Parent Visa

The Parent Visa allows parents to join their child in the UK, where the child is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK. This visa is part of the family visa routes and provides the opportunity for parents to live with their child in the UK, ensuring family reunification.

This visa can lead to permanent settlement in the UK after a certain period of residence, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Parent Visa, you must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are the biological parent of a child who is a British citizen or has settled status in the UK.
• Your child is under the age of 18 at the time of your application.
• You have sole parental responsibility for the child, or the child lives with you.
• You meet the financial requirement, which generally involves:
  • Your child must be living with a British citizen or a person settled in the UK.
  • You must demonstrate that you can financially support yourself and your child without relying on public funds.
• You meet the English language requirement, which is typically proven by a degree-level qualification or an approved English language test.

Duration of Stay

You can stay in the UK with a Parent Visa for:

• 2.5 years initially, after which you can apply for an extension.
• After 5 years of holding this visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), allowing you to stay permanently in the UK.

Application Process

Timeline

You can apply for a Parent Visa up to 3 months before your planned travel date to the UK. As part of your application, you will need to:

• Prove your identity.
• Provide required documents, including evidence of your relationship with your child, financial requirements, and English language proficiency.
• You may need to attend an appointment to provide biometric information.

Decision Timeframe

• 12 weeks if applying from outside the UK.
• 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK.

Rights and Restrictions

What You Can Do:

• Live with your child in the UK.
• Work in the UK.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK during the validity of your visa.

What You Cannot Do:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the state pension.
• Change your employment or work arrangements without updating your visa.
• Apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) until you meet the necessary residency requirements.

Get in touch with us now at Squadlead to make your Parent Visa application process seamless and stress-free!