Petition · past parliament · Home Office
Relax rules on gaps in continuous residence during Covid-19
Closed
70 signatures
What the petition asks
The Government should make COVID-19 a valid exception for exceeding the normal allowable 180 day gap for continuous residence for (pre-settled status and visa holders), and allow for a 12-month exception to apply automatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this pandemic hundreds of thousands of people, in the course of maintaining continuous residence have a hard decision to make. Return to their home country to care for their parents and family or stay in the UK to maintain the continuous residence status. The uncertainty of a next lockdown or the fear of being stranded overseas and then having to prove what happened creates yet another source of anxiety affecting mental health of many. Allowing an exception is the only humane option.
Timeline
| 15 Oct 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 15 Apr 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
70
Status
Closed
Department
Home Office
Opened
15 Oct 2020
Closed
15 Apr 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.