Anyone wishing to stay in the UK for the long term should use the grace period to request the necessary leave.
London:
The UK government on Thursday released new guidance offering a one-month grace period for all expiring or expired visas of foreign nationals, including Indians, unable to return to their home countries due to the coronavirus pandemic , until August 31.
The extension, originally announced until May 31 and then extended to July 31, has been extended for an additional month and will apply to anyone whose leave to stay in the UK expired after January 24 and who still cannot leave the country due to travel restrictions. or self-isolation.
“As global travel restrictions have started to lift, it is only fitting that this generous, but temporary concession be closed with a one-month grace period until August 31 to make arrangements to return home. “said a spokesperson for the UK Home Office.
“Across the immigration system, this government has put measures in place to help those affected by travel and health restrictions around the world throughout this pandemic.
“This includes the granting of over 40,000 visa extensions for those whose visas were expired between January 24, 2020 and July 31, 2020, and the relaxation of the rules on change in the UK,” said the spokesperson.
The Home Office said it will also keep in place the relaxation of visa change rules to allow those who wish to remain in the UK to submit an application to allow them to do so during the grace period. .
He stressed that anyone wishing to stay in the UK for the long term should use the grace period to apply for the necessary permission to stay in the UK.
“We recognize that during this period, individuals may have exceeded the length of their leave due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” notes a guide from the Home Office.
“Therefore, for people whose visa or leave expired between January 24, 2020 and July 31, 2020, there will be no future negative consequences on immigration solely on the basis of extended leave periods that took place between January 24, 2020 and August 31, 2020. We will formalize this specific commitment within the framework of immigration rules, ”the guidance notes.
He added that a “compassionate and pragmatic approach” will be taken with compensation claims to allow someone to leave the UK at a date after August 31, if they are still unable to take the plane on time.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel previously said visa extensions were a way to give people “peace of mind” during the coronavirus lockdown across the world.
Many foreign nationals, including Indians, have found themselves unable to return home since the coronavirus outbreak due to flight cancellations and border restrictions.
The latest extension of the grace period until the end of August comes as the fifth phase of Vande Bharat’s mission to repatriate Indians stranded abroad begins, including flights planned from the London Heathrow Airport to various Indian cities over the coming weeks.
(This story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
