COVID-19 Update: Progression to Phase 2
Towards the end of May 2020, the UK government published amended guidance to reveal that specified Visa Application Centres (VACs) and UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVACs) would open and resume services, albeit at a reduced capacity, from 1st June. The thoughts behind this localised approach is to commence a phased return of services as part of ‘Phase 1’. Should the opening of VACs and UKVACs on a localised level go well, the UK government will then look to open more VACs and seek to resume further services as part of ‘Phase 2’.
As of Tuesday 9th June 2020, UK Visas and Immigration and the Home Office were pleased to declare that they would begin the process of launching Phase 2. This means that from 22nd June 2020, additional VACs will open and recommence operations where local conditions permit.
The following VACs will open as of 22nd June
2020:
Adana
Alexandria
Amman
Ankara
Auckland
Baku
Bandar Seri Begawan
Banjul
Barcelona
Belgrade
Brussels
Bursa
Cairo
Changsha
Chengdu
Chiang Mai
Danang
Fuzhou
Gaziantep
Geneva
Hangzhou
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City
Istanbul
Izmir
Jinan
Kunming
Lisbon
Madrid
Nanjing
Osaka
Paris
Phnom Penh
Seoul
Shenyang
Shenzhen
Tokyo
Tunis
Wuhan
Xi’an
Included as part of Phase 2 will be the reopening of certain English Language Test Centres. It is advised that individuals contact their specific centre to see if they can book their English Language Test.
The UK quarantine rule still applies to individuals who are travelling into the UK from countries outside of the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Ireland. Individuals who do not comply with the quarantine conditions will be subject to financial penalties.
Should you have any queries regarding the above information or if you require legal assistance please get in touch with a legal professional at Hudson McKenzie via email at londoninfo@hudsonmckenzie.com or by telephone +44(0)20 3318 5794.
