of individuals known to have contracted the infection has risen to 2,626.

Woman in medical mask
The Home Office has issued emergency guidelines for Visa holders


Whilst many people across the UK are battening down the hatches and making plans to stay indoors, others are in an altogether more uncertain position – namely, migrants, visa-holders and low-wage workers.


With this in mind, we’ve extended our services to assist those who require emergency visa assistance.


For those from China who wish to switch from a Tier 2 Intra-company transfer visa to a Tier-2 General Visa, the Home Office is currently suspending the requirement for applicants to return to China to make the switch.


We can assist you with the entire application process whilst you remain in the UK, and can do so remotely if you are self-isolating.


For Chinese Nationals with a visa that is soon to expire, the Home Office has granted an automatic extension to your visa until March 31st.

If you know you want to stay beyond that period, we suggest that you begin your application now – we can assist you every step of the way, and provide guidance on what to do next.



Couple in a kitchen
We want to ensure that your time spent at home is worry-free

For Tier 4 Students and Tier 2 or 5 Employees who have missed work due to illness or isolation, The Home Office has offered guidance to Sponsors not to withdraw sponsorship due to the exceptional circumstances.


However, whether or not your sponsorship continues remains at your sponsor’s discretion. If you are worried about your sponsorship status, we can offer immediate support and advice on how to proceed.


Due to the high volume of enquiries directed at the Home Office, we are looking to use our immigration expertise to ease the burden on public information services by offering free consultations to anyone who needs them.

We've already had great success in securing both visa category switches and extensions from within the UK for those of our clients that hail from Mainland China.


If any of the above circumstances apply to you, get in touch with us today.

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