In recent months, countries around the world have imposed travel restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), especially to foreigners in the most affected countries. With coronavirus disease has become a pandemic, travel restrictions have been further tightened. On Tuesday, March 17, all EU member states approved a plan proposed by the European Commission to close the external borders of the Schengen area.
This means that foreigners will not be allowed to enter Europe, except for essential trips. And since Europe currently has the highest number of coronavirus infections outside of China, many non-EU countries have imposed their travel restrictions against the bloc. And with the departure of more and more cancelled flights, this places foreign travellers currently in the EU in an awkward position, especially since many of them have entered the Schengen area on a visa.
Visas, as you know, have an expiration date, and the holder incurs penalties if they are exceeded. Besides the United Kingdom, most other countries have also closed their international borders, which means that no one can enter or leave the country without prior authorization from the Government. If you are one of those trapped outside of your home country and need advice on your visa, you should contact a travel counsellor.
Research Online
One of the best things to do in this case is to research online as everyone is working from home, and most of the travel UK solicitors are giving advice online. The first step is to find a reliable travel solicitor and contact him/her and get a piece of appropriate information. There are a lot of online frauds these days, so beware of those frauds and spend a bit of time on online research and find the best UK solicitor.
Check for registered Solicitors.
It is imperative to check whether the lawyer is registered from the Government or not; if you are in the UK, you can find a registered travel solicitor online easily. You can also check the authenticity of the lawyer and its registration online.
If you are stuck in the EU on Schengen Visa
If you entered the EU on a Schengen visa and your return flight was cancelled due to the coronavirus, there is no need to panic; you can also contact a UK solicitor for more information. Chances are you will not be fined for staying longer on a Schengen visa during this period. If you cannot move before the termination of your visa, you can simply request a continuation from the relevant authorities of the Member State where you are at the moment.
If you are stuck in the EU as an outsider
If you come from a country that does not require a Schengen visa, the same principle due to force majeure will also apply to you. As a general rule, you are allowed to stay in a Schengen country without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. If you have already exhausted these days, you can also contact the relevant authorities or the UK solicitors for the immediate help and assistance.
