Important changes to the UK Immigration Rules come into force on 8 October 2026, under Statement of Changes HC 584.
One area applicants need to be particularly careful about concerns Section 3C leave, fee waiver requests and applications that are varied while still pending.
From 8 October:
🔹 Where a fee waiver request is followed by an immigration application, the subsequent application must be on the same route for which the fee waiver was requested to benefit from the earlier fee waiver request date under paragraph 34G(4).
🔹 The completed same-route application must be submitted within 10 working days of receiving the fee waiver decision, or a paid application on that same route must be made before the fee waiver decision is received.
🔹 If an applicant instead applies on a different immigration route, new paragraph 34G(5) provides that the application date will be the date that different application is actually submitted, rather than the earlier fee waiver request date.
🔹 Varying a pending application does not restart the period for providing biometrics.
🔹 Under new paragraph 34BB(2A), where an application is varied, the applicant must still provide their biometrics within the period specified for the previous application for the application to be valid.
🔹 Transitional provisions are important. Applications for permission to stay, claims and administrative review applications made before 8 October 2026 that fall within the relevant transitional provision will be decided under the Immigration Rules in force on 7 October 2026.
Section 3C can be extremely important because it may allow a person’s existing immigration leave, including existing conditions such as permission to work, to continue while an in-time application is being decided.
⚠️ Already have a fee waiver request or immigration application in progress?
With the new Rules taking effect on 8 October, anyone considering changing or varying an application, particularly where their existing leave is approaching expiry or they are relying on Section 3C leave, should understand their position before taking further action.
👉 Read our full explanation:
https://atwallaw.co.uk/2026/10/01/section-3c-leave-changes-october-2026/
UK Immigration Updates
Keeping you informed about changes to UK immigration law. Please note: this is not legal advice, it is commentary only.
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