Family Visas UK
At Hilltop Solicitors, we understand the significance of family unity and the desire to be together with your loved ones. Our dedicated team of immigration experts is here to guide and support you through the complex process of obtaining family visas for the United Kingdom. Whether you are a British citizen or settled individual wanting to bring your family members to join you in the UK, or you are a family member of an EU citizen seeking to secure your status under the EU Settlement Scheme, we offer comprehensive and reliable immigration services tailored to your specific needs. With our expertise and commitment to providing personalized assistance, we strive to make the journey towards family reunification a smooth and successful one. Trust us to handle your family visa applications with care and professionalism, ensuring that you can build a bright future together in the UK.
Our immigration team provides assistance with various family visa types, including:
• Fiancé(e) Visa Entry Clearance For UK
• Proposed Civil Partner Visa For UK
• UK Spouse Visa
• Unmarried Partner Visa
• UK Civil Partner Visa
• UK Same Sex Partner Visa
• Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa
• Parent Of British Child Visa
• Children Of British Citizen/Settled Persons
• Adopted Children Of British Citizens / Settled Persons
• Bringing Surrogate Children Born Abroad To The UK
For more information on each visa type, please click on the respective links above.
Our Family and Spouse Visa Advice Services include:
1. Eligibility Advice: We provide guidance on the eligibility criteria for spouse or family visas. Understanding the appropriate visa category for your relatives can be complex, so seeking specialist advice early on can increase your chances of a successful application and minimize delays and stress.
2. Application Assistance: The visa application process can be intricate and confusing. Our experienced team assists with completing the necessary forms and determining the supporting documentation required for a strong application. We are well-versed in the rules and potential pitfalls, ensuring that your application is well-prepared and stands the best chance of success.
3. Spouse and Family Visa Refusals, Judicial Reviews, and Appeals: In the event of a visa refusal, there are options to challenge the decision. Our solicitors can help you explore the following routes:
• Making a new spouse or family visa application, addressing the points that led to the refusal.
• Judicial Review, which challenges the lawfulness of the decision by assessing if the proper application of the law and process was followed (no new evidence can be submitted).
• Family or spouse visa appeal, if you have the right of appeal, allows you to request reconsideration of your visa application by the immigration tribunal (new evidence can be submitted).
Our experienced family and spouse visa lawyers have dealt with refusals and appeals, providing comprehensive advice on available options, assisting with the necessary steps, and significantly enhancing your chances of a successful outcome.
Contacting Hilltop Solicitors:
To discuss your family or spouse visa application with our lawyers, please reach out to us at 02920 660 155 or send an email to info@hilltopsolicitors.co.uk to schedule an appointment. You can also use our simple online enquiries form.
We are dedicated to providing tailored advice and support throughout the application process, leveraging our specialist expertise and up-to-date knowledge of UK family and spouse visa rules to maximize your chances of a successful outcome.
What is a spouse visa?
A UK Spouse visa, also referred to as a Partner visa, offers a pathway to settlement, enabling you to join and live with your married partner permanently in the United Kingdom. To be eligible for a UK Spouse visa, your partner must be a British citizen, have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), pre-settled status, or settled status in the UK.
Also known as a Marriage visa, the UK Spouse visa allows spouses of British citizens or settled individuals in the UK to reunite with their partners. If you are applying from outside the UK, you must be married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or a person holding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), pre-settled status, settled status, or refugee status.
When applying for a Spouse visa from outside the UK, it is typically granted under the 5-year route to settlement if you meet all the requirements outlined in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. Initially, you will be granted leave for a period of 2.5 years, after which you can apply for an extension and eventually settle in the UK.
At Hilltop Solicitors, we specialize in assisting individuals with their Spouse visa applications, ensuring that all the necessary requirements are met to increase the chances of a successful outcome. Our dedicated team of immigration experts is here to provide you with reliable guidance and support throughout the entire application process, making your journey towards joining your partner in the UK as smooth and seamless as possible.
Duration of a spouse visa:
The duration of a spouse visa depends on whether it was issued inside or outside the UK. If the visa was issued while you were in the UK (residing or visiting), it will be valid for 30 months. If the visa was issued while you were overseas, it will be valid for 33 months. After 33 months, you can apply for an extension to complete a total of five years in the UK. Once you have completed five years on a spouse visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Requirements for a UK spouse visa:
To obtain a UK spouse visa, the following requirements must be met:
- Both you and your spouse must be 18 years old or over.
- You must have met each other and be legally married to prevent arranged marriages.
- You must intend to live together permanently.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourselves and any dependents without relying on public funds.
- As of 11 April 2024, the Income threshold for the sponsoring partner has changed to £29,000 per year; and no additional income requirement if any child of the application also applying.
- You must have suitable accommodation for you, your spouse, and any dependents.
- You must satisfy the English language requirements.
