WHAT IS THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): COVID VISA CONCESSION SCHEME (CVCS)

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): COVID VISA CONCESSION SCHEME (CVCS)

Patricia Marleau of our immigration team looks at the Covid Visa Concession Scheme (CVCS). If you left the UK before 17 March 2020 (or, in exceptional circumstances, after 17 March 2020) and your visa has since expired and you have been unable to return to the UK due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, we can help. Please contact our team for advice on 01905 900 919 or email patricia@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk.

On 11 January 2021, the Home Office published its guidance on the Covid Visa Concession Scheme (CVCS). The scheme is designed to help those who left the UK before 17 March 2020 with permission to live in the UK and their permission expired while they were abroad, unable to return to the UK due to coronavirus travel restrictions. Those who left the UK after 17 March 2020 are being considered in exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or death of a close relative overseas or travel for receiving medical treatment overseas.

Applications are made online (see https://hsforms.smartcdn.co.uk/form_208.html) and should ideally be made at least 21 calendar days prior to the planned date of travel. Applicants are not required to attend a visa application centre and enrol their biometric information. Once an application has been submitted, the applicant will receive a confirmation email from UK Visas and Immigration and will be required to reply within 48 hours for the application to be considered. A decision should be received within 10 working days.

Those who successfully applied under the CVCS are currently being granted entry clearance to the UK for 3 months to allow them to travel back and apply to extend their visa or for indefinite leave to remain. The Home Office has confirmed that absences caused by travel disruption due to pandemic will not count towards the 180-day limit to meet the continuous residence requirement as part of an indefinite leave to remain application.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

All travellers arriving in the UK are now required to bring proof of a negative coronavirus test and self-isolate for 10 days. The test must be taken in the 3 days before the departure date. The results must be in English, French or Spanish. An online passenger locator form must also be completed within 48 hours before arriving in the UK.

If you have any questions or require any assistance in these unprecedented times, please contact our team for advice on 01905 900 919 or email patricia@bradleyhayneslaw.co.uk.