Trying to cancel visa due to coronavirus

[smithica]

Hello,

I wish to cancel my son's UK visa. I have emailed CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk with subject line "POST BIOMETRIC REFUND REQUEST" with our details 8 June 2021 and got an Auto response but have heard nothing further as of 8 July 2021. I emailed again today. Does anyone else have feedback about this email's response time? Are there any further channels for me to get a response?

My wife is British by descent, I am Australian, our 2 children are born in Australia.
We had planned to migrate from Australia to the UK May 2020. I was granted a spousal visa, and our first born son has a visa as a dependent. We intended to pursue citizenship for our son through MN1 Section 3(5) after residing in the UK 3 years. Unfortunately, we have been unable to leave Australia due to coronavirus. In the intermediate time, we have had a second child. I want to cancel my first son's visa and apply to register both children as citizens under MN1 Section 3(2) as we can no longer afford to pursue 3(5) for two children. Also, we have no definite travel date as the Australian government has a ban on residents leaving the country.

I don't want to submit the MN1 Section 3(2) application until I have confirmed the visa is cancelled. I expect to get a refund for the IHS fee we have paid and I am hopeful we can get an application refund as our travel plans have been out of our control due to Covid.

Many thanks
Jess

[CR001]

You cannot cancel a visa that has already been granted.

You also cannot get a refund of visa fees after a visa has been granted.

[secret.simon]

I expect to get a refund for the IHS fee we have paid

Unlikely.

You will not get a refund if:

• your visa application is successful but you do not come to the UK

• you leave the UK before your visa ends, for example to make a new application

• you’re told to leave the UK before your visa expires

• you’re applying for indefinite leave to remain

As @CR001 has mentioned above, there is generally no refund for applications that have already been granted. You may be granted an extension of the period by which you must arrive in the UK, but if you don't arrive in the UK, there won't be a refund of either the visa fees or the IHS.

Was there a particular reason for you to want to register your children under Section 3(5) rather than 3(2)?

Does your wife meet the requirements for the parent for Section 3(2) - residence in the UK for at least 3 years before the birth of the child and having a British citizen otherwise than by descent parent?