All About UK Dependent Visas

Dependent Visas UK – Advantages, Disadvantages and Reasons of Refusals

On June 04, 2018 | In Dependent Visa | By A Y & J Solicitors

PBS Dependent Visa helps a spouse, civil partners or children under 18 years age to join the migrant in the UK. You think that plan is set, you have your visa to enter the UK and your job/business/course is waiting for you; however, you still need to organise a UK Dependent Visa if you want your family to join you.

Not being able to bring dependents to the UK is often a disappointment for many migrants. And given the British government’s determination to bring down immigration numbers, it is crucial visa applicants with dependents secure their family’s leave to enter sooner rather than later.

As with all visa applications, the quickest way to success is to invest in quality legal advice. Not only will an immigration lawyer check over your application and help you to collate the necessary documents to support the application, but they can also quickly spot any weaknesses which may attract refusal. These can then be addressed, either in the form of a detailed letter accompanying your application, or additional supporting evidence.

Client Says, “Me and my wife would like to take this opportunity in thanking A Y & J for the very efficient and professional way they handled our case.

Me and my wife would like to take this opportunity in thanking A Y & J for the very efficient and professional way they handled our case.

From the very beginning, they guided us in the correct direction…

Things I like about A Y & J are top end professional service, approachability, reliability, and honesty. I would definitely recommend to anyone who has a complex immigration situation without any hesitation”.

What are the Advantages of a UK Dependent Visa?

There are several advantages attached to a Dependent Visa. These include the ability to work and study in the UK (children can attend private or state schools). In addition, after a period, those on a UK Dependent Visa can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

However, the most important advantage of being able to get a UK Dependent Visa is that you and your family will be together. There are many families who are condemned to only coming together on Skype due to draconian Home Office policies.

The Disadvantages of a UK Dependent Visa

One of the main disadvantages of the UK Dependent Visa is, it restricts the people who you can enter the country with you. Unless a person fits within the criteria laid down in the Immigration Rules & policy guidance, they will not be able to join you on a Dependent Visa, for example, children above 18 years old. If you are in this situation, you may wish to speak to our team who can advise you on alternative visas.

Those in the UK on a Dependent Visa cannot use public funds. Therefore, your sponsor will need to show they have the necessary funds and willingness to support you financially while you are in the UK.

The Healthcare Surcharge

As well as the cost of applying for a UK Dependent Visa, another expense which must be budgeted for is the NHS Healthcare Surcharge. Dependents are usually required to pay the same amount as the main applicant. At the time of writing, these charges are:

  • £150 per year for a student or Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa; for example, £300 for a 2-year visa
  • £200 per year for all other visa and immigration applications; for example, £1,000 for a 5-year visa

The NHS Healthcare Surcharge is paid at the same time as the application.

At present, there are no English language requirements for those applying for a Dependent Visa.

Common Reasons for Refusal

The most common reasons a UK Dependent Visa is refused are:

  • Not filling in the application form correctly
  • Failing to submit the correct documents
  • Documents are not submitted in the correct format (don’t simply bundle them altogether)
  • Specific supporting evidence is missing, or you send in copies of documents when the original ones are required
  • You believed UKVI officials will understand your situation and let you away with a small mistake – unfortunately, they are highly unlikely to
  • Rather than seek professional legal advice, you rely on family and friends
  • You try to hide relevant information or immigration issues or deceive the Home Office

Trying to deceive immigration officials is extremely risky as any suspicious claims on your applications or odd -looking documents will be ruthlessly checked by the caseworker reviewing your application and your attempt to fudge the facts is likely to be spotted. This can lead to a lengthy ban on being able to reapply for entry into the UK (in some cases, the ban can last up to 10 years).

If you believe there are existing reasons why your UK Dependent Visa application may be refused, it is crucial to seek the advice of an experienced immigration lawyer. They can assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case and work out a strategy for submitting an application which has the best chance of success. In addition, the best immigration lawyers can consider all material facts and represent your case to Home Office in a strong possible way that if your visas are refused, a human rights application can be made as your family will be affected.

Final Words

Our team of lawyers understand the requirements of obtaining entry into the UK through a Dependent Visa and will assist you and your sponsor with the entire visa application process. We understand what the immigration officials are considering when it comes to a granting a Dependent Visa. With A Y & J Solicitors, you can get the right legal assistance so your family can enter the UK together to start your new life.

A Y & J Solicitors are specialists in immigration law based in central London. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected] or call +44 20 7404 7933.

Disclaimer: No material/information provided on this website should be construed as legal advice. Readers should seek an appropriate professional advice for their immigration matters.

A Y & J Solicitors

A Y & J Solicitors is a multi-award winning, 14+ years experienced, recommended by Legal 500, boutique UK immigration law firm based in Central London. Having assisted 5000+ clients, we are well equipped to help you with our ‘In It To Win It’ approach. For your assurance and confidence, we are pleased to share our trust rating of 4.9/5 based on 1000+ reviews on Trustpilot & Google.

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