Bringing your family to the UK?
Family immigration support from a specialist team within a barristers’ chambers. We identify the appropriate route for your family and prepare your application carefully and thoroughly.
What routes exist for family members to join someone in the UK?
Family immigration covers a number of different routes under the Immigration Rules. The route available to you will depend on who you wish to bring to the UK, your relationship with them and the circumstances of your family. Getting the route wrong, or applying on the right route with weak evidence, leads to refusal.
The main routes we handle under family immigration are:
- Child visa: for a dependent child under 18 seeking to join a parent who is settled in the UK or has qualifying immigration permission.
- Adult dependent relative route: for an adult family member who requires long-term personal care because of illness, disability or age, where the required care cannot reasonably be provided in their home country.
If you are looking to bring a partner or spouse to the UK, that is handled under our Spouse Visa service, which has its own eligibility rules and financial requirements.
Why do family immigration applications get refused?
Family immigration applications can be refused even where the underlying family relationship is genuine. The Home Office considers whether the requirements of the relevant immigration route have been met and whether the evidence provided is sufficient.
Common issues include:
- Insufficient evidence of sole responsibility or serious and compelling family circumstances in a child application
- Failing to demonstrate the requirements of the adult dependent relative route
- Financial sponsorship requirements not being met or evidenced in the required format
- Inadequate accommodation or maintenance evidence
- Missing, inconsistent or insufficient supporting documentation
The adult dependent relative route in particular has a demanding evidential threshold. An applicant may genuinely require long-term care, but the application must also demonstrate why the required care cannot reasonably be obtained in their home country.
Careful preparation of the evidence is therefore particularly important in these cases.
How We Help
Family Immigration Application
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Tell us about your circumstances
Provide details of your family circumstances, relationship, immigration history and the person you wish to bring to the UK. -
Route and eligibility assessment
We assess the circumstances of your case, identify the appropriate immigration route and confirm the relevant eligibility requirements. We provide a fixed fee before any work begins. -
Instruct us
Once you are happy to proceed, you pay the agreed fee and we begin preparing your application. -
Application preparation
We prepare the application, including the relevant forms, supporting evidence and representations. -
Submission and updates
We keep you informed throughout the process and provide support through to the Home Office decision.
- Best suited to: parents seeking to bring a dependent child to the UK and adult dependent relative applications.
- Fees from £1,500 + VAT*
We also assist with extensions, further leave applications and refusal responses. These matters are individually assessed and quoted following an initial review.
About our fees
All fees shown are exclusive of VAT. VAT does not apply in every case; for example, applications made from outside the UK are not charged VAT.
*Fees can vary in individual cases based on unexpected complexities in the application. VAT may be applicable.
Why work with us
- You deal with a barrister, directly.
Instruct a barrister without paying for a solicitor first. - We know these routes in detail.
Family immigration under Appendix FM is one of the areas where the rules are most unforgiving, and where experienced preparation makes the biggest difference. - More than 27 years of experience,
over 5,000 clients helped, and £1M+ recovered in damages. - Offices in London and Leicester,
with a team that can speak your language.
Client testimonials
We are committed to delivering clear, practical advice and robust representation, with a focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a child to the UK if I am settled here?
A child may be able to apply to join a parent in the UK, subject to the requirements of the relevant immigration route. Depending on the circumstances, this may include requirements relating to the parental relationship, sole responsibility, or serious and compelling family circumstances.
We assess your circumstances and advise on the requirements and evidence relevant to your case.
What is the adult dependent relative route?
The adult dependent relative route is for certain adult family members, such as a parent or grandparent, who require long-term personal care because of illness, disability or age.
The route also requires evidence that the required level of care cannot reasonably be obtained in the applicant’s home country. It has a demanding evidential threshold, making careful preparation particularly important.
We can assess whether the requirements may be met and advise on the evidence needed to support the application.
Is there a financial requirement for family immigration?
Financial requirements vary depending on the immigration route and the circumstances of the application. Some routes require evidence that the UK-based sponsor can adequately maintain and accommodate the family member without relying on public funds.
We assess the applicable requirements for your particular route and advise on the evidence needed.
Does the spouse visa come under family immigration?
The spouse visa forms part of the wider family immigration framework but has its own eligibility requirements, financial requirements and application process.
If you are applying for a spouse or partner visa, please see our Spouse Visa page for further information.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact ZH Law.