One of the lesser-known UK visas is the Parent of a Child visa. This visa allows the foreign parents of British-based children to come to or remain in the UK. Our comprehensive guide below provides full details on eligibility for the visa, the process, and the costs involved.
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The Parent of a Child visa is the immigration route for foreign parents to come to or remain in the UK to care for their British-based child. The child must already live in the UK and have either British or Irish citizenship, settled status, or pre-settled status.
Various circumstances could necessitate the need for a Parent of a Child visa. For example, the breakdown of a marriage might require you to switch from a Spouse visa to a Parent of a Child visa. Alternatively, the bereavement of a parent with parental responsibility could necessitate the other parent coming to the UK to care for the child. Regardless of the specific reason, the visa should be considered a last resort, and you should look to apply for other visas first, such as a Partner visa, if you are eligible.
Successful applicants for a Parent of a Child visa will be issued an initial visa for 2 years and 9 months. You can then apply for an extension for a further 2 years and 6 months, which will provide you with sufficient time to meet the criteria to apply for settlement via Indefinite Leave to Remain. In turn, you can then apply to become a British citizen.
There are various requirements that need to be met in any application for a Parent of a Child visa. These include requirements relevant to the child's status, your relationship with the child, and wider financial considerations.
In all applications, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
In the sections below, we examine each of these requirements in more detail.
There are a number of requirements that a child needs to meet for the parent to be eligible for the visa. The following criteria apply to all applications:
If all of the above apply, then you will meet the child requirements for the visa.
There are also specific requirements for the parent that need to be met, as well as the requirements for the child. The following requirements apply to all applications:
The Parent of a Child visa is ultimately about family life and the child's welfare. It's essential that you clearly substantiate the role you play in the child's life and show how you're a pivotal part of their upbringing.
Along with the specific parent and child requirements, you must also demonstrate that you can satisfy the English language and maintenance requirements.
The English language requirement is the first of these and has been put in place to assess whether you have a good understanding of English. Typically this is assessed by passing a language test, completing a degree level qualification in English, or coming from a majority English-speaking country such as Australia or the USA. Full details can be found in our Knowledge Centre article on the English language requirement.
The maintenance requirement seeks to understand whether you can financially support yourself without relying on public funds. As part of the application process. the caseworker will assess your income and housing costs to determine if you can adequately maintain yourself. If your child or other dependants live with you, you will also need to show that you can support them financially without accessing public funds.
If you are unable to meet either the English language or financial requirements, you may still be able to apply if:
The right to family life is enshrined in UK law, so there is some flexibility and protection around this section of the application.
The Parent of a Child visa provides several benefits, granting holders various rights related to work, study, and personal freedom.
Visa holders can:
However, there are some restrictions, particularly regarding access to public funds:
When the visa is issued you will be provided with a comprehensive list of what you can and cannot do under the terms of the visa.
In some instances, the parent applicant may have other children. It is possible to include these other children as dependants in the application if any of the following conditions are met:
Additionally, they must:
It’s important to note that any additional children will need to pay both the government fee and Immigration Health Surcharge fee in addition to the fees paid by the main applicant.
The cost of a UK Parent of a Child visa application is £1,258 for applications made within the UK and £1,846 for those made outside the UK. As well as the application fee, you will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is currently £1,035 per year per adult and £776 per dependant child.
If you’re unable to pay the application fee you can request a fee waiver. However. the only reasons the fee can be waived are if one of the following applies:
Somewhat understandably, UKVI is reluctant to grant fee waivers. Therefore, you’ll need to provide clear evidence of your circumstances and why the fee should be waived.
Processing times vary based on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. If you apply from outside the UK, you will typically receive a decision within 12 weeks. However, the wait time is considerably longer for applications made within the UK. Current guidance from UKVI suggests applications are taking around 12 months to receive a decision.
If you need faster results on your visa application, you should consider using a priority service. There are additional fees to pay for these services, but responses are guaranteed to arrive within a much shorter timeframe. A priority application costs an additional £500 per applicant, with a result received within 5 working days. The super-priority service incurs an additional £1,000 per applicant but guarantees a result the next working day.
Many clients choose First Migration for its long history of excellent service and track record of successful visa applications. However, what we feel is our biggest strength and what makes us unique is our small dedicated team that offers a truly personalised service. We genuinely love what we do, and our team relishes making a difference to the lives of our clients.
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