Visitor visa application - remaining in the UK beyond the validity of your visa

[dhamu1981]

Dear All,

Asking this query on behalf of someone who is applying for a visitor visa. There is a question about overstay in Standard visitor visa application asking about remaining in the UK beyond the validity of your visa or permission to stay.

During their previous UK visit, their return travel was delayed due COVID lockdown and restriction on flights in 2020. Their visitor visa expired on 31/07/2020. They were able to travel back 16 days after the visa expiry on 16/08/2020 on a special flight.

They reached out to Coronavirus Immigration Helpline before the visa expiry and received an email confirmation with a link stating that a delay was allowed since the visa expiry date falls between 24/01/2020 and 31/08/2020.

Their query is whether they should fill the visitor visa application now by mentioning that there was a overstay due to Covid. Or can they ignore this overstay if it not required to mention in the application since everyone had an automatic visa extension at that time due to Covid lockdown and restrictions on flight travel.

Your guidance and support is very much appreciated.

[AmazonianX]

Dear All,

Asking this query on behalf of someone who is applying for a visitor visa. There is a question about overstay in Standard visitor visa application asking about remaining in the UK beyond the validity of your visa or permission to stay.

During their previous UK visit, their return travel was delayed due COVID lockdown and restriction on flights in 2020. Their visitor visa expired on 31/07/2020. They were able to travel back 16 days after the visa expiry on 16/08/2020 on a special flight.

They reached out to Coronavirus Immigration Helpline before the visa expiry and received an email confirmation with a link stating that a delay was allowed since the visa expiry date falls between 24/01/2020 and 31/08/2020.

Their query is whether they should fill the visitor visa application now by mentioning that there was a overstay due to Covid. Or can they ignore this overstay if it not required to mention in the application since everyone had an automatic visa extension at that time due to Covid lockdown and restrictions on flight travel.

Your guidance and support is very much appreciated.

Declare it in the application, evidence getting the concession during covid with upload of the email received for this.

[dhamu1981]

Thank you Amazonian for your response.

Please see below the email response they received at that time.

It does not specifically say that their visa is extended, the links provided by them in the email have updated information now and they no longer say that people are allowed to stay until 31/08/2020 on their expired visas.

Hope it is okay to still share this email as evidence along with the original email the visa holders shared about the expiring visa and the circumstances of Covid restrictions.

———-

Thank you for contacting the Home Office Coronavirus Immigration Team.

We have already put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak where leave expired between 24 January and 31 July and are considering further adjustments.

Please continue to visit our website for further updates at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

The latest travel advice can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advi ... oronavirus


Coronavirus Immigration Team

[dhamu1981]

Thank you Amazonian for your response.

Please see below the email response they received at that time.

It does not specifically say that their visa is extended, the links provided by them in the email have updated information now and they no longer say that people are allowed to stay until 31/08/2020 on their expired visas.

Hope it is okay to still share this email as evidence along with the original email the visa holders shared about the expiring visa and the circumstances of Covid restrictions.

———-

Thank you for contacting the Home Office Coronavirus Immigration Team.

We have already put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak where leave expired between 24 January and 31 July and are considering further adjustments.

Please continue to visit our website for further updates at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -residents

The latest travel advice can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advi ... oronavirus


Coronavirus Immigration Team

[AmazonianX]

Yes it suffices to be used.

[dhamu1981]

Thank you very much Amazonian for your help!