How can I use my dad's old residency to come to the UK ?

Hello guys, I newly registered in this forum because I need your help.

I'm a young citizen of Algeria. My goal is to travel and live abroad in a decent country such as the UK. I'm wondering if it's possible to use my dad's history of being in the UK to come there ?

My dad lived and studied five years and a half (continuously) in England back in the 80's. After graduation, he came back to Algeria to take his family business and he settled here for good. Unfortunately, my dad is old now and isn't much of a story teller, so I don't know the details about his time in the UK apart from him studying in Oxford and seeing some old photos.

I'm curious to know if I can retrieve his residency or student visa or whatever from the government archives (I'm just guessing) since I doubt that I can find any papers digging at home. My question is, is it possible by any chance to use the fact that he lived in the UK as a facilitator for me to go there ?

I can't wait to hear your answers. I highly appreciate your help and advice.

My question is, is it possible by any chance to use the fact that he lived in the UK as a facilitator for me to go there ?

No it is not possible.

You would have to find a visa you qualify for yourself.

If you father came to the UK just to study, it's similar as if he came to the UK to visit. It doesn't open any right to relatives.

The only option that could help is if stayed long enough to naturalize as British citizen then you were born after that. But just a student at one point in the UK, it doesn't mean anything for you. There is no point searching for his academic records or immigration history, as it wouldn't help you further.

If you want to work in the UK, the Tier 2 route is your friend. But you need to have yourself a solid professional background to find an employer willing to sponsor you.

Zerubbabel wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:19 pm

If you father came to the UK just to study, it's similar as if he came to the UK to visit. It doesn't open any right to relatives.

This is not quite correct. Students can bring family and up until about 10 years ago, student visa did lead to ILR.

CR001 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:33 pm

Zerubbabel wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:19 pm

If you father came to the UK just to study, it's similar as if he came to the UK to visit. It doesn't open any right to relatives.

This is not quite correct. Students can bring family and up until about 10 years ago, student visa did lead to ILR.

I should have been clearer. The OP wasn't brought to the UK by his father and his knowledge about the immigration history of his father is sketchy, so I was talking really broadly but I appreciate your intervention.

Even if the study visa allowed more rights in the past, these rights weren't exercised by the father at the time. And now, having been out of the UK for so long that even his son has difficulties tracing back the history, I think it is safe to assume that any right that might have existed at the time is no longer relevant today.

I gave the citizenship as a hint because I spoke a few years ago with a lady from Algeria. Her mum lived in France for years then came back to Algeria and had a family. Never spoke too much about her past in France but it appeared on her old days that she obtained the French citizenship during her years in France. It's shame she never shared that with her kids as that would have enabled them to possibly obtain that citizenship too.

Other than in dreams/jokes there isn't any such route where someone's family member without getting any nationality/citizenship passes any right to come/live in another country.

flowstate wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:05 pm

I'm wondering if it's possible to use my dad's history of being in the UK to come there ?

Not unless (he naturalised as a British citizen while he was in the UK AND you were born afterwards) OR (you were born in the UK before 1983).

Thank you guys so much for your insights. I had a hunch that It wouldn't be possible since my father didn't apply for a citizenship and obviously because it dates so far back. That being said, I didn't want to leave any "stone unturned" in my goal of travelling and living in a better country.

All the best.

No worries. That stone has been turned and there is nothing really.

Hope you will find a way to somewhere better for you.