A list of some resources to keep up to date with the pandemic's impact on immigration and asylum
With stricter measures introduced yesterday by the Government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be further major changes to all aspects of the immigration and asylum system.
This brief page offers links to some useful information sources on the Internet to enable you to keep up to date with developments.
• The Home Office today published its important Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents. It states: "Your visa will be extended to 31 May 2020 if you cannot leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19). You must contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) to update your records if your visa is expiring.".
• The Home Office also has guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and immigration removal centres.
• The Home Office's page on Immigration reporting centres currently says: "Following Public Health England's advice on coronavirus (COVID-19), the Home Office has decided that reporting as a condition of immigration bail should be temporarily deferred while it reviews how frequently people should report. You will receive an SMS text message soon with details of your next reporting date."
• The Home Office's page on Visas and immigration Service and Support Centres currently says: "UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have temporarily closed Service and Support Centres (SSCs) because of coronavirus (COVID-19) ... If you’ve already made an appointment to attend an SSC, UKVI will be contacting you to cancel it. You’ll be told when you can book a new appointment.
• Keep up to date with legal developments at ILPA's Coronavirus resources section (sorted by date here) and ILPA's Twitter account.
The Refugee Council has a page on Changes to Home Office Asylum & Resettlement policy and practice in response to Covid-19.
• Free Movement has a detailed page on Coronavirus and the UK immigration system that is regularly updated with the latest information.
• Right to Remain has a page on changes to the asylum and immigration process due to Covid-19 that is regularly updated.
• Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) has published a factsheet on Covid-19 and asylum support.
• For information on Covid-19 and immigration detention, keep up to date at Detention Action's website and the Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) COVID-19 News page.
• Covid Mutual Aid UK is a group of volunteers supporting local community groups organising mutual aid throughout the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK.
• JCWI, Migrants Organise, and Medact have put together a short guide for Mutual Aid groups to consider how best to support at risk migrants, which is available here on Google Docs.