New concessions for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Visa

AuthorCaroline Sykes

The Home Office has introduced two concessions for those applying under the Hong Kong British Nationals (overseas) route – known as the BN(O) visa.

The Home Office can grant 12 months’ leave outside the rules to applicants applying from inside the UK who do not meet the financial requirements or ordinary residence requirement at the time of the application.
Where a main applicant BN(O) status holder has died during the visa application process, the family members of the status holder can continue to apply (or can apply to extend a previous grant) as if the main applicant were still alive.

In November 2022, the Home Office extended eligibility for the BN(O) visa route, allowing adult children born on or after 1 July 1997 of BN(O) status holders to apply independently of their BN(O) status holder parent.

The new concessions, though they will only affect a small number of applicants, are welcome. The updated Home Office Caseworker Guidance Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Route version 8.0 was published on 11 April 2023.

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