Employment and Immigration Law Update – Gradual re-opening of visa application centres
25 June 2020
Visa application centres in the UK and around the world are slowly starting to re-open. Applicants in the UK still cannot book biometric appointments in the usual way.
Only a handful of centres have opened so far and they are operating with limited capacity due to social distancing. As there is a backlog of people waiting to book, UKVCAS are adopting a staggered approach. They first opened appointments to those who had previously made a booking, but had it cancelled due to the lockdown. They are now starting to work through other applicants based on when their application was submitted.
A list of the UKVCAS service points and when they are expected to open is now available.
Outside the UK, VFS and TLS are re-opening centres as and when permitted by local rules. You can find the latest information from TLS and VFS on their websites.
Even once biometrics have been enrolled, the Home Office is warning that visa processing times are likely to be extended. It remains the case that no priority or super priority services are available. If you have any concerns or questions about your status or what you can /cannot do whilst an application is pending, please contact a member of our Immigration Team.
This article is from the June 2020 issue of Employment and Immigration Law Update, our monthly newsletter for HR professionals. To download the latest issue, please visit the newsletter section of our website. For further information please contact a member of Birketts’ Immigration Team.
The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at June 2020.