UK Family Visa | EEA Family Permit | Family Visit Visa | IAS (2023)

There are several options for US citizens who would like to come to the UK using the Family Visa Route. You will need a Family Visa if you intend to join your family in the UK for a period longer than six months. There are various types of visas available, the one that you will need will depend on your circumstances partner visa amount.

With a UK Family Visa, you could join various family members including your spouse, civil partner, fiancé, partner, parent, child, or a relative who will provide long-term care for you. Some of these visas even act as a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain, which allows you to live permanently in the UK.

Free movement ended in the UK on the 31st December 2020, this means that the Family Visas are no longer just for citizens from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). If you are an EU citizen living in the US then you will still need to apply for a family permit to join your family in the UK.

Page Contents

• Family Visa UK
• Types of UK Family Visas
• Partner Visas
• Dependent Visas
• Ancestry Visa
• Family Visitor Visa

• Can I come to the UK as the parent of a child in the UK?

• How can IAS help?
• Frequently asked questions

Types of Family Visas

There are many Family Visa types available for those who would like to join their loved ones in the United Kingdom. They include the:

• Spouse Visa
• Unmarried Partner Visa
• Fiance Visa
• Adult Dependent Visa
• Child Dependent Visa
• Ancestry Visa

You may be able to apply to join your family in the UK if your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK. This humanitarian protection means that you or dependent child could be eligible to apply for Family Reunion.

Each of the Family Visa types has its own individual requirements that you must meet.

The Family Visas that allow you to join a partner in the UK include the Spouse, Fiancé, and Unmarried Partner Visas.

The Spouse and Unmarried Partner Visas are valid for up to 30 months, after this period you can apply to extend them. These visas are also a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain, after 5 years you could be eligible to apply for this to live in the UK permanently.

The requirements for these are similar, you must:

• Prove that your partner is a British Citizen or a person who is settled in the UK
• Prove that your relationship is genuine and subsisting
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the English language
• Be able to support yourself financially whilst in the UK and have adequate accommodation.

The Fiancé Visa is intended for couples who wish to marry in the UK, it is valid for just six months with the assumption that you proposed civil partner will be married and living in the UK this time. To be eligible for this visa you must meet the same requirements as the other partner visas as well as proving your intentions to marry. If you want to continue living in the UK after six months, then you can apply for another UK visa, such as the Spouse Visa, once you are married to your partner.

There are two types of child visas for UK Dependent Visas, the Child Dependent and the Adult Dependent Visa

Child Dependent:A child can apply as a dependent to join their family members in the UK either at the same time or separately to their other parent visa. Their parent must have applied to enter the UK as a partner. For this visa, the child must not be living an independent life and will need to be able to be supported financially whilst in the UK.

Adult Dependent:It is very difficult to successfully apply for this type of visa. It is for those who need long-term personal care and they must prove that only their relative in the UK can provide this either due to the care not being available in their home country or being unaffordable. However, the UK relative must prove that they can support the applicant financially whilst in the UK.

You may be able to apply to join your family member in the UK as a dependent if they are already in the UK, or will be moving to the UK on a work visa or student visa.

The Ancestry visa extension is for citizens of Commonwealth countries who have a grandparent who was born in the UK. US citizens are not eligible for this visa, but if you are a Commonwealth citizen living in the US then you could be.

This visa allows you to stay in the UK for extended period of up to 5 years, you can apply to extend it as many times as you like but it is also a route to Indefinite Leave to remain.

The Family Visitor Visa is for non-EEA citizens who wish to visit family members in the UK. It can be difficult to obtain and child visa is valid for up to 6 months.

However, US citizens do not need a visa to visit the UK because they are recognized as “non-visa nationals”. This means that you can come to the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, however, you cannot work whilst here. If you plan to remain in the UK for more than 6 months then you must apply for another UK visa.

As the parent of a child with British Citizenship or settled status, you can apply for permission to join them or stay here. You will need to show:

• You have sole responsibility or access rights to the child
• You can support yourself and your family without public funds
• You meet the suitability and English Language requirements

If you meet these requirements, you will be able to apply for a UK Family permit for temporary leave to remain in the UK for 30 months. You will be eligible to extend this for a further 30 months if you continue to meet the requirements and, after five years, you can apply for ILR.

If you are applying from outside the UK, you must be granted your permit before traveling.

If you are already in the UK, you will eligible as long as:

• you are not on a Visitor Visa;
• you are not on temporary admission;
• permission to stay was not given for less than six months (unless on a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa); and
• you are not in breach of the Immigration Rules (overstaying for less than 28 days will not be taken into account).

We at IAS understand that family is important. Our highly-skilled immigration specialists have a proven track record in UK Family Visa applications. If you are unsure of which one you qualify for, we will assess all possible routes and find one right for you.

We will confirm that your UK family member is eligible to sponsor you, check all of your documents, and complete your application forms for you. Your lawyer will also write you a Letter of Representation to be submitted to the Home Office with your application. This details your application, your documents, and relevant case law to support you.

This service will improve the possibility of receiving a UK Family Visa. For more information, contact us on+1844 290 6312or inquire online to discuss your UK visa application with an expert.