Family Immigration to UK
The UK offers a range of visas and immigration services which allow the relatives of UK citizens and UK permanent residents to immigrate to the UK based upon their family ties. A sponsoring British citizen or resident may bring their spouse, partner or fiance to the UK and in addition, they may sponsor a range of other relatives through a visa UK.
Start Your Free Visa Assessment
Whether you wish to act as a sponsor for someone’s immigration to UK or you need more information about relocating to the UK as a dependent, you can take the first step towards your UK visa by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area today.
UK Marriage Visas
The UK marriage or spouse visa allows a UK permanent resident or UK citizen to bring their husband, wife or civil partner to live and work in the UK on two-year UK visas. Marriage visas are granted for two years, after which the parties involved must be able to show that the marriage is still in place. Beyond this two year period, an applicant may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) and after another 12 months, subject to meeting the requirements an applicant may apply for a grant of UK citizenship.
Making a UK Marriage Visa Application– Eligibility
In the UK marriage visa applications require the sponsor to be over the age of 18 and the sponsored applicant to be aged 16 or over. The sponsor and applicant must be legally married to one another, they must plan to cohabit in the UK and they must have met each other before the application is submitted. The parties must have access to sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK and they must have adequate accommodation arrangements in place. Under this UK immigration service, dependent children of the marriage will be granted a UK dependency visa to immigrate to the UK.
UK Unmarried Partner Visa
The UK unmarried partner visa, often referred to as a De Facto visa, follows the same principles as a UK marriage visa, however since this visa service applies to common-law and conjugal partners rather than spouses a greater emphasis is placed upon demonstrating the genuine nature of the relationship. Applicants migrating to the UK through a De Facto visa application will be able to live and work in the UK as they fit seeking and undertaking employment upon arrival.
UK De Facto Partner Visa – Eligibility Requirements
The same age regulations apply to the De Facto visa as to the marriage visa and any previous marriages involving either party must be over. The candidate and sponsor must be able to demonstrate that the relationship is a long term mutually exclusive one and cohabitation is an important part of the qualifying criteria. Applicants must have been cohabiting for at least two years and must intend to continue doing so in the UK. Like a marriage visa an unmarried partner visa is issued for an initial period of two years leading to permanent residency in the UK.
UK Fiance Visa
Unlike the UK marriage visa and unmarried partner visas, no burden of proof is placed upon applicants to show that their relationship has existed for a given length of time. However, since a UK fiance visa is issued with the sole purpose of allowing a candidate to relocate to the UK in order to marry their sponsor, the permit is only issued for six months during which time the marriage must take place. Once parties have married within the duration of a fiance visa, they will be awarded a two year visa which henceforth will follow the same route as a marriage visa. It is important to note that a candidate arriving in the UK will not be permitted to work until the marriage has taken place.
UK Dependency Visas
The UK dependency visa offers its holder the right to live and work in the UK, and after 5 years, the opportunity to apply for UK citizenship. Dependency visas cover a broad range of family relationships and do not have a specific time limit imposed upon them. However, applicants should note that a visa of this kind may be revoked if a candidate is deeded to have spent too long, i.e. a period of more than two years, outside the UK. The key requirement of a dependency visa is that a candidate must intend to make the UK their main home.
UK Dependency Visa – Eligibility
An applicant must be sponsored by a UK citizen or permanent resident who is related to them as a child, sibling aunt or uncle. In all cases, applicants must be over the age of 18, living alone and dependent upon relatives who live in the UK. This category is also open to parents and grandparents aged over 65, or in some exceptional circumstances under the age of 65.
It must be demonstrated that the applicant is dependent upon the sponsor and that they have no relative in their current country of residence who could support them. In all cases, the applicant must be supported in the UK without recourse to public funds.
UK dependency visas also apply to a range of derivative visas for the spouse or partner of people relocating to the UK through other work or business bases visas such as the HSMP or a UK work permit. However, in these categories the right to commence living and working in the UK will vary depending upon the type of visa granted to the main applicant.
UK Ancestry Visas
UK ancestry visas apply to Commonwealth citizens only and allow an applicant to immigrate to the UK through their links to the UK based upon family history. UK ancestry visas allow for permanent immigration to the UK and are granted for five years. Beyond the five year period, if an applicant can show that they have spent five years residing in the UK and that they are either employed or show the genuine intention to become employed they may apply for permanent residency.
UK Ancestry Visa – Eligibility Criteria
Ancestry visa applicants must be citizens of a commonwealth nation and must be over the age of 17. The key requirement is that an applicant must have a Grandparent, whether alive or deceased whose birthplace was within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Applicants will need to give evidence of this claim to UK ancestry through birth certificates and where applicable, marriage certificates. Applicants with a grandparent born in the Republic of Ireland before 1922 are also eligible.
Ancestry visa applicants must intend to find work in the UK and must support themselves and any dependents. An applicant’s spouse or common-law partner will be permitted to live and work in the UK and will be issued with an Ancestry Dependency visa.
You can set your UK visa application in motion today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area. Simply complete one of our straightforward assessment forms and a specialist UK immigration consultant will contact you.
