Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 40621, on Visas: Married People, whether she has plans to waive fees for visa holders applying for extensions to family visas who are unable to marry before those visas expire as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account.

A fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner whose wedding or civil partnership is delayed due to COVID-19, can request an extension until 31 July by updating their records with the Coronavirus Immigration Team. (https://gov.smartwebportal.co.uk/homeoffice/public/ho_form.html)

The family Immigration Rules currently allows for an extension of leave if there is good reason for a wedding or civil partnership not taking place during the initial six-month period of leave to enter. Restrictions on giving notice to marry or delay to a wedding or civil partnership due to Covid-19 will be considered a good reason under this policy. Applicants are still required to pay the application fee and charges. They may otherwise be eligible to remain on the basis of exceptional circumstances.

These are unprecedented times and we may make further temporary adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate.