To be eligible to apply for a visa as a parent, your child must meet certain criteria.

Age, cohabiting and other essential eligibility criteria

• Child must be under 18 years old on the date of your application, or they must have been under 18 when you were first granted leave to remain in the UK. It is essential that your child resides with you, except if they are away from home for full-time education, such as at a boarding school or university. Additionally, your child must not be married or in a civil partnership.

Residency Requirements for Your Child

• Your child must be living in the UK at the time of your application. Moreover, one of the following conditions must be satisfied: your child is a British or Irish citizen; they have settled status in the UK, which includes having indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or proof of permanent residence; they are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and possess pre-settled status, provided they began living in the UK before January 1, 2021. Alternatively, if you are applying from within the UK, your child must have lived in the UK continuously for seven years, and it must be unreasonable to expect them to leave the country.

Applying Through the EU Settlement Scheme

• If your child holds settled or pre-settled status, you may have the option to apply via the free EU Settlement Scheme or secure an EU Settlement Scheme family permit. This scheme aims to protect the residency rights of EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their family members post-Brexit, offering a streamlined application process for eligible individuals.

Conclusion: Navigating the Parent Visa Application Process

• Applying for a UK visa as a parent involves ensuring your child meets specific eligibility and residency criteria. Understanding these requirements and the available routes, such as the EU Settlement Scheme, can facilitate a smoother application process. Whether your child is a British or Irish citizen, has settled or pre-settled status, or has lived in the UK for an extended period, providing detailed and accurate information is crucial. By comprehensively preparing your application, you can enhance the likelihood of successfully obtaining a visa to join your child in the UK.

When applying for a UK family visa to care for your child, it is fundamentally important to establish either sole or shared parental responsibility. This responsibility signifies your legal and practical role in your child’s life, impacting your eligibility for the visa.

What if you share parental responsibility?

• If you share parental responsibility, the child’s other parent must not be your current partner. Additionally, the other parent must be either a British or Irish citizen, hold settled status in the UK (such as indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or proof of permanent residence), or be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, provided they started living in the UK before January 1, 2021. If your child resides with their other parent or a different carer, you must have physical access to the child as agreed with the other parent or carer, or through a court order.

Proving your active role in your child’s Life

• To successfully apply for a family visa, you must demonstrate that you play an active role in your child’s upbringing and intend to continue this involvement. Evidence should come from reliable sources such as government agencies, schools, courts, or medical professionals and should be recent, ideally less than four years old. Examples include letters from your child’s school confirming your involvement, letters from local authorities, and correspondence from healthcare providers attesting to your role in taking your child to appointments. Additionally, court order documents can be powerful evidence, provided you obtain permission from the court to use them.

Alternative Evidence for Parental Responsibility

• If the standard forms of evidence are not available, you may provide alternative documentation. This could include a parental agreement drafted and signed by both parents, letters from HMRC confirming Child Tax Credit claims, or social services documents verifying your time spent with your child. However, these alternatives are less likely to guarantee a visa compared to more formal evidence. Items such as greeting cards, photographs, and social media messages are generally not considered substantial proof of your involvement in your child’s life.

Meeting English Language and Financial Requirements

• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and the ability to financially support themselves without relying on public funds. This requirement ensures that you can integrate into the UK and sustain yourself and any dependents. If you have dependents living with you, you must also prove your capacity to support them independently.

Exceptions to Financial and Language Requirements

• If you cannot meet the English language and financial criteria, you may still be eligible to extend your stay. This applies if your child is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for at least seven years, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to leave. This provision ensures that the best interests of the child are prioritized.

A parent visa allows you to stay in the UK for an initial period of 2 years and 9 months. After this period, you will need to apply for an extension to continue your stay. If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa from another category, you can stay in the UK for an additional 2 years and 6 months.

• When applying for a family visa from outside the UK, you can typically expect a decision within 24 weeks. This processing time allows the UK Home Office to thoroughly review and assess your application, ensuring all eligibility criteria are met. Conversely, if you submit your application from within the UK, the current processing time extends to approximately 12 months. This extended period reflects the detailed scrutiny given to in-country applications, ensuring compliance with all immigration regulations. However, applicants who need a quicker decision may have the option to pay for expedited processing, which can significantly reduce waiting times.

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.

• Securing a UK family visa as a parent involves proving your parental responsibility and active involvement in your child’s life, meeting language and financial requirements, and understanding the duration and renewal process of the visa. By gathering comprehensive and reliable evidence and preparing a thorough application, you can enhance your chances of obtaining a visa and ensuring your continued presence in your child’s life 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.