UK Dependent Visa: Application Process, Eligibility, Application Requirements, Fees

Who can apply for the UK Dependent Visa?

Those candidates who are applying for a visa application in the UK and want to live in the UK can apply for the Dependent Visa which helps the Visa Citizens as well as the visa holders to live with their dependents. This visa can help the candidates to bring their loved ones such as spouse or partner, children, parents, and other close relatives to live with them in the UK.

Check: UK Student Visa

Candidates who are applying for the Dependent Visa must be dependent family members of qualifying migrants. Below are the members who are called dependent in the visa:

• Husband, wife, or civil partner
• Children under the age of 18
• A child who completed his 18 years of age if they’re currently in the UK as a dependent.

Financial Proof: Candidates must have to prove that they can support their dependents in the UK without having to rely on public funds. They must have shown financial proof so that they had the required funds in their bank account.

How Do I Apply for a UK Dependent Visa?

Candidates can apply for the UK Dependent Visa through three different methods which are inside the UK, outside the UK, and via an online medium.

Application Requirements: Documents are the ones that a candidate must have with them who are going to apply for the visa either within or outside the UK. The documentation required mainly depends on the route a candidate is applying. Some of the documents can include:

• Passport & travel history
• Background documentation
• Other proof of relationship
• Completed application and consulate fees
• Income proof of their sponsor to show adequate finances
• Spouse or partner documentation including marriage certificate
• Proof of English language skills through scores of standardized exams to study in UK (except for elderly parents you are caring for, based on documents you provide)
• If applying for your child, they must be under the age of 18 at the time of application.

Candidates applying for UK Visa and immigration must ensure that all the documents must be accurate and meet the required specifications. Documents must be written in the official UK language or be translated by a certified professional translator. Failure to do so can get rejected in the visa application.

Processing time for UK Dependent Visa

For candidates who are applying while living within the UK, the time taken for the processing of the services will be around 8 weeks and for those candidates who are applying from outside the UK, it may take around 12 weeks to be processed from the date of your appointment visa.

For providing an additional fee the application can be submitted to priority service, which might expedite the application decision within 5 working days.

Fees for the Dependent Visa in UK

The cost of a dependent visa application can be in line with the main candidate. Each dependent is also required to pay the Immigration Health surcharge of 624 Euro (~52,340 INR) per year for adult candidates and 470 Euro (~39,420 INR) per year for child applicants. Within the UK, there are biometric enrollment fees available which cost 19.20 Euros (~1,610 INR).

Advantages of a PBS Dependent Visa

Candidates who are applying for a dependent visa in the UK can attain the following advantages while remaining in the country:

• They can work as well as study in the UK
• Children will be able to go to either a private or a state school

In addition to this, applicants after completing a certain period in the country will be eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Eligibility criteria for a Dependent Visa: Following candidates are eligible to apply for the dependent visa in the UK:

• Spouses
• Civil partners
• Unmarried partners must have a provable durable relationship
• Children under 18 year's at the date of application

Those candidates who are married will be required to prove their relationship with the main applicants.

Requirements for a dependent visa in the UK: Following are the requirements which a dependent must have:

• Proof of identity;
• Proof of relationship with the main applicant
• Intend to stay with their sponsor in the country for the duration of their visa
• Must have enough funds so that they can support themselves without public funds (i.e. benefits).

Leaders in UK Dependent Visa Applications

Those candidates who have qualified for the UK work visa or based on their study in the UK will be the Leaders or Main Applicants. They may sponsor their dependent family member for applying for the dependent visa. This may allow the family members to join the applicant in the country, and accompany them in moving to the UK or can enable the family member to continue their living with the main applicant in the UK.

Duration of Stay

The candidates will get permission to stay indefinitely in the country after successfully following all the immigration requirements. Those who are dependent visa holders may apply for British Nationalisation as a citizen of the UK after completing a stay of five years in the country.

Who is eligible to come to the UK as a dependent?

Direct family members are eligible to apply for the dependent visa application. Below are given the eligible family members:

• Spouses
• Civil partners
• Children must have completed 18 years old (at the date of application).

Funds required to obtain the UK Dependent Visa

Dependents are required to show their adequate funds to support themselves in the UK. Check: Travel and Accommodation in UK. Those who are living in the UK for at least 12 months at the point of application and are applying for leave to remain will not be required to submit the evidence of finances.

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