UK Family Visa Solicitors

Bringing your family together in the UK

UK family immigration covers several distinct routes, each with its own requirements under Appendix FM and related parts of the Immigration Rules. A parent may wish to join a child who is in the UK, a child may need to accompany or join a parent, dependants may apply alongside a main applicant, and an elderly or unwell relative may seek to come under the adult dependent relative route. Choosing the correct route at the outset is critical, because applying under the wrong provisions is a common and costly mistake. We start by establishing exactly how the law applies to your family.

The parent and child routes

The parent route is designed for a parent who is not the partner of the child’s other parent and who has access to or responsibility for a child living in the UK. The child routes allow a child to join or accompany a parent who is British, settled, or holding qualifying leave, subject to requirements about responsibility, care arrangements and accommodation. Where only one parent is in the UK, the rules look closely at sole responsibility or whether there are serious and compelling family or other considerations. These applications turn heavily on documentary evidence of the relationship and the care arrangements, and we make sure that evidence is complete and persuasive.

Dependants and the adult dependent relative route

Partners and children can often apply as dependants of a main applicant on work, study or other routes, and we coordinate these applications so the family moves together. The adult dependent relative route is separate and notably stringent: the applicant must show that, as a result of age, illness or disability, they require long-term personal care to carry out everyday tasks, and that the required level of care is unavailable or unaffordable in the country where they live. Because so many of these applications are refused on the evidence, we focus on building a thorough, well-documented case from medical and other sources.

Meeting the requirements

Family routes commonly require applicants to satisfy a financial or adequate-maintenance requirement, demonstrate suitable accommodation, meet relationship or relationship-history requirements, and in some cases meet an English language requirement. The Home Office applies strict specified-evidence rules, and a technically valid relationship can still lead to refusal if the supporting documents fall short. We identify every requirement that applies to your route, confirm the current thresholds at consultation, and assemble an application bundle that addresses each point clearly.

Extensions and the route to settlement

Most family routes do not grant permanent status straight away. Instead, leave is granted for a defined period, after which it must be extended, and many family-route holders can eventually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain once they have completed the qualifying period of residence. The requirements at extension and settlement are not identical to those at the first application, and changes in circumstances, such as a change in income, accommodation or family composition, can affect eligibility. We advise with the whole journey in mind, so that your first application is built to support a smooth extension and, in time, settlement, rather than creating problems that surface only years later.

How we help

We act on a fixed-fee basis so you know where you stand from the outset. We advise on the correct route, prepare and check your evidence, draft legal representations, and support you through biometrics and any follow-up from the Home Office. Where an application has already been refused, we assess whether an administrative review, an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, or a fresh application offers the best prospects. Our aim throughout is to maximise your prospects of success and to reunite your family in the UK with as little stress as possible. Contact us today to discuss your family’s situation.