Your Guide To Family Reunion In The Uk: The Uk Dependent Visa

By Author: The SmartMove2UK
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The UK Dependant Visa helps family members join a main visa holder in the UK. It allows partners and children to live, work, or study there
Who Can Apply as a Dependant?
A UK Dependant Visa allows specific family members to join someone already in the UK on a main visa.
This usually includes:

Your unmarried partner, civil partner, or spouse. You'll have to provide evidence that your connection is sincere.
Children under 18 years old.
Children over 18 can also be included if they are already in the UK as a dependant and still rely on the main applicant financially.

Parents, siblings, and other members of the extended family are often not eligible for this visa. A separate application process, such as the Adult Dependent Relative visa, ...
... may be available to them. For instance, your spouse may apply as your dependent if you are an Indian travelling to the UK on a Tier 2 visa, which would extend your stay and enable him to work there.
Applying from Outside the UK
The primary procedures for applying for a UK dependent visa from outside the country are as follows:

You must apply online using the UK Home Office website.
You will need to pay the Visa Fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This IHS payment gives you access to NHS healthcare in the UK.

The annual IHS fee for a skilled worker dependent visa is £1,035 for adults and £776 for children under the age of 18.
For a Student Dependant Visa, the IHS is £776 per year for all dependants.

After that, you must present your biometric data at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), such as your fingerprints and a picture.
Submit all required supporting documents. This includes proof of your relationship, evidence that you can support yourself financially, and details about where you will live. Additionally, you may require a TB test. If your Danish marriage certificate is legitimate, issued by the appropriate government, and, if it hasn't been translated into English before, it will be recognised.
You can usually expect a decision within 3 weeks. Faster, 'priority' services might be available.

Financial Requirements
Dependants must show they can support themselves financially without needing to claim public funds in the UK. The exact amount of money you need to show depends on the main visa type:

For a Skilled Worker Dependent Visa: You need to show £285 for your spouse or partner, £315 for one child, and £200 for each extra child. You must generally have held these funds for 28 days in a row. This 28-day rule can be waived if the main applicant has already been living in the UK for 12 months or more.
For a Student Dependent Visa: You need £845 per month (for up to 9 months) if the main student's course is in London. If the course is outside London, it's £680 per month (for up to 9 months). These funds also generally need to have been in your account for 28 consecutive days before you apply.

Visa Duration and Path to Settlement
Your dependent visa will usually be granted for the same length of time as the main applicant’s visa.
This means your visa's end date is tied to theirs.

Extending Your Dependent Visa: You must seek to extend your dependent visa before your current one expires if the primary visa holder decides to remain longer. You must demonstrate your sincere relationship, financial security, and appropriate housing once again in order to be considered for this.
Dependents do not automatically receive Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) merely because the primary petitioner does. You must follow your own guidelines. This involves spending five years in a row as a dependent in the UK. Generally speaking, over these five years, you are not allowed to spend more than 180 days abroad of the UK in any 12-month period. Absences from the UK, if justified, will not automatically harm the extension process, but they might affect an ILR application. If you are not ready to apply for ILR at the same time as the main applicant, you will need to extend your dependent visa until you meet your own 5-year requirement.

ILR for Dependent Children: Children under the age of 18 may frequently apply for ILR simultaneously if both parents have already received ILR. The kid often waits until both parents are settled if only one parent has ILR, unless that parent is solely responsible for the child. When a child reaches the age of 18, they must still adhere to the dependence regulations and apply for ILR when they are qualified, making sure they are not living on their own.

Becoming a British Citizen: If the main applicant becomes a British citizen, dependants do not automatically become citizens. First, you must get ILR (if you don't have it already). Then, you need to meet the naturalisation rules, which often means holding ILR for 12 months first.
Important Notice: You risk becoming an overstayer if you do not file for settlement, change to a different visa, or renew your present visa before it expires. This can cause

big problems for any future UK visa applications.
Important Recent Policy Changes
It is important to know about recent changes to dependant visa rules:

Care Worker and Senior Care Worker Dependants: As of March 11, 2024, dependants are no longer allowed for people applying for the Health and Care Worker visa as Care Workers or Senior Care Workers.
Student Visa Dependant Restrictions: From January 1, 2024, most international students can only bring dependants if they meet certain rules:

They are students sponsored by their government for courses lasting over six months.
They are postgraduate students doing a PhD, other doctorate (RQF level 8), or a research-based higher degree, and their course starts on or after January 1, 2024.
A quick note: Different rules apply for full-time postgraduate students (RQF level 7+) on courses nine months or longer that began before January 1, 2024.

Need Expert Assistance?
Because UK Dependent Visa rules can be complex, especially with new changes and money requirements, it's often a good idea to get professional advice. This can help you confirm if you are eligible and avoid delays or extra costs. The SmartMove2UK, has helped many clients with UK Dependent Visas. You can talk to their UK Dependant Visa Consultants for help by calling +91 9819127002.

The SmartMove2UK (a unit of SmartMove Immigration) is a specialist immigration law firm in India with branches in India (Mumbai | Delhi | Gurgaon | Chandigarh | Bangalore) & UK (London) led by a specialist Solicitor. Evolving from practicing exclusively in the areas of UK nationality and immigration law. Our expertise now encompasses a wider global mix including immigration laws of Australia, New Zealand, USA, Malta, Portugal (Golden Visa), Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, India and Canada. With more than a decade of Experience providing immigration and nationality services, we offer clients a personal and friendly, yet comprehensive solution to their immigration, travel and business needs. With the benefit of our extensive experience, we understand your needs and advise on the prospects of success and potential pitfalls in pursuing an application. Working together, we will use our experience to find a solution that matches your needs wherever possible. Our clientele includes Individuals, Corporates Corporations, Investors , Entrepreneurs and Innovators.