Around 120,000 immigrants are granted settlement to remain in the country indefinitely and 200,000 gain citizenship each year according to UK government data. As one such individual, you may want to bring your parents over to join you in the country, particularly if they require your care. An Adult Relative Dependent visa is needed to bring them into the country legally.
Like all UK visas, getting this Dependent visa can be challenging. It is a good idea to get help from an immigration lawyer or advisor to understand if your parents are eligible and to guide you through the application process.
Defining The Adult Dependent Relative Visa
This is the essential visa if you are a British citizen, or have settled status in the UK, and want to have an adult relative join you. This can include an adult child, sibling, parent or grandparent. With this visa, you can bring your foreign parent or parents into the country for an unlimited amount of time, so long as you continue to be a citizen or have special status.
The other instances where this visa applies is if you have valid refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, have limited leave under Appendix EU or are from the EU or EEA and have pre-settled status. You must have started living in the UK before January 2021 for this to apply.
The remainder of this article will address the eligibility requirements for the visa, how to apply, and the documentation you will need to compile.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements applying to you as a sponsor have already been addressed. However, there are also a range of requirements that must apply to your relative applying for the visa. This includes the following:
- They currently live outside the UK.
- Your relative needs long-term care in their everyday lives. This can be because of their age, a disability, or an illness.
- They cannot access proper care where they are currently living, either because it is too expensive or because there are no family members present to administer it.
Income Requirements
On top of these basic requirements, you can also only sponsor your dependents to come to the UK if you match the Adult Relative Dependent visa UK income threshold for a sponsor. This requirement ensures that your relative’s accommodation, living expenses and care can be financed without requiring state assistance.
The exact income requirement to bring a dependent to the UK will depend on their circumstances. To calculate your weekly income requirement, you will need to add the following together according to Citizens Advice:
- £77 for an adult family member over 25 and £61.05 for those under 25.
- £77 if you are single or £121.05 if you live with your partner.
- Your current house costs plus council tax, or the new house cost if the dependent will live in a different location to you.
Please note that when calculating the housing costs, you may not deduct any state support you currently receive to help with accommodation. This includes House Benefit, housing elements of Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction.
Applying For A Visa For Your Adult Dependent Relatives
The Adult Dependent Relative visa will usually have to be submitted by your relative from outside the UK. They will need to complete Appendix 1 (Form VAF4A) and gather a range of supporting documentation that proves they fit the visa requirements.
To submit your application, you or your dependent relative must pay the application fee of £3,250. However, the fee is a lower amount of £1,048 if your relative is able to make their application from inside the UK. Once your application has been submitted, you will usually need to wait around 12 weeks for it to be processed. However, the processing time can be substantially longer if there are issues with your application or the Home Office is experiencing a backlog.
Required Documentation
Any UK visa application needs to be backed up by adequate supporting documentation. The exact documentation needed will vary slightly depending on you and your relative’s circumstances. However, the standard documentation includes the following:
- Proof you fit the financial requirements, such as bank statements.
- Proof you will look after your relative’s support needs, such as through a care plan.
- A signed undertaking to show you will look after your relative’s maintenance, accommodation and care without state support.
- A doctor’s letter or document from a health authority explaining why your relative will be unable to access care in their home country. Such documentation will also be needed to show your relative has a chronic illness or disability requiring dedicated care.
- Evidence of your familial relationship such as birth or adoption certificates.
- A negative tuberculosis test result if your relative is from a high-risk country for the disease.
- A passport or travel ID document.
- Details on past criminality, such as a criminal record.
Any documentation you submit will need to be translated into English or Welsh. If your relative’s documents are in a different language, you must get a certified translated copy.
Starting A New Life In The UK With An Adult Relative Dependent Visa
The UK Adult Relative Dependent visa is the best way to bring your dependent relatives into the country permanently. It will allow you to make sure they receive the proper care and can have the best possible quality of life.
All UK visas require you to complete a challenging application process to prove the applicant is eligible. This visa is even more difficult, as has been shown by this adult dependent relative guidance. You also need to show why you are an eligible sponsor. With this in mind, it is a great idea to work with an immigration lawyer or adviser, who can help you to complete your application and guide you on next steps if your application is rejected.