UK Visa and Immigration Application Services to Resume
Somewhat paradoxically, as the UK gets ready to impose a 14-day quarantine period on most travellers arriving in the UK from 8 June 2020 (see our earlier posts here and here), the Home Office and its partners have announced that they are starting to resume UK visa and immigration application services again.
Applications for leave to remain, settlement and citizenship in the UK
Some UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) will reopen for existing customers on 1 June 2020.
It is understood that initially only applicants who have already booked an appointment to attend a UKVCAS application centre and who have had their appointment deferred will be able to progress their applications. Such applicants will be contacted and told what to do next. It is not currently possible to book a new appointment at a UKVCAS service point.
The following UKVCAS service points will re-open for existing customers from 1 June:
- Birmingham
- Birmingham Premium Lounge
- Chelmsford
- Croydon
- Exeter
- Leeds
- London Mark Lane Premium Lounge
- London Victoria
- Manchester Fountain Street Enhanced Service Point
- Manchester Premium Lounge
- Sheffield
- Southampton
Service and Support Centres (SSCs) will remain closed because of coronavirus.
Applications for UK visas from outside the UK
The Home Office has also announced that some UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) are resuming services, where local restrictions allow.
It is understood that only applicants who have already booked an appointment to attend a UK Visa Application Centre and who have had their appointment deferred will be able to progress their applications at this stage. Where services are resuming, such applicants will be contacted and told what to do next. It is not currently possible to book a new appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre.
If you are hoping to apply for a UK visa, you should check the websites of TLS contact (for Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East) or VFS global (for all other countries) for status updates in your country.
English Language Tests
Some English Testing Centres are also resuming services.
If you are waiting to take an English Language Test in support of a UK visa or immigration application, we recommend that you visit the IELTS’s website, the Pearson Test of English website or the LanguageCert website or contact your test centre for more information and how you can book your Secure English Language Test.
Contact our Immigration Barristers
For expert advice and assistance preparing a UK visa or immigration application, contact our immigration barristers and lawyers in London on 0203 617 9173 or complete our online enquiry form below.
