The government has recently issued advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents who are in the UK with visas expiring between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020. Their visas visas will be extended until 31 May 2020 ONLY if they CANNOT LEAVE the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to COVID-19.
THIS POLICY THEREFORE DOES NOT APPLY FOR MIGRANTS ON LONG-TERM VISAS IN THE UK (SPOUSE, POINTS-BASED SYSTEM MIGRANTS ETC.) REQUIRING A REGULAR EXTENSION WITHIN THE UK, FOR EXAMPLE SPOUSES REQUIRING EXTENSION AFTER 2,5 YEARS.
Such applicants must meet all the requirements, pay all the fees and submit their online applications as usual before the expiry of their current visas. If they do not do that, they will become overstayers in the UK.
Most of the biometric enrolment centres in the UK are currently closed due to the pandemic. This however will not affect migrants adversely if they make their online applications in time. They will be able to enrol their biometric details as required once the centres reopen.
Furthermore, the Home Office now allows migrants to switch to a long-term UK visas from within the UK until 31 May 2020 where individuals are normally required to apply from their home countries. For example, a visitor could apply to switch to a partner/ spouse visa from within the UK until 31 May 2020 provided they meet all the requirements and pay the application fees.