As the parent, grandparent, sibling or child over the age of 18 of a British citizen or a person with settled status in the UK, you can only apply for permission to come here in exceptional circumstances, ie; where you need long-term personal care that your UK sponsor can provide.

The application must be made from outside the UK and your visa must be obtained before travelling.

More information on Adult Dependent Visas

You may be eligible for a British Ancestry Visa if you are a citizen of a Commonwealth country and one of your grandparents was born in either the UK, before March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland or on a British-registered ship or aircraft.
You cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

A British Ancestry Visa allows holders to live, work and study in the UK for a period of up to five years, at which point they may be eligible to apply for a renewal or apply for settled status in the UK.

Find out more about UK Ancestry Visas

As the partner or dependent child (under 18) of a migrant who is in or coming to the UK under most categories of the points-based system, you can apply for a visa to join them here as a PBS dependent.

You will need to show that:

• you intend to live with the migrant worker, and
• your relationship is genuine.

Or for children:

• you have not formed an independent family unit, or
• are leading an independent life.

The migrant worker will also need to prove that they can support you without relying on public funds.

As as the parent of a child who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, you can apply for permission to enter or stay here. You will need to show that:

• you have sole responsibility for the child, or at the very least access rights;
• you can maintain yourself without relying on public funds;
• you meet the suitability and English language requirements.

If you meet all the requirements you will be given temporary permission to remain in the UK for 30 months. You will be eligible to stay for a further 30 months if you continue to meet the requirements and after five years you can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

If you are outside the UK you must obtain your visa before travelling.

If you are already in the UK you will be eligible so long as you are not on a Visitor Visa or on temporary admission, permission to stay was not given for a period of less than six months (unless as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner) and you are not in breach of the Immigration Rules (overstaying for less than 28 days will not be taken into account).

Yes, generally your family members will be able to join you if you are in the UK on a visa under the Points Based System. For further information, you may want to take a look at Spouse/Partner Visas, as well as Dependent Visas, or speak to one of our immigration experts.

As the law currently stands, you will be able to appeal in the event that your UK Family Visa is refused.

In the event that your application is refused, there may be other options even after the refusal. Speak to an immigration lawyer to get the best and most up to date advice.

The law at the present time in respect of Visit Visas does not allow for a full right of appeal. You can only appeal such visas on very restricted grounds. If you have been refused a Family Visit Visa it is advisable to speak to one of our experts to advise on your options.

With our team of expert immigration lawyers, we will be able to assist you with any type of Family Visa application.

We will:

• assess your eligibility for a Family Visa;
• assess whether your UK relative is eligible to act as your sponsor;
• help you make sure you have acceptable proof of your relationship to your relative for your application;
• perform a full document check to ensure that they are sufficient;
• confer with you in person, via phone or Skype at a suitable time for you;
• prepare a Letter of Representation to accompany your application. This is a document containing information about your case and its merits. It will also reference all relevant UK immigration laws that might support your application;
• liaise with the Home Office throughout the process;
• complete each part of your application in full and to a professional standard