Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided to sponsored workers currently not in the UK and unable to return due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to take account of COVID-19 travel restrictions when calculating the number of days that a Tier 2 visa applicant has been outside of the UK.

The Government has published a range of immigration information for those affected by COVID, including those sponsored to work in the UK. COVID immigration information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.

The Government will not penalise individuals affected by issues relating to COVID which are beyond their control. Whilst cases will need to be considered on a case by case basis, we will not penalise people who have been outside of the UK for longer than normally permitted where the absence is as a result of COVID travel restrictions, at the point at which they come to apply for a new visa or indefinite leave to remain.