The UK government believes that family should stay together wherever possible, which is why they offer visas for family members of British citizens or migrants who are settled in the UK. The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law can guide you through the application process and provide legal advice on complex matters, such as past refusals and appeals.
The following family members of British citizens or eligible migrants may qualify for a family visa:
You can apply from within the UK (unless you are here as a visitor) and abroad (unless you are a bereaved partner). You will initially be granted temporary permission to stay in the UK, but you should be able to settle permanently after a specified period of time.
Your family member must be an eligible migrant, meaning they must either be; settled in the UK; a holder of refugee status, humanitarian protection or stateless leave; or have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
The eligibility requirements for the family visas vary depending on the type of family relationship you are relying upon. Please visit our pages dedicated to the sub-category of family visa you wish to apply for to view the relevant eligibility requirements for your chosen route.
Evidence must be provided of your family relationship and the finances of the family member you are joining. The Home Office requires certain mandatory financial documents as evidence; this is where a lot of applicants make mistakes and why their applications are refused. The immigration solicitors at Latitude Law will work with you so this does not happen.
Approval for a family visa can be a difficult process, which is why it is recommended to enlist the help of a legal expert. The solicitors at Latitude Law are able to provide assistance with application preparation, compiling the correct support documentation, and challenging refusals though judicial review, administrative review, or the appeals system. From preparing the application and compiling the correct documentation to challenging refusals through judicial and administrative review and the appeals system, we will give you the best possible chance of securing a UK visa for you and your family. Learn more about how we can help you after you have submitted your application with our UK visa application status services.
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As the requirements for a family visa are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your family are compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (usually where you have lived together for at least two years), fiancées/fiancés, adult dependent relatives and dependent children under 18.
Yes, partners and children under 18 can apply to join a relevant points-based migrant in the UK.
Yes, providing that they are one of the following:
Yes, but how soon you can do so will depend on which route you are placed on. Applicants will have to complete either 5 or 10 years continuous residence before becoming eligible to settle.
Yes, spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners (usually only those who have lived together for at least two years), can apply to join their partner in the UK. There is also an option for fiancées/fiancés to join their partners in the UK, providing that they are intending to marry within 6 months of entry.
Yes, providing that they are settled in the UK or are a British citizen.
Yes, in most cases those looking to join their partner will need to take an approved English language test to level A1 of the Common European Framework of reference. Higher levels are needed for extension and settlement applications. Family members of refugees, adult dependent relatives and dependent children under 18 are exempt from this requirement.
No, the life in the UK requirement is only applicable to certain types of settlement application. There is no need to sit this test for an entry clearance application.
A Refugee Family Reunion visa is a special category which allows partners and children of recognised refugees/ those with humanitarian protection to join them in the UK. It is only applicable to family members who formed part of the family unit, prior to the sponsor fleeing their country of origin.
Only adult relatives who can demonstrate that they require care from their family member in the UK and that such care is not available or affordable in their country of residence, can apply under this category.
If you are a Commonwealth citizen, who is over the age of 17 and plans to work in the UK, you might be eligible under the ancestry visa route. You would need to be able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK
Yes, in most cases you would be allowed to work in the UK, the exception being those here as fiancées/fiancés.
There are various visa application fees involved in each process, depending on the route you are applying under. Most visas also require you to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which allows you to access NHS services during the period of the visa. Those applying for a Refugee Family Reunion visa are exempt from paying the IHS or entry clearance application fee.
If there are British or settled children involved there may be arguments that can be made on human rights grounds. For all other applications, you would generally be expected to show that you can support your family member in the UK by satisfying the relevant requirements.
UKVI requires various supporting documents and information in order to process an entry clearance application. In lots of categories, there are certain 'specified' documents that must be provided in a particular format and which contain precise information.
In most cases, your initial visa will be valid for three months, during which time you must travel to the UK and collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from a designated post office. Your BRP contains the remainder of your leave – usually 2.5 years. For fiancées/fiancés, your passport would be endorsed with a visa valid for 6 months, and you must make an in-country application to ‘upgrade’ your leave to spouse status.
Normally, the earliest you can apply is 28 days before your current permission to stay in the UK expires. In any case, you must apply to extend your visa in the UK before it expires.
This depends on which route your visa was granted under. Most applications for entry clearance require completion of 5 years continuous residence before becoming eligible to settle.
In most circumstances, you would have a right of an appeal to an independent Immigration Tribunal. If you are applying to join a relevant points-based migrant then your only remedy is UKVI's internal review procedure know as an administrative review.
Yes, you can switch to another visa route if you meet the required eligibility criteria.
Navigating UK child visa requirements can be complex. Latitude's expert lawyers provide comprehensive support to ensure your application is error-free and meets all necessary criteria, helping to keep families together efficiently and effectively.
Whether you’re looking to apply for the first time or aiming to renew your partner visa, Latitude Law is well placed to help you secure the right to live with your family member in the UK.
If you need help getting a visa to visit family in the UK, our immigration lawyers can guide you through the process and provide legal guidance in complex cases, particularly where you have faced past refusals.
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa route allows overseas adult family members such as parents, grandparents, children or siblings of a British citizen, a person with settled status, a person with limited leave under Appendix EU or a person with protection status, to settle in the UK and be cared for by their UK-based family.
If you are looking to apply for an ancestry visa to provide you with the right to live, learn, and work in the UK, Latitude Law can assist you and help you to navigate the UK immigration system.
