UK Family Visa Requirements (Apply, Extend or Switch)

Are you planning to bring your family to the UK? If so, it’s important to understand the requirements for a UK family visa. This article will guide you through the process step by step, ensuring that you have all the information you need to make a successful application.

UK Family Visas: An Overview

Before we delve into the specific requirements, let’s first understand what a UK family visa entails. A UK family visa allows non-EEA nationals to join their family members who are either British citizens or settled in the UK. This visa category caters to spouses, partners, children, parents, and other dependent family members.

Types of UK Family Visas

There are several types of UK family visas, each with its own set of requirements. Some common types include:

Spouse Visa

The spouse visa allows individuals to join their partners who are British citizens or settled in the UK. To qualify, you must demonstrate a genuine and subsisting relationship, meet the financial requirement, and have suitable accommodation in the UK.

Child Visa

The child visa is applicable for individuals under the age of 18 who wish to join their parents in the UK. The child must not be leading an independent life and should have suitable care arrangements in place.

Parent Visa

The parent visa allows individuals to join their British citizen or settled children in the UK. To be eligible, you must demonstrate that you require long-term care due to age, illness, or disability and that adequate care is not available in your home country.

Dependent Relative Visa

The dependent relative visa is designed for individuals who are dependent on a relative in the UK for their long-term care. You must prove that you cannot obtain the required level of care in your home country and that your relative is financially able to support you.

1. UK Spouse Visas (apply, extend, switch or ILR)
2. Fiancée Visa (apply, switch to a spouse visa)
3. 5-Years spouse visa
4. 10-Years spouse visa
5. 7 Years child residence route
6. Parent of a British child visa 5-Years route
7. Parent of a British child visa 10-Years route
8. Relative who’ll provide long-term care for you (ADR)
9. Same Sex Partner Visa
10. Marriage Visitor Visa
11. Victim of domestic abuse

UK Family Visa Requirements

Now that we have an overview of the different types of UK family visas, let’s explore the key requirements for a successful application:

Relationship Requirements

To apply for a UK family visa, you must provide evidence of a genuine and subsisting relationship with your sponsor. This can include marriage certificates, joint bank accounts, photographs, and correspondence. It is crucial to demonstrate that your relationship is not solely for immigration purposes.

Financial Requirements

One of the most important aspects of a UK family visa application is meeting the financial requirement. You must demonstrate that you and your sponsor have a combined income above the minimum threshold, which varies depending on the visa type and the number of dependents. Additionally, you may need to provide evidence of your sponsor’s employment or self-employment, such as payslips or tax returns.

Accommodation Requirements

You must have suitable accommodation available for your family in the UK. This includes ensuring that the property is not overcrowded and meets the necessary housing standards. Providing a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement can help satisfy this requirement.

English Language Requirements

In most cases, you and your family members will need to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language. This can be achieved by passing an approved English language test or by showing that you have obtained an academic qualification taught in English.

How to bring your family to the UK?

Our family visa lawyers have years of experience in dealing with all types of family visas including spouse visas, parent visas, fiancée visas and child visas. Our immigration lawyers and solicitors offer free general immigration advice for all family visa applications in the UK. At Deluxe Law Chambers, we understand the emotions and family ties involved in trying to bring family members to the UK.

Our expert UK family visa immigration lawyers can guide you through every stage of the family visa application process, helping you settle in the UK permanently.

Applying Family visa from outside the UK

At Deluxe Law Chambers, our family visa lawyers can help you to come and live with your family members in the UK permanently. You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

• spouse or partner
• fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
• child
• parent
• relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

Extending your family visa

You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa. You can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires. You must meet all the UK family visa requirements to extend your UK family visa. You need to meet the UK family visa requirements to extend your family visa.

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa.

Switching to a family visa

If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your:

• spouse or partner
• child
• parent

You can switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires. You must meet all the UK family visa requirements for a successful application.

Types of UK family visas

Our UK family visa lawyers can deal with the following family visa applications:

1. UK Spouse Visas (apply, extend, switch or ILR)
2. Fiancée Visa (apply, switch to a spouse visa)
3. 5-Years spouse visa
4. 10-Years spouse visa
5. 7 Years child residence route
6. Parent of a British child visa 5-Years route
7. Parent of a British child visa 10-Years route
8. Relative who’ll provide long-term care for you (ADR)
9. Same Sex Partner Visa
10. Marriage Visitor Visa
11. Victim of domestic abuse

Family visa UK Cost

How much it costs depends on how you apply.

No Matter Where you live, we can help You

No matter where you live, we can deal with your immigration case remotely from our Manchester office. Call us on +441614644140 for immediate help with your immigration application or request a call back. Our highly skilled & experienced immigration lawyers in Manchester specialise in UK Immigration, including work visas, family visas, dependent visas, visitor visas, ILR applications, British citizenship, sponsor licence applications, and much more.

Immigration health surcharge for family visas

You might also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

For each adult (18 or older) it costs:

• £1,560 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
• £1,872 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
• £3,120 if you’re staying for 5 years

For each child (under 18), it costs:

• £1,175 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
• £1,410 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
• £2,350 if you’re staying for 5 years

Super Priority service for family visas

If you’re applying from the UK, you may be able to pay an extra £1000 for the super priority service to get a faster decision. You cannot use the super priority service if you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative. You may not receive the outcome sooner if you don’t meet the UK family visa requirements.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

UK family visa processing time

If you apply outside the UK a decision will usually be made within 24 weeks. If you apply in the UK a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

Why choose deluxe law chambers for family visa applications?

Choosing the right and best immigration lawyer for your immigration needs can be stressful. While it could seem like a difficult choice, let us simplify things for you. Here are a few good reasons why you should choose Deluxe Law Chambers to assist you with your UK visas and immigration matters.

Our commitment to affordability means that you can receive expert advice without straining your finances. Our success hinges on transparency. We believe in keeping you informed about every step of the process, ensuring that you understand your options and the potential outcomes.

• REGULATED – We are regulated and approved immigration lawyers by The Office Of The Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).
• EXPERIENCE – Our firm rests on specialist immigration lawyers and solicitors with years of experience. Our well-earned experience distinguishes us from others.
• EXPERTISE – As your immigration lawyer, we offer unparalleled expertise. We don’t just understand and interpret the law, we keep an eye on the slightest changes.
• AUTHORITY – Our authority isn’t just about legal powers but is gained through genuine care and successful outcomes for our clientele. So, why choose just a lawyer when you can choose a trusted authority?
• TRUST – Our commitment to uphold your trust is unwavering. Our transparency and ethical conduct are treatments for the trust placed in us by our clients.
• DIRECT ACCESS – At Deluxe Law Chambers as your immigration lawyers, you will have direct access to your qualified lawyer 24/7.
• AFFORDABLE – We are a law firm with an affordable and fixed fee plan. We offer two installments to ensure you can pay easily.

A combination of our rich experience, deep-rooted expertise, trust authority, and unwavering commitment to our clients makes us your best choice.

So, why wait? Take your first step towards a successful immigration application with us.

UK Family visa fAQs

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