目前英国疫情拐点还未出现。在接下来的一段时间里，英国的抗疫之路可能还会更加艰巨。我们无法预测疫情到底会持续多久，只知道，在过去的一个月里，
疫情让英国人的生活发生了翻天覆地的变化。
签证“ 逾期 ”申请新路径
在这场疫情中，还有一群这样的人，他们不是英国公民没有永居，但却被迫滞留在英国回不了家。
他们可能是在英国的海外雇员，可能是留学生，可能是探亲访友，也可能只是游客，因为航班停飞，边境限制或者其他原因暂时回不了国，可是眼看着签证就要到期了，不知如何是好。
签证自动延期
英国移民局同样关注到了这一群体并发布消息：受疫情影响（不可抗力如航班取消，边境关闭）滞留在英国境内且签证在 2020 年 1 月 24 日至 2020 年 5 月 31 日到期的海外国民，签证有效期将延至 2020 年 5 月 31 日。
同时，申请人需要联系 CIT （冠状病毒移民）团队，进行报备并确认自己是否符合“ 自动延期 ”人群。
值得一提的是，若是 NHS 前线医护人员（连同家属），签证将在 2020 年 10 月 1 日之前到期的，将自动签证延期一年，且无需申请和支付费用。
签证延期报备新路径
而就在 4 月 6 日，英国移民局更新了最新“ 签证延期至 5 月 31 日的在线申请表格 ”。
申请链接：
https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/homeoffice/public/webform.asp?id=199&id2=5C97E7
申请指引原文
COVID-19 UK Visas & Immigration form - visa extension to 31 May 2020
Background
No individual of any nationality whose leave has expired or is due to expire between 24 January 2020 and 31 May 2020, and who cannot leave the UK because of COVID-19, will be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment in the future.
If you already have leave in the UK and planned to extend your leave when it expires, you do not need to complete this form. Please continue to apply using the appropriate online application form.
Instructions
If you were not intending to apply to extend your leave and cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19, please use the form below to provide us with your details. If you’re eligible for an extension of leave to 31 May 2020, we’ll update your immigration records to reflect your circumstances.
Please complete the form, in English only, with as much information as possible. If you’re unable to provide any of the information or it’s not applicable to you (for instance if you entered the UK without needing a visa), please enter ‘Not known’ or ‘Not applicable’ in the relevant box.
You may wish to take a screenshot of the completed form before submitting it, for your own records.
If your email address is entered correctly, soon after submitting the form you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. Once that’s done you don’t need to contact the Coronavirus Immigration Helpline or mailbox and we’ll respond to you within 5 working days.
How we use your data
The Home Office will use the personal information you provide to consider your request. We may also share your information with other public and private sector organisations in the UK and overseas. For more detail please see the Privacy Notice for the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship system. This also sets out your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 and explains how you can access your personal information and complain if you have concerns about how we are using it.
简单来说可以分为以下两种情况
- 你若是原计划就打算申请现有签证的续签，你无需填写该表格，遵循正常的线上续签手续即可
- 你若原计划是在签证有效期内离开英国，但是由于不可抗力被迫滞留无法离境，你就需要填写这份表格向移民局报备
移民局在收到报备后，正常情况下 5 个工作日内申请人会收到通知，符合条件的人签证有效期也将自动延长至 2020 年 5 月 31 日，且不会影响到未来的签证申请。
