Navigating UK immigration rules to get family visas or indefinite leave to remain can be complex. These visas cover partner, child, parent, and dependent adult categories, crucial for family reunification or permanent residence. This guide will help you understand the steps and considerations for applying for these visas and gaining indefinite leave to remain.
Understanding Family Visa Types
These visas are vital for reuniting with loved ones in the UK and include various categories tailored to different situations. and it covers different categories, such as:
- Partner Visas: Allows partners already in the UK to apply for their significant others to join them or stay in the UK.
- Child Visas: Children under 18 can apply to join a parent with a partner visa, with the visa lasting until the partner visa expires.
- Parent Visas: Enables settled individuals in the UK to sponsor their parents to live with them.
- Dependent Adult Visas: For adults needing long-term care due to illness, disability, or other exceptional circumstances.
Before applying, it’s essential to determine which family visa type best suits your situation.
Indefinite Leave to Remain
ILR is the ultimate goal of many immigrants, so they desire to get this thing. It stands for settlement as home permanently in the UK, which gives the individuals security, and a sense of belonging.
- Reside in the UK: Pile up as many acceptable years of lawful residence in the UK.
- Meet Eligibility Criteria: Meet specific financial requirements, language assessment level, and housing conditions.
- Submit the Application: Fill in and submit ILR with all the relevant documents.
Understanding Visa Application Costs
When applying for a visa, it’s important to consider the fees involved, which can vary depending on factors like the visa type, whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK, and the number of applicants. Additionally, applicants usually need to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of the process.
Family Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge
The cost of family visas varies depending on individual circumstances. Detailed fee information can be found on the GOV.UK website under ‘Route to Settlement. Most applicants must also pay an immigration health surcharge, which allows access to NHS services. The specific amount can be found on GOV.UK.
Fee Waivers
A fee waiver exempts you from paying the application fee. However, It is usually not available for indefinite leave to remain applications. To qualify for a fee waiver, You must show financial hardship, like not having enough money for food and rent. You also need to provide documents like pay slips and bank statements to support your case.
Medical Tests
Depending on where you’ve lived and traveled before, you or your family might need medical tests, like tuberculosis (TB) tests, before applying for a UK visa. These tests are required if you’ve been in countries with similar cases.
Booking Biometric Appointments
As part of the application process, you’ll likely need to schedule a biometric appointment to have your photo and fingerprints taken. The process varies based on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
- Outside the UK: Schedule your appointment at a visa application center listed on GOV.UK.
- Inside the UK: Book your appointment online through the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service website.
Submitting Evidence for Visa Applications
When applying for a visa, it’s crucial to provide strong evidence that supports your application and meets your visa category requirements.
Proving Relationships for Partner Visas
Proving a genuine and ongoing relationship is essential for this visa. This involves submitting documents that show you have lived together, have children together, share financial responsibilities like a joint bank account, and maintain regular contact.
Financial Requirement
Meeting this requirement is essential for approval. Depending on the visa category and number of dependents, You must show a specific level of income and savings. This can include earnings from work, pensions, and other sources. If you and your family can’t meet this requirement, there may be exemptions or other criteria available.
Starting Your Application
To apply for family visas or indefinite leave to remain, you’ll mostly do it online. You can also have someone else apply for you. If you’re applying for someone else who’s 16 or older, make sure it’s in their name. It’s smart to review the application before sending it in.
Suitable Housing
Show that you have a good place to live in the UK. This can be a rental agreement, mortgage statement, or a letter from the property owner. Sometimes, applicants might need a report proving the place is safe and suitable.
What to Do If Your Visa Application Is Rejected
- Appeal: You can appeal the decision if it affects your private or family life. The appeal must be made within a specific time frame.
- New Application: Also, you can submit a new visa application, but this means paying the full application fee again.
Navigating the rules for appeals and new applications can be complex, so it’s recommended to seek advice from an immigration specialist.
What Happens After Visa Approval
After your family member’s visa is approved, what happens next depends on whether they applied from inside or outside the UK.
- Inside the UK: If you apply from within the UK, you will get a biometric residence permit to show the right to stay.
- Outside the UK: For those applying from outside the UK, entry clearance will be given, granting them 30 days to enter. Missing this may require applying for entry permission again.
Financial Requirements for a UK Family Visa
When applying for a UK family visa, applicants must meet specific financial requirements to ensure they can support themselves and their dependents without relying on public funds. Here’s a detailed overview of these requirements.
Minimum Income Requirement
Current Threshold: As of now, the minimum income requirement is set at £29,000 per year for the UK-based partner. This amount must be demonstrated through income sources or savings.
Increased Requirements:
- In late 2024, this threshold is expected to rise to approximately £34,500.
- By early 2025, it may increase further to around £38,700.
Child Dependents: If the couple has children, the income requirement increases:
- An additional £3,800 for the first child.
- £2,400 for each subsequent child.
Meeting the Financial Requirement
Applicants can meet the financial requirement through various means:
- Income Sources: This includes earnings from employment, self-employment, pensions, and certain benefits. The income must be documented and verifiable.
- Savings: If the income threshold cannot be met through salary alone, applicants can use savings:
Currently, a minimum of £88,500 in savings is required if not meeting the income threshold through employment.
This amount will increase alongside the income thresholds in 2024 and 2025.
Combination of Income and Savings: Applicants can combine their income and savings to meet the financial requirement. For example, if an applicant earns part of the required amount through salary and has some savings, both can be considered together.
Special Circumstances
Certain conditions may exempt applicants from meeting the minimum income requirement:
- If the UK partner receives specific disability benefits (e.g., Disability Living Allowance), the income requirement may not apply.
- Applicants with British or Irish citizen children may also have alternative routes if it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK.
Getting a family visas or indefinite leave to remain in the UK can be complex. This guide covers key steps like understanding visa types, and costs, submitting evidence, and handling rejections. Stay updated by referring to official guidelines and consider seeking professional advice for a successful application and a secure future in the UK for you and your family.
How Law and Visas Can Help?
At Law and Visas, our team of expert immigration consultants is here to make your travel to the UK straightforward and successful. Whether you’re applying for a Fiancé(e) Visa or a Child Visa, we handle every step—from preparing your application to gathering the required documents.
Our Immigration Consultants and Lawyers ensure that your application meets the highest standards, with no details missed. We’ll also keep you informed throughout the process and coordinate with the immigration office or embassy on your behalf.
Law and Visas have a strong record of helping clients secure the visas/permits they need to visit the UK. You can call us today at +234 812 5505 986 to learn how we can help you.
