The UK Immigration rules remain both complex and challenging today. Such stringency is needed to ensure that all UK citizens are legitimate in their right to live and work. A Refugee Family Reunion Visa is a popular permit to allow refugees to be reunited with their families in the UK yet is also one of the most difficult Visa types to fulfil.
What is a Refugee Family Reunion Visa
A Refugee Family Reunion Visa is a specific pass permitting partners and children to join their relevant sponsor (a recognised refugee or person with humanitarian protection) within the UK. Both partners and children can make an application to stay in the UK with you if separated when you were forced to leave your country but have been given asylum or 5 years humanitarian protection although you still do not have British citizenship yet. Partners and children, however, are unable to make an application if there is a decision pending asylum or you are under the age of 18. Nevertheless, if an application for asylum has been accepted, you are then granted official refugee status and permitted to remain in the UK for a period of 5 years. It is then possible for any family members to make an application for a Refugee Family Reunion Visa during this time and then benefit from the same leave as you have been granted by UK Immigration Rules.
Refugee Family Reunion Visa Eligibility
A Refugee Family Reunion Visa requires strict eligibility criteria. Accordingly, an individual must
- Be resident in the home country of their refugee sponsor
- Be directly related to their refugee sponsor as well as being a member of their sponsor’s household in the relevant home country
- Be able to evidence a valid relationship with the sponsor with supporting documentation (identity documents, passport, marriage, or birth certificates)
The Home Office may allow DNA Tests, photographs or even witness statements instead of the above documentation. However, it would always be advisable to provide the evidence sought by Immigration to prove your case and further your chance of success. There are also strict rules pertaining to children. Accordingly, a child must be
- Under the age of 18
- Ready to live with their parent and refugee sponsor
- Supported by both their parent and refugee sponsor with no recourse to public funds
- Not married or in a civil partnership
- Not in full-time employment
It should be noted that under the Refugee Family Reunion Visa category, parents generally do not qualify. Nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, it is possible for a child to make an application for their parents to join them in the UK on compassionate grounds if their parents were already refused refugee status themselves. There is also an Adult Dependent Visa route which is specifically designed to bring parents to the UK because of their reduced welfare and opportunity for care in their home country. However, in all cases, it would be best to seek expert immigration advice.
Our experienced immigration lawyers are on hand to offer you expert advice whatever your immigration case, contact us to book your consultation. Consultations are priced at £199 including VAT.
