Family and Spouse Visas

If you are a non-UK resident that is seeking to live with a family member in the UK, or if you are living in this country and want to arrange for a family member to live with you here, Lawson Taylor can help you start this process. As with all immigration applications, family visas can be complicated procedures that differ depending on the relationship between the sponsor (UK resident who is applying for a family member to live with them) and the person seeking immigration.

UK Spouse Visa



A person can apply for a visa if they are married or in a civil partnership (that is recognised in the UK) to somebody that has residence in this country. A successful visa will mean the person can stay on an initial 2 year probationary period. With this they are entitled to study or work, enter and leave the UK and are eligible to apply for an indefinite leave to remain once 2 year the period is over.
To be successful for this visa you must fulfil the following requirements:

 

  • Over the age of 21
  • Your partner is present and settled in the UK
  • You intend to live together with your partner permanently
  • You can prove that you can financially support yourselves and your dependents without an overreliance on public funds
  • You have suitable accommodation arranged without relying on support from public funds
  • You have sufficient knowledge of the English language and life in the UK


Fiancé Visa



You can also apply for a visa if you intend to marry somebody who resides in the UK with no limit on their stay, if you also fulfil the aforementioned requirements. If your application is successful you will receive an initial 6 month entry visa, however you will not have permission to work. After you have married your partner you can make a spouse visa application.

Unmarried/Same Sex Partner Visa



You may also apply for a visa if your partner is living in the UK permanently, even if you are not, and do not intend to get married. You must prove that you have previously lived together for at least two years and that you intend to continue living together. Any previous marriages from either side must have legally ended. Successfully applicants of this visa will receive the same rights as a spouse visa.

Dependent Relatives



You may also be able to apply for an indefinite leave to remain in the UK if you can prove that you are financially dependent on a person who resides in the UK that supports your application. A successful applicant must show that the person you are dependent on can provide for you and that you are unable to receive support in your own country.

UK Ancestry



This type of visa is available to commonwealth citizens that wish to immigrate to the UK for residence and work. You must have a grandparent that was born in the UK and be able to prove that you can accommodate and support yourself and your dependents with a reliance on public funds.


Applying for a Family Visa with Lawson Taylor



When applying for a leave to enter the UK, the application must be made from the country you wish to emigrate from. Obviously Lawson Taylor will be unable to deal with the claim from that side, instead we would deal with the person who is sponsoring the potential immigrant. If you wish to sponsor a spouse, fiancé, partner or other family member to emigrate to the UK, our specialist immigration solicitors will guide through this entire process. We will check the sponsorship declaration, proposed residency and the bank statements to ensure that you are eligible to proceed with the sponsorship. We will then prepare all the sponsorship documents and send them to the country your partner or family member currently resides in. If you or a family member are applying for a leave to remain visa, Lawson Taylor can arrange this entire process as it can be done from the UK.

For advice and information on starting the visa application process contact Lawson Taylor today.