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27 Aug Appendix FM (family life) and Covid-19

Posted on August 27, 2021 in Spouses & Partners by
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Those applying for a visa under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, may be aware of the financial requirement.

If you wish to rely on salaried employment to meet the financial requirement, you will need to show a gross annual salary of £18,600. However, due to covid-19 some may have experienced a loss of income and therefore their salary may have dipped below £18,600.

Thankfully, the UKVI has put guidelines in place to help those affected by Covid-19. If you have experienced a loss of income up to 31 October 2021, the UKVI will consider your salary for the immediate period immediately before the loss of income, as long as received for a full 6-month period.

If you were furloughed and received a reduced salary, the UKVI will consider your income as if you were to receive 100% of it.

If you are self-employed and experienced a loss of annual income between 1 March 2020 and 31 October 2021, the latter can be disregarded.

Those applying to enter or remain the UK based on family/private life

Due to Covid-19, many migrants have struggled to return to the UK due to the travel restrictions in place. If your leave expired between 1 March 2020 and 19 July 2021, the UKVI will disregard an absence of up to 6 months, which means that there will not be a break in your continuous residence, and you will not face any future adverse immigration consequences.

However, the UKVI will expect you to make your next application as soon as possible on your return to the UK. If you have not made a valid application to stay upon your re-entry, you will need to make the necessary arrangements to leave the UK.

Those on a 6-month fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partnership visa under Appendix FM would have been expected to marry or enter a civil partnership within 6 months of arriving to the UK. However, if there is a good reason for not having been able to do so, you can apply for a 6-month extension in order to marry.

Contact Our Immigration Team

For expert advice regarding any aspect of the UK visa applications, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.

The content of this article is for general use and information only. Since each case should be prepared on its own merit and in light of the constant amendments to the Immigration Rules, it is important to note that the information provided must not be relied upon unless Migra & Co has either given written consent or has been officially engaged in relation to a specific immigration matter. As a result, Migra & Co will take no responsibility for any damage, cost or loss resulting from relying on the information contained in this article, blog and website.