UK Immigration Law allows non-British dependent adult relatives from outside the EEA to come to live with British citizens or those with Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. In reality, very few do.
Many British citizens or those with Indefinite Leave to Remain would like to bring adult relatives to live with them in the UK from outside the EEA. Perhaps elderly and increasingly infirm parents, or a relative with learning difficulties or who is living alone after bereavement.
There are different rules for the relatives of refugees or those who have been granted humanitarian protection. See our section on Asylum for details. There are also different rules for EU citizens (See commonly asked questions below).
The only relatives who qualify for this Adult Dependant Visa are those who are over 18 years old and are related to the person in the UK as:
The law states that the adult relative (over 18 years old) must be 'dependent' on the person in the UK (the sponsor). That means the person applying:
The person applying must also show they will be accommodated and cared for in the UK without needing public funds such as welfare benefits.
In practice, applicants for the Adult Dependant Visa rarely meet the criteria listed above.
Very few applications for Adult Dependant Visas are successful because there is usually care available in the country where the adult relative lives which is affordable and available. In practice, the Home Office expect the adult relative to require care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We always advise honestly when asked to assess the chances of such applications succeeding. If the parents overseas are healthy, an application will have no chance at all of succeeding, for example. We would never advise someone to make an application that has no chance of success.
If we think there is a chance of success, we will work very hard to make the application the best it can possibly be.
We offer a first initial 20 minute consultation for free and you can then decide whether or not to go ahead with an application and whether or not to use our services. Adult Dependant Visas involve gathering a great deal of supporting evidence. We will work together with you to do this. We will submit the application and write the vital legal representations to the Home Office.
We work on a fixed fee basis. There is a price for the job we will do for you. We do not charge according to how many hours we spend on the application. That means you have certainty - we will only go above our fixed fee if the application unexpectedly becomes more complex than it seemed at the beginning. And we will tell you if we think that is the case.
"These three women are amazing and extremely friendly - they will not give you false hope. Many a time I was told they won't take on a case unless they are confident about the outcome."
Maria Ag
We do all the work - we just ask you to obtain the evidence we need from you and your relatives.
Unless she is so ill that she needs round the clock care that cannot be accessed in Ukraine, the application will not work. Perhaps a visit visa might be a more realistic solution.
The situation for EU citizens is currently different. An EU citizen who has Settled or Pre-Settled status can bring EEA or non-EEA dependent parents to the UK on an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit. However, the parents must prove that they are dependent on the EEA citizen (or their partner). They must show that without financial help from the EEA citizen or their partner, they cannot meet their essential needs . This seems easier to meet that the requirements for British Citizens with non-British adult dependent relatives.
There are no rules that allow for carers to enter the UK to care for a family member. It is possible to apply for permission to enter the UK on human rights grounds, however these applications are rare, extremely complex and there must be exceptional circumstances if they are to be successful. Contact us if you want to know more.
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