Visit Visa, Visit Visa for Family

Visit Visa for Family

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The article aims to guide people working in the UK who are applying for a visit visa for their families for the first time. The general rule is to keep the application simple.

 

When is it needed?

This visa might be needed when you are inviting your parents to the UK. You can invite your spouse and children on Tier 2 dependent visa.

 

Application Process

You can use the new or the old service. Your choice of service will not affect the chances of visa clearance. The new service is simpler. But I am more familiar with the old service. Hence, I prefer the old service. You can fill out the application yourself from the UK. Your family will submit their documents at their local Visa Application Center.

  1. New Service: use this link to apply.
  2. Old Service: use this link to apply.

 

How to Apply

The new service is straightforward. However, if you are using the old service, you will select the following options:

  • Reason for Visit: Visit
  • Visa Type: Tourism
  • Visa Sub Type: Visit – tourism – 6 months

 

Visa Fee

  • 6 months – £93.
  • 2 years – £350
  • 5 years – £636
  • 10 years – £798

 

Application Processing Time

From Pakistan, it takes 2 to 4 weeks for the UKVI to process the application.

 

Eligibility

As for any visa, your family will need to show the following:

1. That they will leave the UK at the end of their visit.

They will need to show strong ties to their home country to be able to prove this. These strong ties can be the following:

  • Work
  • Family
  • Assets

2. That there are enough funds to support their visit.

Follow the same guidelines for finances as for any other visa. You will probably have the following three options:

  1. Your family could sponsor their trip themselves.
  2. You can sponsor their trip.
  3. The trip can be jointly sponsored by your family and you.

Ideally, the total cost of the trip should be a small fraction of the total amount of money available for this trip.

3. That there is an accommodation arranged for their visit

If you have an extra bedroom, you can show your own home as the accommodation for your family. If not, you will have to get a place booked, to arrange accommodation.

 

Documents Needed

You will need to attach documents to prove everything stated in your application. You can go through the Useful Links mentioned below to check the documents I attached for my parents’ visit visa application.

 

Useful Links

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How early can I apply for Visit Visa?

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before the travel.

2. How much money should I have to apply for my family's Visit Visa?

There is no specific amount of money that you need to have for this. As stated above, ideally, the total cost of the trip should be a small fraction of the total amount of money available in the bank account.

3. How long can we stay in the UK on a visit visa?

Even if the visa is granted for 2, 5 or 10 years, the maximum duration for which one can stay in the UK on each visit is for 6 months.

Published by Dr. Naseer Khan

Dr Naseer Khan works as a GP trainee in Kettering. He has been guiding medical students and doctors since 2014. His aim is to make the UK journey as easy as possible for everyone else.

4 thoughts on “Visit Visa for Family”

  1. Sir i am married and i have a baby. So my ques is that if i pass Plab and get registered with AMC and get a job in UK then will i be able to move my family there?What will be my visa status there? Will it be a work permit or permanent resident?

    Reply

    1. After passing PLAB, you will register with the GMC and not the AMC. You will get a work visa and your family will be able to live with you as your dependents. The family includes spouse and children.

      Reply

  2. After getting the spouse visa, would one’s spouse be able to work there? What’d be the visa status ?

    Reply

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