Entry Clearance applications for Children

Applicants who wish to migrate to the UK often have to arrange for applications for their dependants to accompany or join them. A dependant is any of the following:

• Child under 18 years of age
• Husband/wife/civil partner
• Unmarried/same sex partner

Migrants often mistakenly overlook many important factors when preparing and submitting entry applications for their children to accompany/join them in the UK and are often disappointed when applications are refused. Further, applicants who have children over the age of 18 that are dependent on the applicant face tough decisions under the UK Immigration Rules. The applicant will in most cases need to arrange for their ‘adult’ child to enter the UK under an alternative immigration route.  

There are also further issues which need to be addressed in situations where children have parents who are separated, divorced and/or share custody of the children. In such situations the migrant coming to the UK must show they have had ‘sole responsibility’ for the child’s upbringing and such applications often fail owing to sole responsibility not being shown to the Entry Clearance Officer’s satisfaction.  It is therefore recommended that applicants seek immigration advice to ensure the application is properly presented.

We at Law Firm Limited have extensive experience in handling dependent children applications.

Are children and parents able to apply to remain after seven years’ residence?

The requirements for child applications under the UK Immigration rules will now be explained in turn. We have identified the following categories of applications: 

A. Dependent Children of a person present and settled in the UK 

B. Dependent Children of a person who has limited leave to remain in the UK 

A. Dependent Children of a person present and settled in the UK

Children who have a parent or parents who are settled in the UK can join them here and be granted indefinite leave to enter/remain directly. There are however several conditions that need to be satisfied before the children can qualify. These are as follows:-

(i) The sponsoring parent/relative must be present and settled in the UK; or
both parents should be applying to be admitted on the same occasion for settlement; or

• One parent must be present and settled in the UK and the other should be applying to be admitted on the same occasion for settlement; or 
• One parent must be present and settled in the UK or should be applying to be admitted on the same occasion for settlement and the other parent is deceased; or 
• One parent must be present and settled in the UK or applying to be admitted on the same occasion for settlement and has had sole responsibility for the child`s upbringing; or 
• One parent or the relevant relative must be present and settled in the UK or applying to be admitted on the same occasion for settlement and there are serious and compelling family or other considerations which make exclusion of the child undesirable and suitable arrangements have been made for the child's care.

(ii) The child should be under 18 years of age and not leading an independent life, nor be married and have formed an independent family unit.  

(iii) There must be sufficient funds for adequately maintaining and accommodating the child without recourse to UK public funds 

If any of the relevant requirements are not shown to be met the application for a child for indefinite leave to enter will be refused. 

The rule of sole responsibility is observed strictly and any involvement of the other parent in the upbringing of the child may lead to the conclusion that the sponsoring parent does not have sole responsibility for the child or have responsibility for the major decisions in the child’s life.  It is possible that even having regular contact with the other parent can serve as an indication that the sponsoring parent does not have sole responsibility and this may well lead to an adverse decision on an entry clearance application.  Entry Clearance Officers often seem to wrongly employ an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach to the issue of sole responsibility and we recommend that you approach accredited immigration advisers, such as Law Firm Ltd. in relation to problematic applications. 

B. Dependent Children of a person who has limited leave to remain in the UK 

Most long-term category visas under the UK Immigration Rules permit individuals to apply to bring their dependants with them (or to join them) in the UK, which would include children under the age of 18 years. 

The children are normally given the same period of limited leave to remain as their parents have and will be expected to apply for an extension in line with any extension application the parent makes. 

There are some cases when children under the age of 18 who have entered the UK as dependants of their parents eventually do become 18. These children, whilst still holding valid limited leave to remain as a dependant are still considered to be dependent and can apply for an extension/indefinite leave to remain in line with their parents, even after the age of 18, provided they still form part of the parent(s)’ household. 

Children who hold dependant visas in the UK are given full rights of access to state schooling and access to the NHS, however they are unable to seek assistance from UK public funds. 

The same rules concerning sole responsibility apply to the applications of dependent children of individuals with limited leave to remain.  Please note there are specified maintenance requirements for the dependent children of Points-Based System migrants.

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