Covid Concession - Clarification on Visa Extension and ILR Queries

[RFA]

Hi Zimba and other gurus,

I would appreciate your guidance on the following visa extension and ILR related queries.

Background:

The main applicant was on a Tier 4 visa and applied for a Tier 2 visa on 28th April 2020, which was granted in mid-September 2020.

They later switched jobs and changed to a Health and Care (Skilled Worker) visa in June 2021, extending it in July 2023. Their current visa expires in June 2025.

Their dependent initially applied for a dependent visa (from Tier 4) in November 2020 and has since renewed the dependent visa with the main applicant. The dependent’s visa also expires in June 2025.

They had a baby in September 2024 (UK-born) and applied for a dependent child visa, which was granted in January 2025.

Queries:

Understanding of "Covid Concession":

Zimba has advised that the main applicant can utilise the "Covid Concession" and apply for ILR 28 days before 28th April 2025 (the 5 year anniversary of visa application date during Covid).

The dependent partner cannot use the Covid concession and must wait until 28 days before November 2025 to apply for ILR.

Can you confirm if this understanding is correct?

Dependent Partner's Visa Extension:

How should the dependent extend their visa?

Should they:

(1) Apply at the same time as the main applicant’s ILR application?
Or
(2) Apply for an extension before their visa expires in June 2025?

If the main applicant applies for ILR, will the dependent’s visa remain valid until June 2025, even if the main applicant is no longer on a Skilled Worker visa?

During the extension process, which Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) details would be used? Should they use the last COS issued to the main applicant, even though the main applicant will be on ILR?

Child’s Citizenship & Visa Extension:

Can the child apply for British citizenship once the main applicant has received ILR, while the other parent is still on a Skilled Worker-dependent visa extension?

Can the child acquire citizenship without needing ILR first?

Would the child require a visa extension at any stage if they do not obtain citizenship immediately?

I would appreciate your clarification on these points to ensure we proceed correctly.

Best regards,
RFA

[zimba]

You already read the advice given before in another thread which all applies to you regarding the concessions.
For extension, they apply before visa expiry. The fact that you will be holding ILR is irrelevant. Their extension/ILR will be based on the fact that you previously held SW visa. Use any old details. The child can be registered using form MN1 as British, when you get ILR

[RFA]

Thank you.

You already read the advice given before in another thread which all applies to you regarding the concessions.
For extension, they apply before visa expiry. The fact that you will be holding ILR is irrelevant. Their extension/ILR will be based on the fact that you previously held SW visa. Use any old details. The child can be registered using form MN1 as British, when you get ILR

[RFA]

Thank you for the earlier response. Can you also advise regarding the relevant documents required from employer (NHS), considering that the main applicant would be on maternity leave while applying for ILR.

[zimba]

See: All you need to know about the sponsor letter for Skilled Worker route

Additionally, your sponsor needs to state what your salary will be upon your return from maternity leave:

If the sponsor has stated the applicant is currently absent from work for one of these reasons or has returned from such an absence within the month before the date of application, they may currently be on reduced or nil pay. You must consider their salary on their return to work, as stated by their sponsor.

The official guide: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... accessible

[RFA]

Please advise on the following; one of the questions in the ILR (SET-O) application is as following:

Q - When did you first enter the UK? (Required) This is the date you entered the UK when the period of stay you are basing this application on started.

For the above question should I put the date when I first entered the UK on Tier 4 Visa (Early 2019), or the date when I applied (April 2020) or received (Sept 2020) the Tier 2 Visa, considering that I am applying for ILR 5 Year route and I am applying at now, in June 2025 and not Sept 2025, on the basis of Covid Concession?

[zimba]

The date you put on the forum is irrelevant to your application and it has no effect on your ILR. Put the date you first entered the UK

[RFA]

Thanks for the help throughout. Application was successful.

The date you put on the forum is irrelevant to your application and it has no effect on your ILR. Put the date you first entered the UK

[RFA]

You already read the advice given before in another thread which all applies to you regarding the concessions.
For extension, they apply before visa expiry. The fact that you will be holding ILR is irrelevant. Their extension/ILR will be based on the fact that you previously held SW visa. Use any old details. The child can be registered using form MN1 as British, when you get ILR

Thanks again for all the help. I am now applying for my child's ILR application via the MN1 form (Online). I have two questions.

Question 1: Is it mandatory for, at least, one referee to have known the baby in professional capacity? Can I just provide a reference of a lecturer that I know of myself; they know the baby, but of course not in a professional capacity. I am asking this question because the baby's health professionals are taking a lot of time (up to 2 months) to release the information for reference. I assume its because the application requires quite a lot of personal information of the referees, including home address and passport number.

Question 2: the online MN1 form requires at least 3 years of home address, but the baby is few months old. It doesn't let me continue, unless I enter that he has lived there for three years or otherwise previous address, hence, for now, I have entered the hospital in which the baby was born as the last address, so that it lets me complete the application. In the previous address section, I have written "born in this hospital, only xyz months old". Is this a right approach?

[CR001]

Please ask your MN1 questions in the British citizenship sub forum. These questions are not relevant in an ilr topic or sub forum.