Suppose you want to bring your child, partner (regardless of gender), parent, or other direct family members to the UK. In that case, it’s time to find an immigration lawyer to help you through the sponsor-dependent process. This will allow your certain family member to have access to a dependent visa, and be with you in the country.
On another note, we recommend working with a UK Immigration Lawyer, so you can rest assured that they know their way around the said country’s laws. We specifically prefer the services of immigration lawyers in Immigration Advice Services because of their great expertise in the field.
Below are some tips that can help you in how to sponsor a dependent in the UK:
#1: Ensure your dependent’s eligibility.
The first and probably the most important tip that you should do is to ensure that your dependent is eligible to apply.
For an overview, here are some factors that will make a dependent eligible:
- The dependant should be your partner/child/parent
- Children should be under 18; Otherwise, dependant should be at least 18
- The sponsor (you) should be staying long-term
Other requirements will depend on the current visa you’re using.
You should do this in the earliest stages, so you know the appropriate measures to take. For instance, if they’re eligible, you can proceed to the next application steps with ease. If not, then you can start collecting documents and requirements to quicken the process.
#2: Work with a professional legal expert.
Legal experts, or immigration lawyers in our case, will give you a big advantage in the application process. Immigration lawyers know the UK’s laws, as well as some ways on how to get around them. Hence, you won’t need to worry about facing any legal issues throughout.
Not only that, but you’ll also get to have exclusive tips from professionals themselves. To be specific, they can help you and your dependent with the usual questions during interviews and how to answer them. Government-related documents will also be easier to get a hold of.
#3: Prepare documents beforehand.
No matter if you’re going to apply online or through face-to-face offices, you should prepare both physical and digital copies of your documents. The full list will be given to you by the immigration agency, but below are some things that you can expect:
- Fully Accomplished Forms
- Passport and Travel Documents
- UK Biometric Residence Permit
- Police Registration Permit
- Proof of Residence (Sponsor)
There may be more or less depending on the specific visa that the sponsor and dependent hold. To be sure, it’s best to check with your local agency and/or lawyer.
#4: Prepare for interviews.
Interviews are part of the application process. This also plays a significant role in the results of the process. Based on this, some experts recommend focusing on your private life when answering questions.
You should focus on why you want to sponsor your dependent, how you can do that, and so on. Avoid sugar coating, but negative remarks should also be prevented since they can still leave a bad impression. Keeping the interviews authentic is also a plus.
#5: Meet sponsor requirements set by the UK Government.
Generally, the main requirement that sponsors should have is to present proof that they will be staying in the UK for a long time. The specific period will still depend on the kind of visa you have, but short-term or visitor ones are usually not accepted.
Other certain requirements will be given by the officers in the immigration agency. These won’t be as complex as the dependent, though. Just expect a number of personal documents that can prove that you can sustain your dependent.
#6: Consider online applications.
If you have the capacity, then we recommend the option for online applications. You won’t have to fall in long lines, spend transportation fees back and forth, or skip through the crowd. Instead, you can simply submit your scanned documents, file for an application, set a schedule for visits and interviews, and that’s it. There will be no need to spend extreme effort.
Summary
Sponsoring a dependent in the UK will be an easy task as long as you comply with all the requirements and rules. Some essential notes include relying on details about private lives to ensure higher chances of approved applications. This is because it’s in line with the main point of getting dependent visas.
Again, if you’re not familiar with UK immigration laws, we suggest working with immigration lawyers. Doing so will ensure that you stay safe and legal throughout the whole sponsor application process. It will also help you get approval even in just one try.