For the children born in the UK

• For children born in the UK, your permission to stay in the country will mirror that of your parent. You have the option to be added to your parent’s next visa application as a dependent or to apply separately. Regardless of the method, you must live with your parent in the UK, unless you are away for full-time education, such as attending a boarding school or university. Additionally, you must not be married or in a civil partnership. If you are under 18, it is important to be aware of the type of permission to stay (limited leave to remain) that your parent holds. If you are 18 or older, you could apply only if you had permission to stay in the UK starting when you were under 18, and the application must be made from within the UK.

For the children born outside the UK

• If you were born outside the UK, your eligibility to apply for a family visa depends on your age and the circumstances under which your parent applied for their visa. Similar to children born in the UK, you must live with your parent unless you are in full-time education elsewhere. You must also be unmarried and not in a civil partnership. For children under 18, at least one parent must be applying for or already have a visa or an extension of their permission to stay, either as a partner (with the partner they are joining being your other parent) or as a parent with sole parental responsibility for you. In exceptional cases, if there are compelling reasons for you to come to or remain in the UK, and there are proper care arrangements in place, you might still be eligible to apply.

If you are 18 or older, your parent can include you in their application as a dependent, or you can submit a separate application. Eligibility requires that you have permission to stay in the UK on a family visa that was granted when you were under 18. This application must be made from within the UK.

• When applying for a family visa at the same time as your parent, it is important to understand that the visa requirements will vary based on your parent’s immigration status. The criteria you need to meet are influenced by whether your parent is a partner of a British or Irish citizen, holds indefinite leave to remain, or is a settled person in the UK. The eligibility extends to those whose parents are citizens of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, provided they started living in the UK before January 1, 2021. Additionally, these considerations apply if your parent holds a Turkish Businessperson visa, Turkish Worker visa, or has protection status, such as refugee status or humanitarian protection, or if they have permission to stay as a stateless person.
• Understanding these distinctions is crucial for a successful application, as the specifics of your parent’s visa status will determine the path you must follow. This approach ensures that your application aligns with the relevant immigration requirements, helping you to navigate the process with confidence and clarity.

• When a child applies for a family visa independently of their parent, the eligibility criteria and specific requirements largely hinge on the parent’s immigration status in the UK. The parent may be on a pathway to settlement in the UK, which could involve a 5 or 10-year route. This pathway could be based on the parent being a partner of a British or Irish citizen, holding indefinite leave to remain, or being a settled person in the UK. Additionally, the parent might be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, or they could be in the UK under a Turkish Businessperson visa, Turkish Worker visa, or have protection status such as refugee status or humanitarian protection. The parent could also have permission to stay as a stateless person.
• When applying for a UK family visa independently from your parent, it is key to include evidence of your parent’s income. Their financial standing must meet the specified requirements for the type of family visa they are pursuing. For instance, if your parent is seeking a visa as a partner, you must demonstrate their ability to meet the financial criteria for partners. This involves gathering and presenting relevant documentation to support their income claims.
• The child’s application needs to align with these specific conditions, ensuring that the visa process acknowledges the parent’s existing immigration status. Understanding these factors is essential for a successful application, as they dictate the evidence and documentation required to meet the visa criteria.

The time required to receive a decision on your family visa application varies depending on where you apply from. Applications made from outside the UK typically receive a decision within 24 weeks. For applications submitted from within the UK, a decision is usually made within 8 weeks. However, if your parent is on the 10-year route to settlement, it can take up to 12 months to get a decision. Your parent’s decision letter will specify whether they are on the 5-year or 10-year route to settlement. If you are extending your family visa as a child, your previous decision letter will also indicate which route you are both on.

• If you are submitting your application from outside the UK, you must prepare comprehensive information and evidence to accompany your application. This preparation is essential to ensure that all aspects of the financial requirements and eligibility criteria are thoroughly covered.
• Applying for a family visa as a child involves understanding and meeting specific eligibility criteria based on your age, the visa status of your parent, and whether you were born inside or outside the UK. By comprehensively understanding these requirements and preparing the necessary documentation, you can enhance your chances of a successful application. This visa not only facilitates family reunification but also ensures that the legal and residential statuses of children are aligned with those of their parents, providing stability and continuity for families in the UK.
• AGCL Services can help you with rest of the visa process from completing the relevant visa applications forms to submit your application along with all the necessary and supporting documents.

For professional, up-to-date, and reliable advice on your visa requirements, connect with our experienced and accredited team of immigration visa experts. Call us on 020 3911 1115, send your inquiry via this form, or email us at ukvisa@agclservices.com. You can also request a callback by providing your contact details here, and we will respond you promptly.

Visa application fees

• The cost of applying for a UK family visa varies depending on whom you are joining and whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK. If you are joining your partner, parent, or child, the fee is £1,846 when applying from outside the UK and £1,258 when applying from within the UK. These fees apply to each applicant, meaning that if you are adding dependents to your application, the cost per person remains the same.

Additional Healthcare Surcharge

• In addition to the visa application fee, you may be required to pay the healthcare surcharge, which grants access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. The amount you need to pay depends on the length of your visa and the age of the applicant. For adults aged 18 or older, the surcharge is £2,587.50 for a stay of 2 years and 6 months, £3,105 for a stay of 2 years and 9 months, and £5,175 for a stay of 5 years. For children under 18, the surcharge is slightly lower, costing £1,940 for 2 years and 6 months, £2,328 for 2 years and 9 months, and £3,880 for 5 years.

Expedited Decision Option

If you are applying from within the UK, you may have the option to expedite your application by paying an additional £1,000 for the super priority service. This service aims to provide a faster decision on your visa application.

Professional Services Fees

If you choose to use our professional services for your visa application, the fee will range between £800 and £1,200, depending on the complexity of your case and the number of applicants involved. Please note that these fees are separate from the government fees and charges outlined above. Our services provide expert guidance and support throughout the application process, ensuring that all requirements are met, and your chances of a successful outcome are maximized.

If your parent is unable to include you in their visa application and you are already in the UK, you might qualify to apply under the Private Life in the UK category. Furthermore, if your parent has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be eligible to apply to this scheme, which is free and provides a straightforward route for family members of EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows children who have family members settled in the UK to obtain permanent residency, providing them with the right to settle in the country without immigration restrictions. This status ensures long-term stability for children who qualify under specific legal conditions. ILR is particularly significant for children whose parents or relatives have already established their permanent residency in the UK. Understanding the eligibility criteria and the legal requirements is crucial for those looking to secure their immigration status under this category.

• Children who hold a valid family visa as dependents of a British citizen or a settled parent in the UK may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. This route is distinct from applications made by dependents of individuals on work visas, which have separate guidelines. Eligibility may also extend to children under 18 who were born in the UK before their parent obtained settled status, regardless of their prior immigration history, even if they never held a visa. Additionally, those who were previously dependents on a relative’s visa—where the relative had refugee status or humanitarian protection before obtaining settlement—may also be eligible to apply.
• A child may also qualify for ILR if their parent is in the process of applying for settlement under the 10-year route as a partner or parent. However, if the child was born in the UK after the parent obtained settlement, ILR may not be necessary, as alternative routes to British citizenship may be available. Parents are allowed to apply for ILR on behalf of children under 18, ensuring that the child’s immigration status is secured without the need for an independent application.