Covid-19: Doctors’ visas are automatically extended for one year – Katie Newbury quoted in the BMJ

Katie Newbury, senior associate in our immigration team, is quoted in The BMJ on the government's announcement that they will automatically extend doctor's visas for one year during the Covid-19 crisis. She welcomes this announcement but says it lack detail.
 

For those who are on tier 2 sponsored visas, it’s relatively easy to see how this will apply. But for those, for example, who are here as spouses of British citizens, it’s less clear.

Clarity is needed imminently because people may be relying on this announcement and not extending their visas.

An apology from the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, does little to right the wrongs of the Home Office. The compensation scheme set up last year has been slow to reach victims, many of whom are still struggling to rebuild their lives. I urge the Home Secretary to review the current laws that continue to create the hostile environment, as a matter of priority."
 

The full article from The BMJ can be read here: Covid-19: doctors’ visas are automatically extended for one year

About the author

Katie Newbury is a senior associate in the immigration team and has over 10 years' experience across a wide spectrum of UK immigration matters, with particular expertise in applications made under Tier 1 of the Points Based System and complex personal immigration matters.  

She regularly provides commentary on the workings of the UK Immigration Rules and is often involved in lobbying the Home Office, including in relation to the design of a future post-Brexit UK immigration system.