How to apply for a spouse visa:
If you wish to apply for a spouse visa, consult our expert solicitors who will advise you on your eligibility and assist you in completing the necessary forms and compiling the required documentation for a successful application. If you are already residing in the UK under a different visa (e.g., a student visa), you may a student visa, then you may be able to switch to a spouse visa, if you and your spouse meet the eligibility requirements. The application process can take between two to twelve weeks, and we will ensure we keep track of the process for you and answer any questions the UK Border Agency may ask on your behalf.
UK Spouse visa fee and processing time
The fee for a UK spouse visa application is £1,846 if you are applying from outside the UK and £1,048 for inside applications. It does not include Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS). You might need to pay a healthcare surcharge (called the 'Immigration Health Surcharge'- IHS) as part of your immigration application. Click here to find out the latest Family visa fees and Healthcare surcharges.
Processing Time: Currently, the UK Spouse visa application processing time is up to 24 weeks if applying from outside the UK. Time starts from the date of your appointment at the visa application centre. Please Click Here to check the current Home Office Visa Applications Timescale.
You should usually get a decision on your Spouse visa within 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK.
What is Fiance' Visa
The UK Fiancé Visa, also known as the UK Partner Visa, offers a pathway for individuals who are engaged to be married to join their British fiancé(e) in the United Kingdom. This visa allows couples to live together in the UK with the intention of getting married within six months of arrival. At Hilltop Solicitors, we specialize in assisting individuals with their Fiancé Visa applications, ensuring a smooth and successful process for reuniting couples and starting their lives together in the UK.
*How to apply for a Fiance visa?
- Check your eligibility for a Fiance visa UK (if not sure or need assitanct, please contact us on 02920 660 155 or email img@hilltopsolicitors.co.uk)
- Complete and submit the Fiance visa application form online;
- Pay the Fiance visa application fee;
- Pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS);
- Upload all the supporting documents;
- Book a biometric appointment;
- Attend an interview (if invited).
Requirements for a Fiance visa UK?
- You and your partner both must be 18 or over;
- You intend to marry within six months validity period of the UK Fiance visa;
- Your partner must be a British citizen or a settled person in the UK;
- You intend to live together permanently in the UK once you are married;
- You need to prove that your relationship is genuine and subsisting;
- You must meet the income requirement;
- You must meet the requirements for adequate accommodation;
- You must meet the English language requirement.
UK Adult Dependent Relative Visas Explained
Can I move an adult relative who needs care to the UK?
If you are settled in the UK and have an adult relative who depends on you for day-to-day support and care, they can apply for an Adult Dependent Relative Visa to join you in the UK. This visa allows them to stay in the UK and eventually apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Eligibility Requirements for an Adult Dependent Relative Visa:
To be eligible for an Adult Dependent Relative Visa, you and your relative must meet the following criteria:
• Your family member must be over the age of 18.
• The family member you wish to bring must be a close relative, such as a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son, or daughter.
• As the sponsor, you must be a British citizen or settled in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain.
• The applicant must be outside the UK at the time of application.
• Your relative needs to provide evidence that they require long-term personal care on a daily basis, including assistance with tasks like washing and cooking.
• The required care must not be available or reasonably accessible in their current country of residence due to unavailability, unaffordability, or lack of suitable caregivers (such as close family).
• You must demonstrate that you can provide proper support, accommodation, and care for your relative without relying on additional welfare or public funds.
You must also provide evidence that you can continue to do so for a period of five years.
Application for Adult Dependent Relatives of a person with refugee leave, humanitarian protection, or limited leave under Appendix EU: If the requirements of the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Rules are met, and the sponsor is a person in the UK with limited leave as a refugee, person with humanitarian protection, or person with limited leave under Appendix EU, the applicant will be granted entry clearance as an Adult Dependent Relative. The visa will be valid for the same duration as the sponsor's limited leave and will include a condition of no recourse to public funds.
UK Parent Visas Explained
If you have a child in the UK, you can apply for a visa to join them through the Parent Route.
Definition of 'parent' for the purposes of a parent visa: The term 'parent' is defined as:
• A natural (biological) parent
• An adoptive parent
• A step-parent where the biological parent has died
Eligibility Requirements for Entering the UK via the Parent Route:
The eligibility requirements for entering the UK via the Parent Route depend on whether the child in question is British or 'settled' (having naturalization or Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK.
If the child is British or 'settled' in the UK, the applicant needs to:
• Show that they have sole responsibility for caring for the child or have access rights to the child.
• Provide evidence of their ability to financially support themselves and any dependents.
• Satisfy the English language requirements.
In cases where the child is not British or 'settled' in the UK, the applicant must meet all the above criteria and demonstrate that the child has been living continuously in the UK for seven or more years. Furthermore, it must be shown that it would not be in the child's best interests to leave the UK with the applicant.
It is important to note that the above information may be subject to change, and you are advised to refer to the official UK government website for the most up-to-date guidelines and processes - for further details please click here.