Un-used UK Visa.

[overherebc]

Like a few, I imagine, my wife had a visa for our usual yearly visit to UK.

Obviously with the Covid situation and flights being cancelled along with shut-downs in UK we didb't get the chance to use the visa.

'When' travel gets easier will we have to go through the application process again, or, would some thought be given to re-issue of the un-used visa for, say, an admin' fee?

What are the 'consular' thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance for any answer.

[soi3eddie]

Sorry but no chance of a refund or reduced fee re-issue. I was in the same situation and they would not even extend or change the dates. It went unused and has now expired.

 

[overherebc]

45 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Sorry but no chance of a refund or reduced fee re-issue. I was in the same situation and they would not even extend or change the dates. It went unused and has now expired.

 

Gives the impression that money comes first, hard to believe that, isn't it. ????

[VocalNeal]

Apply again when the time comes but as she was already accepted should just be a rubber stamp. 

The money? <deleted> happens just live with it. 

[overherebc]

45 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Apply again when the time comes but as she was already accepted should just be a rubber stamp. 

The money? <deleted> happens just live with it. 

Very true. Life was never meant to be fair.

[Tony M]

The Consular Section will have no thoughts on this at all.  Consular Section is FCDO (Foreign Office) and visas is UKVI (Home Office). 

[7by7]

2 hours ago, overherebc said:

Gives the impression that money comes first, hard to believe that, isn't it. ????

 

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

Very true. Life was never meant to be fair.

 

UKVI have always argued that the visa fee covers the cost of processing the application; which is the same whether the application is successful or not and also if an issued visa is unused.

 

Whilst limited, there have been flights from Thailand to the UK throughout the last year and there still are. Whilst you have what can be considered good reasons for not using her visa, at the end of the day it was your and her  choice.

 

Refunds are usually only issued if an application is withdrawn before being processed. Cancel your visa, immigration or citizenship application

Quote

You will not get a refund of the application fee if:.....

you have a visa and do not use it to travel to the UK

 

I can see nothing in Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents to suggest that the above has been temporarily suspended during the pandemic.

 

You can, of course, always ask UKVI directly.

 

If you do so, please let us know how you get on.