Apply to enter UK from abroad or remain in the UK on basis of family or private life before July 31: New immigration rules to come effect from Jan 1

LONDON July 13: Temporary concessions are put in place if you’re unable to meet the requirements of the family Immigration Rules to enter or remain in the UK due to coronavirus.

Up to 31 July 2020 applicants in the UK as a visitor or with leave of up to 6 months can switch into a family or private life route provided the requirements of the Immigration Rules are otherwise met, UK government updated on its website last week.

If you’re unable to travel back to the UK due to coronavirus travel restrictions and your leave has expired, a short break in continuous residence will be overlooked. You are expected to make your next application as soon as possible.

If you’re here with 6 months’ leave as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and your wedding or civil ceremony has been delayed due to coronavirus, you can either request an extension until 31 July 2020 by updating your records with the Coronavirus Immigration Team, or apply to extend your stay for a further 6 months to allow the ceremony to take place.

If you need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months please follow the below rules or visit the website

If you’re outside the UK

You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

spouse or partner

fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

child

parent

relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

If you’re visiting the UK for 6 months or less, check if you need a Standard Visitor visa or Marriage Visitor visa.

If you’re in the UK

You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa.

If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your:

spouse or partner

child

parent

You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you’ve lived in the UK for many years already. Visit the Government website to know further details.

https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel is set to unveil details of how the UK’s points-based immigration system – which will come into effect on January 1 after freedom of movement ends – will operate.

The new immigration system is designed to cut the number of low-skilled migrants entering Britain from the beginning of next year, but aims to make it easier for higher-skilled workers to get UK visas.

People who want to live and work in the UK will need to gain 70 points to be eligible to apply for a visa. Points will be awarded for key requirements like being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold.

A health and care visa will provide a route for key health professionals to work in the UK, while a graduate route will allow international students to stay in the UK for at least two years after completing their studies.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would “scrutinise the proposals on visas very carefully”.

“The Government has rushed through immigration legislation with very little detail in the middle of a global pandemic. There are real concerns that this will cause major problems for our NHS and our care sector, at a time when we are still waiting for the Government to make good on their promise to scrap the unfair immigration health surcharge for workers who were being charged to access the very services they were keeping going to help others during the toughest of times.”