All You Need to Know About UK Family Visas

take your family to the UK

Welcome to our UK Family Visa page, where we aim to provide you with all the information you need to know about applying for a UK Family Visa. The UK Family Visa is designed for individuals who wish to join or be reunited with their family members who are going to or are already living in the UK.

The process of applying for a UK Family Visa can be complex and time-consuming. However, with the right guidance and preparation, it is possible to successfully navigate the application process and achieve your goal of being reunited with your loved ones in the UK.

The first step in applying for a UK Family Visa is to determine your eligibility. To qualify for a UK Family Visa, you must have a sponsor who is a British citizen or a person settled in the UK. Additionally, you must be able to prove that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship with your sponsor, and that you will be able to support yourself without relying on public funds.

Once you have determined your eligibility, you will need to gather the necessary documents and information for your application. This may include proof of your relationship with your sponsor, proof of your sponsor’s income, and evidence of your own qualifications and work experience.

It is important to note that the UK visa application process is constantly changing, so it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest requirements and guidelines. Move Up can help you stay informed and guide you through the process, providing you with support and advice every step of the way.

Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the UK visa authorities. The processing time for a UK Family Visa can vary, but typically takes around 12 – 24 weeks. During this time, you will be able to track the status of your application online.

If your application is successful, you will be issued with a UK Settlement Visa, which will allow you to enter the UK and stay for a period of up to two years. After two years, you may be eligible to apply for further leave to remain or settlement.

At Move Up, we understand how important it is to be reunited with your family and we are dedicated to helping you achieve this goal. Contact us today to learn more about our UK Family Visa services and how we can help you successfully navigate the application process.

TYPES OF FAMILY DEPENDENCY

Every country has drawn up it own set of laws to govern it’s country. The same concept of unique laws apply to immigration. Each country has drawn up its own set of immigration legislation.

This simply means that the term “family dependent” is interpreted differently by difficult countries.

The UK’s definition is restricted when compared to its neighbors. They make provision for immediate family members (partner and minors easily qualify) for consideration of UK visas.

In summary, the UK defines the family unit to consist of the following:

    • Main Applicant (or sponsor).
    • Married like dependent.
    • Minor child dependent(s).
    • Adopted minor dependent(s).
    • Step child minor dependent(s).

We get asked often about the following family members though:

    • Elderly parent dependent(s).
    • Elderly grandparent dependent(s).
    • Adult child dependent(s).
    • Guardianship of minor(s).

The above four cases are difficult to qualify for. There are special conditions applicable but these cases deliberately have high refusal rates.

We also get asked about adult applicants (legally seen as independent applicants) being able to claim dependency on other relatives, such as:

    • Claim dependency on a parent in UK.
    • Claim dependency on a brother or sister in UK.
    • Claim dependency on an aunt or uncle in the UK.
    • Claim dependency on a step parent living in the UK.
    • Claim dependency on a divorced partner living in the UK.
    • Claim dependency on a grandparent living in the UK.

Unfortunately there is no direct provisions for these cases. There are special conditions that would need to be met. Often the special condition is that the applicant has to evidence having physical or mental challenges (and that they are unable to provide for themselves independently). 

The EU and America interestingly have a broader definition to include parent (mother or father – as a family dependent), brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew and nieces. Subject to evidencing strong family ties of course.

From here, we have two sets of content that will help clarify alternative solutions:

Recognized Married Like Relationships Family Born In The UK

Given the above, our family dependency content (and introduction of solutions available) has been broken into the following cases:

What is also important to note is that there is a difference between claiming dependency on family that live in the UK and claiming dependency on family members that were born in the UK.

We have also put content together to help address the following frequently asked questions:

If you are still not sure which visa option best applies, we encourage applicants to complete our quick and easy online assessment.

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