The family of a settled person visa allows people from outside of the EEA to join a family member in the UK, who is a British citizen, has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or is in the UK under asylum or humanitarian protection laws. In most cases if you wish to join someone who has a temporary visa for the UK such as Tier 2 visa it is much easier.
UK Visa Length of stay
The Family of a Settled Person Visa is usually issued for the following periods:
Two and half years for spouses, civil partners, or unmarried partners which can then be extended.
6 months for fiancés, to be extended after marriage in the UK.
Two and half years for parents which can then be extended.
Indefinitely for dependent children
For most of these UK visa categories you do not again indefinite leave to remain immediately. In most cases you should be able to obtain a visa extension, and then after 5 years in the UK visa holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain (permanent residence).
If you wish to join a family member in the UK who has refugee status, 5 years’ humanitarian protection or settlement on protection grounds the requirements are different.
Family member visa conditions
The family member who is applying to join the UK permanent resident or citizen must be related in one of the following ways:
Parent
Child
Carer, if you are joining them to be cared for as a dependent adult relative
*Those applying to join their fiance must prove that plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of entering the UK.
**Unmarried partners must be able to prove that they have been in a cohabiting relationship for at least 2 years.
The family member in the UK must also have one of the following:
British citizenship
Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residence) in the UK
Refugee, asylum or humanitarian protection status in the UK
Eligibility conditions
In order to be eligible for a Family of a Settled Person visa, you must:
Be older than 18, unless you are a child coming to join your parent
Plan to live with your family member in the UK, unless you are a parent applying to join a child in the UK who lives with someone else
Prove that you and your family will have an adequate home in the UK
Speak good English (unless you are a child). This means scoring level A1 on a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages test, or having a university level degree that was taught in English*
*Citizens of the following countries do not have to prove their English language ability:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA.
Financial requirement
If you are applying to join your Spouse, fiancé, civil partner or unmarried partner in the UK they must have a certain level of income or savings to support you and any children.
The financial requirement can be met by income from a legal source, such as earnings, rental income, or maternity/paternity pay, as well as savings – though any savings must have been held for 6 months or more.
Number of family members on the application | Financial requirement (per year) |
Partner only | £18,600.00 |
Partner and one dependent child | £22,400.00 |
Each additional dependent child | £2,400.00 |
If the family member is in the UK under asylum or humanitarian protection laws, or if they receive disability or bereavement benefits in the UK, they usually do not need to meet the financial requirement.
UK visa information, help, and advice
Workpermit.com has over thirty years of experience in immigration services, and have helped thousands of people to study and work in the UK. Workpermit.com and its associated companies represent clients in compliance with Section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. In some cases we can submit your UK visa application to the Home Office to be dealt with on the same day.
For more information and advice on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com
