UPDATE
The UKVI has issued guidance for individuals in the UK who are unable to return to China.
For Chinese nationals in the UK whose visa has recently expired or is about to expire
If you are a Chinese national in the UK and have been compliant with the conditions of your visa prior to the coronavirus outbreak, your leave will be automatically extended to 31 March 2020 if your visa has an expiry date between 24 January 2020 and 30 March 2020.
You don’t need to do anything to get this extension. Your new expiry date (31 March 2020) will be added to UK Visa Immigration’s systems.
You will be subject to the same immigration conditions as your last visa during the extension period.
You will not automatically receive a new visa or Biometric Residence Permit card.
If you have already applied to extend your visa you don’t need to do anything.
If you are intending to apply to extend your stay in the UK before 31 March 2020 you should continue to do so.
Non-Chinese, non-EEA nationals in the UK normally resident in China
If you are a non-Chinese or non-EEA national in the UK but are normally resident in China and your visa in the UK has an expiry date between 24 January 2020 and 30 March 2020 you should contact the coronavirus immigration helpline.
The team will be able to extend your visa to 31 March 2020 if you can demonstrate you are normally resident in China.
You will be subject to the same immigration conditions as your last visa during the extension period.
Switching to a Tier 2 category in the UK
If you are a Chinese national in the UK on a Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer visa and want to switch to a Tier 2 General visa you normally need to return to China to make your application.
You can exceptionally apply to switch from a Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer to a Tier 2 General visa from within the UK if your visa has an expiry date between 24 January 2020 and 30 March 2020.
You will still need to pay the relevant fee and meet all the requirements of a Tier 2 General visa.
Individuals whose passport is at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in China
It is not possible to demand the return of any documents from the VACs in China as they are currently closed.
Individuals should contact their national authorities or consular representatives for alternative travel documents if they need to travel urgently.
The Home Office is monitoring the situation and as soon as they are able to re-open the VACs they will prioritise the return of all documents.
IELTS
The British Council has suspended all the IELTS tests from now until 23 February 2020 in China, Macau and Hong Kong. However, affected test takers can defer their test to a future date within next 3 months free of charge:
– Mainland China – tests currently suspended until 1 March 2020
– Macau SAR – tests currently suspended until 1 March 2020
– Hong Kong SAR – tests currently suspended until 24 February 2020
– Mongolia – tests currently suspended until 1 March 2020
China
Currently, all Visa Application Centres and Test Centres in China are closed.
Hong Kong
The UK visa centre in Hong Kong remain open.
Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) in Hong Kong
From 10 February 2020 onwards the Hong Kong Police Force will only be offering 60 places a day for applicants without appointments. Alternatively, applicants can make an appointment through the Online Booking System
We will continue to update this page with information. If you have any queries in relation to these matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Useful links:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-immigration-guidance-if-youre-unable-to-return-to-china-from-the-uk
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
https://ielts.britishcouncil.org.hk/iorps/html/registration/selectExamTypeServlet.do?vEngine=
https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/cert_no_crime.html
