New Information for Migrants due to COVID-19

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

If you are on Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa and you no longer need to employ at least 2 people for 12 consecutive months each, the 12 month period you are required to employ someone for can be made up of multiple employees across different months.
Time when your employees were furloughed will not count towards the 12 month period.
If you have not been able to employ staff for 12 months in total by the time your visa expires, you will be allowed to temporarily extend your stay to give you time to meet the requirement.

Tier 4 visa

If you are waiting for a decision on your application you can start your course or studies before your visa application has been decided if:
• your sponsor is a Tier 4 sponsor
• you have been given a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)
• you submitted your application before your current visa expired and you show your sponsor evidence of this
• the course you start is the same as the one listed on your CAS
• you have a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if required
If your application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused you must stop your course or studies.

Tier 2 or 5 visa

If you waiting for a decision on your application you can start work before your visa application has been decided if:
• you have been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• you submitted your application before your current visa expired and you show your sponsor evidence of this
• the job you start is the same as the one listed on your CoS
If your application is eventually rejected as invalid or refused your sponsor will stop sponsoring you and you must stop working for them.

If you are applying for a Global Talent, Start-up or Innovator visa

If your endorsement from an endorsing body has expired because you have not been able to travel to the UK you may still be eligible for a visa. You should make your application as planned and we will consider all applications on a case by case basis.

For a free confidential discussion about your immigration matter and how it will have an impact during the COVID-19 spread, call us on 0203 983 5080 or fill in the form for a call back.