A2020uk wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:07 pm
On the UK visa coronavirus section, the government have mentioned to legalise your stay you are able to apply within the uk for cases where you would normally apply from outside. So if that’s the case he should be able to extend from within the country ?
No. With respect, I would strongly discourage you from trying to give your friend amateur immigration advice.
You have ignored or misunderstood the next paragraph in the guidance you have cited. It goes on to say "You’ll need to meet the requirements of the route you’re applying for ..." A requirement of an application made in the UK under the Student Route includes demonstrating academic progress. See paragraphs ST 14.1 to ST 14.5 of
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... ix-student
There is specific COVID-19 guidance for students and universities at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... m-students. It confirms at paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8 that there are two COVID-related concessions on academic progress, but neither of them will allow your friend to apply in the UK. One is for people completing a course that is delayed due to the pandemic, the other is for people progressing to a course at the same level or picking up a previous course after an integrated Masters or PhD/MPhil.
Your friend's university cannot confirm academic progress on the CAS, nor cite any concession about that, so they have correctly advised him that he can only apply in his home country. It is likely that they will withhold the CAS until he can show that he has travelled home.
I do not give immigration advice. I refer you to Immigration Rules, guidance, other online content and to your sponsor.