Some non-EU nationals are required to register with the police after arriving in the UK with a visa, or after being granted permission to extend their leave in the UK.
Usually, if you are required to register with the police, you must do this within 7 days of:
- arriving in the UK if you applied for a visa from outside the UK; or
- receiving your biometric residence permit if you applied to extend your stay.
You will normally be required to register if all of the following apply:
- you are 16 or older;
- your visa (or permission to stay in the UK) is for longer than 6 months;
- your nationality means you must register; and
- you are not exempt.
To check if you are required to register, please see this link.
If your details change, you must inform the police of any such changes.
Temporary closure due to COVID-19
Please note that if the above requirements to register apply to you and you live in an area of London covered by the Metropolitan Police, you would usually register at the Overseas Visitor Records Office (OVRO). However, due to the coronavirus emergency, OVRO have confirmed that these offices will be temporarily closed until further notice.
In light of this temporary closure we recommend that you keep a record of contacting the OVRO or your correspondence with them to show that you were unable to register due to the temporary closure.
Please note that the information in this blog is current at the date and time of posting. The situation regarding policy and guidance based on the COVID-19 pandemic is subject to change at short notice. We shall be monitoring all aspects of UK immigration which may be impacted by the coronavirus closely, so please do keep updated with further blogs and articles which we will be posting on this site.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2020
Consultant and trainee solicitor in our Corporate Team