Staying Together: Your Guide to Extending a UK Dependent Visa

Extending your stay in the UK on a dependent visa is a well-defined process for those already in the UK on a family visa as a dependant. You can confidently apply to extend your dependent visa at any point before your current permission expires. It is strongly advised to submit your application at least two months before your visa is due to expire.

To successfully extend your UK dependent visa, you must continue to meet the same eligibility criteria that were in place when you initially applied.

For Partners: 

You must stay lawfully married or in a civil partnership with the primary visa holder. You must offer convincing proof of a continuous and genuine connection with the principal applicant, as well as indicate your plan to permanently reside together in the UK. If you are an unmarried partner, you typically need to have been cohabiting with your partner for a minimum of 2 years, and you must supply compelling evidence that you are still living together. Acceptable proof of cohabitation includes joint bank or building society statements, tenancy agreements, residential mortgage statements, council tax bills, utility bills, and other official correspondence showing the same address.

For Children: 

They must be under the age of 18 at the time they apply for an extension. If a kid is over the age of 18, they must have already received a dependent visa and be not living independently. Children aged 16 and up must live with the main visa holder unless they are enrolled in full-time education at a boarding school, college, or university; they cannot be married, in a civil partnership, or have their own children; and they must be financially supported by the main visa holder. The main visa holder is obligated to provide concrete evidence that the child lives with them.

Regarding Financial Conditions: 

If you have been in the UK on a dependant visa for more than one year, you generally do not need to supply further proof of financial support when you apply for an extension. However, if your stay in the UK as a dependant has been less than 12 months, you must provide irrefutable evidence that you possess sufficient funds to adequately support yourself and any other family members included in your application, as per the requirements of your specific visa. For instance, for a Skilled Worker visa, the required amounts are £285 for a spouse or partner, £315 for the first child, and £200 for each additional child.

Essential Documents Required for Extension: 

You must provide the following documents when applying for your dependent visa extension:

• The Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN) of the main visa holder. This is crucial for correctly linking your extension applications.
• Unequivocal proof of your identity, such as a valid passport or other acceptable form of identification.

For a Dependent Partner, you must also provide:

• Your original Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate, or a valid overseas registration document for a same-sex relationship.
• Compelling Evidence of Cohabitation to definitively prove that you are currently living with your partner. Acceptable documents include bank or building society statements, tenancy agreements, residential mortgage statements, council tax bills, utility bills, and other official correspondence clearly showing your shared address.

For Dependent Children, the following is mandatory:

• The Child’s original Birth Certificate to confirm their identity and relationship to the main visa holder.
• Conclusive Proof of Child Dependency if the child is 16 years or older. This includes bank or building society statements demonstrating ongoing financial support from the parent to the child and an official letter from the child’s current educational institution confirming their residential address.

It is important to understand that the Home Office may request additional documentation based on the specifics of your case.

The Application Process is as follows:

1. Complete and submit the correct visa extension application form online through the GOV.UK website. The precise form you need will depend on whether you are applying as a partner or a child. Crucially, include the main visa holder’s Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN) to ensure your applications are correctly linked. You will likely need to create an online account.
2. Pay the required fees for the dependant visa extension, as well as the mandatory healthcare surcharge. The exact fees are determined by the duration of the extension and the specific visa type. Be sure to inform your bank in advance about the large transaction to prevent any issues with your payment. In situations where you cannot afford the fee, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. The healthcare surcharge for adults staying for 2 years and 6 months is £2,587.50, and for children for the same period, it is £1,940.
3. Attend a biometrics appointment at your nearest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
4. Submit or upload all the necessary supporting documents to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Expect a decision on your visa extension application within approximately 8 weeks. For those needing a faster outcome, you have the option to pay for a super priority service at an additional cost of £1,000 for a decision within 1 working day, or the priority service for an extra £500 for a decision within 5 working days (if applying from inside the UK).

Key Points to Remember:

• You must apply before your current visa expires. Applying after the expiry date can have serious negative consequences.
• While your extension application is being processed, you are generally permitted to continue living, working, and studying in the UK, provided you submitted your application before your current visa expired.
• It is strongly advised against traveling outside the UK while your visa renewal application is being considered. Leaving the UK could lead to the withdrawal of your application.
• You are not required to take an English language test to extend your dependant visa.

If the Main Visa Holder Has Achieved ILR or British Citizenship:

If the primary Skilled Worker visa holder has been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship, their dependants are eligible to apply for either further permission to stay or for settlement themselves, assuming they meet the relevant qualifications. To extend your dependant visa in this scenario, you must have already held permission to stay in the UK as their dependant before they obtained settlement.

Situations Where a Family Visa (Including Dependent Extensions in Some Cases) Cannot Be Obtained:

• You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa. In such cases, you should apply to stay as a dependant.
• If you are in the UK on a visitor visa or a visa valid for 6 months or less, you will generally need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa. However, there are exceptions: you might be able to switch to a family visa within the UK if you hold a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée, or proposed civil partner, or if you have permission to stay pending the outcome of a family court case or divorce.

Contact The SmartMove2UK today! Their experienced UK Dependent Visa consultant can help you navigate the requirements, prepare your documents, and submit your application with confidence. Don't leave your visa extension to chance.