Wouldn’t it be ideal if one could simply submit one application to bring a family of, say 4, from abroad to the UK to live and work here? All arriving at the same time?!
However, it is often the case that the UK status of each member of the family may differ. Say for instance the mother, let’s call her Samantha, is a British citizen by descent. Her two minor children were born abroad (not in the UK). Samantha now lives in South Africa, but worked in the UK for a period of three years before the birth of her first child. Her husband, Peter, is a South African national and has no family connections in the United Kingdom.
In this scenario several options will have to be considered. Will Samantha be able to sponsor Peter for a spousal visa? Who will be her dependants for purposes of sponsorship? Can her first born child be registered as a British citizen? If so, how will it impact on the rest of the family members’ applications?
It should be clear from the above that this family may need assistance, not only with multiple applications, but with the whole process of planning and working strategically towards avoiding the separation of family members if this is at all possible.
DEPNER IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS specialise in UK family immigration law bringing and keeping families together in the UK.
Daniel Dippenaar
Barrister-Immigration Consultant, Founder Member
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (Bar Council of England and Wales)
