UK immigration gives reassurance to stranded immigrants with expired UK visas

United Kingdom, 20th April: The UK immigration department will help all those immigrants and visitors with expired UK visas that have been left stranded due to volcanic ash floating across Europe.

Strong and thick ash plumes following Iceland’s volcanic eruption have resulted in cancellation of almost all flights in Europe. Thousands of passengers are stranded for the fifth consecutive day as airspace in nearly 20 or more nations remains shut partially or fully. 

A special statement has been released by the UK Border Agency of the UK immigration department for those who have not been able to leave Britain due to the circumstances totally out of their control. 

However, the notice further gives a piece of advice that those stranded in the UK with expired UK visa must possess proof of their planned travel that would have allowed them to leave Britain before the expiry of their UK visa, if the eruption had not taken place.

Moreover, the Home Office of the UK immigration department is being urged to keep immigrants and various UK visa holders. including those on UK student visa or living and working in the UK, updated on the progress in the dust cloud. 

According to Eurocontrol that is involved in co-ordination of air traffic control in nearly 38 nations has stated that out of the total 22,000 expected flights in Europe, nearly 17,000 had to be cancelled on 17th April, 2010. 

It is yet unclear as to how long such situation would go on and how much time it will take for normal flow of air traffic across Europe. It is being argued that until late this week, a partial ban on various flights is likely to continue. Some even fear that such circumstances might go on even for longer durations.

Every day, the flight cancellation is proving quite a costly affair for airlines with an estimate that nearly US $200 million are being wasted.

Hence, for all those who wish to travel in the coming period to any European nation either for work or just on a pleasure trip, it is advisable to ensure about various travel arrangements including availability of flight and to enquire whether the concerned European Airport is open or not.