Travel to UK within Visa time Frame

[GuyFawkes]

My wife has a Visitors Visa to UK valid within a six month period starting 15 April 2020.    In the ever changing changing situation of the Corona virus the latest indication from the UK to my understanding, is that the UK estimates that the virus will peak in about 3 months in the UK and gradually decrease over the following 3 months.

 

The other consideration is what happens here in Thailand and should it take off here, then the UK may well ban tourists or at a minimum insist on a 14 day period of self-isolation, in which case a three week visit would be pointless.    So many different scenarios to take account of.

 

I am in one of the so-called 'high risk categories because of my age.    Consequently I am giving thought to postponing our trip until September. 

 

My understanding is that the given dates of travel are not sacrosanct and that the trip could be undertaken at a later date, providing it comes within the start and end dates of the Visa.

 

Of course it's all guess work and worst case predictions at the moment and by the time 22 April arrives we could be in a whole new ball game. 

 

So my question is:    Am I correct in my understanding of when the trip could be undertaken and do I need to inform UKVI that I am postponing the visit should I so decide.

[The Fat Controller]

You do not need to inform anyone of anything once the visa has been issued, you are correct, she can arrive any time from the issue date and must leave by the expiry date.

 

Hope you manage to get your wife to visit and the visa does not go to waste.

 

If she does travel on different dates to those submitted in the application, the only time you should mention it is in a covering letter for a subsequent visa application and stating "due to Covid 19 outbreak" would be a sufficient reason.

 

Best of luck to you both !

[GuyFawkes]

Thank you for your reply.   It is appreciated.