According to the CVCS (Covid Visa Concession Scheme), that is announced by the Home Office on 12.01.2021, people whose residence/visa period has expired can be granted a 3-month UK entry clearance by preserving their former rights, without the need for a new application. Those who would apply for an extension will also be able to apply. The dates they could not travel will be compensated so that they could apply for indefinite leave to remain when they are eligible.
According to the published announcement, the conditions determined for you to be included in this concession scheme are as follows:
Having left the UK before/on 17 March 2020 and still being outside the UK
Have never entered the UK after 2020 Not being able to return to the UK due to COVID-19 travel restrictions before your visa permit expires
Your visa period must have expired as of yesterday (11.01.2021). People with a valid visa/residency will not benefit from this privilege.
People meeting the above requirements and wishing to return to the UK can apply for an extension once their eligibility has been recognized by the UKVI department.
If you left the UK before 17 March 2020 and have never been able to enter again due to travel restrictions, you will be able to start the process by filling out a SMART form on gov.uk, with the following rules to be announced very soon. You will not need to go to any Visa Application Centre.
If you have applied for a UK visa within this period (entry clearance), you can inform the Home Office so that you can still qualify for a 3-month “Leave Outside the Rules” (LOTR) visa without having to withdraw your visa application and start the CVCS process from scratch.
Additionally, individuals leaving the UK after 17 March 2020 can also apply for a CVCS assessment. At this point, you should definitely notify and explain why you have left the UK. For example, if a relative of yours is seriously ill or dies outside the UK, or you travel outside the UK to receive medication, etc.
Although the announcement made regarding the CVCS does not have many details, it is very pleasing news for our clients who could not travel to the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak. We will share more detailed information with you when the details are announced.
Please click for more.