- arrive in the UK, if you applied for a visa from outside the UK
- get permission to stay longer, if you’re already in the UK
Please see the links in Related Information for further details.
You need to report the loss to the police and also to the Immigration Service as soon as possible.
For further details please see the links in Related Information.
If you want to stay in the UK as a refugee you must apply for asylum. To be eligible you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution. This persecution must be because of:
You must have failed to get protection from authorities in your own country .
You should claim asylum when you arrive in the UK or as soon as you think it would be unsafe for you to return to your own country. Your application is more likely to be denied if you wait.
For more details on eligibility and the process of applying for asylum please see the websites in Related Information.
If the member of your family is outside the UK, they should contact their nearest British Diplomatic Office in their country of origin and make enquiries with them on how to apply.
You further details about whether you can apply to settle in the UK please see the links in Related Information.
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GOV.UK - Ways to settle in the UK, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and routes to British citizenship
GOV.UK - Family visas: apply, extend or switch
Citizens Advice - Check if your family members can get pre-settled status or settled status
Citizens Advice - Getting a visa for your adult family member to join you in the UK
Citizens Advice - Getting visas for your partner and children to live in the UK
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides accurate and up to date travel advice for over 220 countries on their website.
For more details please see links in Related Information.
This information has been reproduced with the kind permission of the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).
For more information see website in related information.
The USA have a visa waiver programme for any person holding passports from certain countries (United Kingdom passports are included) as long as that person has never been arrested and/or convicted.
If you have been arrested, you must declare it whether or not that arrest resulted in a conviction. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not extend to the USA so you must declare all convictions regardless of whether they are classed as spent or not.
Most minor road traffic offences that were dealt with by way of fixed penalty (i.e. no arrest or court appearance) do not count and you will be eligible to travel under the visa waiver programme.
If you have been arrested/convicted, then you must apply for a visa from the US Embassy in London before you travel to the USA. Failure to have a visa means that you could be refused entry and returned home at your own expense. Have a look at the Visa Waiver Wizard (first link in Related Information) which only takes a minute to complete - it is just a guide for your own information, you do not have to enter personal details.
A conviction could mean that you are classed as permanently ineligible to travel to the USA, however, you may be able to apply for a waiver of permanent ineligibility from the Department of Homeland Security. This is not automatic and depends on several factors depending on the nature of the crime and when it was committed.
If you are unsure it is always better to check as you could be refused entry to the USA. In the current climate, it is highly likely that the USA authorities will be aware of your personal details before you travel to the USA.
Also, see the website in Related Information for more details.
Ebola virus can cause Ebola virus disease (EVD) which is a severe disease. Ebola virus can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. People can also become infected with Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles or soiled clothing, that have been contaminated with infectious secretions.
Please see below the most frequently asked questions regarding the Ebola virus:
Can you catch Ebola from breathing near an infected person?
No. Ebola cannot be transmitted in the air. It has to come from direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person (eg. saliva, mucus, vomit, faeces, sweat, tears).
Is washing my hands really going to stop the spread of Ebola?
Yes. Maintaining high standards of personal hygiene means that you kill any germs you might contract from an infected person before you can ingest them.
Should I use alcohol hand gel?
Using alcohol hand gel is generally considered to be good practice to avoid communicable diseases. It will prove effective against virus transmission, including the Ebola virus.
I am worried that I could catch Ebola from someone who is not showing symptoms?
A person does not become infectious until they are showing symptoms.
What should I do if someone sneezes/coughs in my face?
You should follow general hygiene protocols. Make sure you wash hands and face, as this will help to stop transmission. Also remember that being sneezed or coughed on is not enough to catch Ebola, bodily fluids need to be ingested.
What are the signs of Ebola?
Ebola symptoms are non specific in the early stages, for example fever, and can be like other infections such as malaria which may also be common in the same parts of the world. Symptoms may last from a few days to a week or more. In the later stages there may be vomiting, diarrhoea, skin lesions and bleeding.
How can you contract the virus and how is it spread?
Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. Avoiding contact with those infected mitigates the risk of infection. The incubation period of Ebola ranges from 2 to 21 days.
Is the UK prepared for a potential outbreak of this highly infectious and deadly virus?
Yes. We have well-tested systems for dealing with any imported case of this type of disease. PHE and NHS England have plans in place to identify and promptly treat patients. We have robust prevention measures to contain infection, including specialist units if needed.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the Ebola Virus is no longer a public health emergency of international concern. This means that the risk to the UK public is now very low. For more information see the links in Related Information.