This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, UK Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor, to ensure accuracy under current UK immigration law. Confirm your visa requirements via Our UK Visa Guidance.
Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
The UK Family Visa is provided for the purpose of visiting family members in the United Kingdom. This visa category is for individuals who have family members who work and live in the United Kingdom and wish to join them for a period of more than six months as dependents. Dependents may include a husband or wife (spouse), a partner, a fiancé, a fiancée, or a prospective civil partner, children, parents, or other family members.
As part of the criteria for these types of visas, you must often demonstrate that your familial ties are real. You must provide marriage/birth certificates, photographic proof, and further paperwork to do this. This may include evidence of your communication, cohabitation, or time spent together.
You may need a sponsorship letter if your entrance clearance needs a UK-based family member to serve as the visa sponsor. This section should describe how you are connected to or know the applicant, how long you have known them, and how often you see each other. It must also include proof that you are either a British citizen, a settled person, or a person with valid entrance clearance.
A family visa is required for more than six months with a family member in the United Kingdom.
It is crucial to remember that there is no standard “Family Visa”; if you want to join or accompany your spouse or relative in the United Kingdom, you must pick the category that best fits your situation. These classes consist of:
Some forms of visas based on familial relationships are temporary, while others are permanent.
In addition, each kind comes under a separate visa category, which implies that each has distinct qualifying conditions.
If you are applying from the United Kingdom, you may be able to pay an additional £800 for the super-priority service in exchange for a quicker judgment.
You cannot utilize the super priority service if you apply as an adult relative-care recipient.
After receiving your decision letter, your biometric residency permit will come within ten business days.
How long does it take
If you apply outside the United Kingdom, you will typically get a response within 24 weeks.
If you apply in the United Kingdom using the normal process, The Home Office will often decide within eight weeks after your application date.
Typically, if you utilize the super priority service, the following will apply:
It may take longer if your application is intricate, such as if you:
Irish people are exempt from visa and EU settlement scheme applications.
Under some conditions, it is impossible to apply for or switch to a family visa, such as:
You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.
You have a visitor visa or a visa for six months or less.
You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:
However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either:
A Visa is required for any foreign national wishing to enter the United Kingdom. You can choose from the following:
| UK Family Visa | UK Refugee Visa | UK Transit Visa |
| UK Standard Visitor Visa | UK Study Visa | UK Business Visa |
| UK Work Permits | UK Spousal Visa | UK Settlement Visa |
| UK Parent Visa | UK Child Visa |
You must also apply for the Standard Visitor Visa if you plan to study in the United Kingdom for a brief amount of time or if you need to transit through the nation.
It can be disheartening to have a visa application rejected. It always seems unjust and judgmental, and it always feels personal. A UK visa refusal actually happens frequently, and the Home Office has no issue issuing them.
After all, whether an application is approved or denied, the Home Office keeps the visa money. Additionally, they profit more from additional applications and appeals.
We are frequently questioned about how to “ensure” that a visa will be approved. The short answer is that since the Home Office makes all final decisions, there is no way to acquire a 100% guarantee. Making ensuring your application is as strong as it can be is all you can do, though.
If you have had your visa application rejected please contact us.
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UK family visas are a type of entry and residence authorizations that are given to those who desire to start a permanent family with their family members who already reside in the UK. There are just a few options to obtain a family visa for the UK: as the partner or spouse of a citizen of the UK. as a parent of a citizen of the UK.
The costs involved in applying for a UK family visa vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. However, you can expect to pay an application fee, a visa processing fee, and a health surcharge.
There are several benefits to having a UK family visa. Once you have a UK family visa, you will be able to live, work, and study in the UK with your family. You will also be able to access the UK’s healthcare system and other public services.
The processing time for a UK family visa application varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the current visa application backlog. However, it typically takes between 6 and 12 months for a visa application to be fully processed.
This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, UK Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor, to ensure accuracy under current UK immigration law. Confirm your visa requirements via Our UK Visa Guidance.