Long term visitor visa for mother and sister

Hello everyone,

I have an ILR and my wife is on dependant visa. We would like to know if there are any caveats we should be aware of when applying a long term visitor visa (2-5 years) for my mother and sister from India? They have never visited UK or any other country.

My mother (54) is a housewife and was dependent on my father who recently passed away. My mother and late father were named directors in a services company that I set up some time ago run in India (I am not officially part of it). My mother draws approx £2k per annum in dividends from the company (in her personal account), has around £4k invested in stocks. She is also a joint owner with me in a property owned in India.

My sister (28) was working until there were layoffs due to COVID-19 and is currently unemployed. She has approx £2k invested in stocks and no other savings.

Wife & I are employed, no kids, living in a rental property, and are earning decent pay (around £140k/year - combined). So sponsoring their tickets, stay, travel etc isn't a big issue.

Our current plan is to invite both of them to stay over Christmas. My sister will return after that, and mother may stay for couple of months. They may also visit us periodically to stay and/or travel (hence the longer term visa).

Questions:

• Should we go with applying for a 2/5 years long term visa for them? Is there a need for justification on why they need a longer term visa?
• Will building a cashflow in my sister's account few months before her visa application help?
• What documents do I need to provide in order to satisfy the sponsorship criteria?
• What evidence we need to provide proving they have independent life established back home, have no intention to settle in the UK right now, and will return back to India.

Any help is highly appreciated. Thanks.

We would like to know if there are any caveats we should be aware of when applying a long term visitor visa (2-5 years) for my mother and sister from India? They have never visited UK or any other country.

Highly unlikely that they will be granted a longer term visitor visa with no proven track record of visiting the UK and abiding by the rules.

My mother (54) is a housewife and was dependent on my father who recently passed away. My mother and late father were named directors in a services company that I set up some time ago run in India (I am not officially part of it). My mother draws approx £2k per annum in dividends from the company (in her personal account), has around £4k invested in stocks. She is also a joint owner with me in a property owned in India.

How strong her case is (for a 6 month visa) depends on what evidence she has to prove strong ties to India.

My sister (28) was working until there were layoffs due to COVID-19 and is currently unemployed. She has approx £2k invested in stocks and no other savings.

She will likely be refused as she thechnically has no reason to return to India, unemployed and presumably no spouse or children

Wife & I are employed, no kids, living in a rental property, and are earning decent pay (around £140k/year - combined). So sponsoring their tickets, stay, travel etc isn't a big issue.

It doesn't have a lot to do with what you can afford to pay. It has everything to do with their individual financial, social, employment, family, property type ties to home country.

Should we go with applying for a 2/5 years long term visa for them? Is there a need for justification on why they need a longer term visa?

They are unlikely to be granted a longer term visa. You should do a few 6 months visas and then attempt the longer term options.

Will building a cashflow in my sister's account few months before her visa application help?

She needs to prove she is financially stable without supporting from all family members. Showing the support etc would weaken her case considerably.

What documents do I need to provide in order to satisfy the sponsorship criteria?

You are not 'sponsoring' their visas. They each have to qualify in their own right and meet the requirements on their own. You would only need a letter stating about accommodation and some funds that you would have available during their stay. Still no guarantee that they will be successful.

What evidence we need to provide proving they have independent life established back home, have no intention to settle in the UK right now, and will return back to India.

They have to prove their ties to India, ie. financial, employment, family, social, property etc etc.

How strong her case is (for a 6 month visa) depends on what evidence she has to prove strong ties to India.

That is where I am confused a bit, is there a set list of documents that I can provide to make the case stronger.

She will likely be refused as she thechnically has no reason to return to India, unemployed and presumably no spouse or children

If she manages to find suitable employment before visa application, would that help? I was thinking she could be made an employee of the company my mother is director of, not sure what legal/technical implication would it have...

It doesn't have a lot to do with what you can afford to pay. It has everything to do with their individual financial, social, employment, family, property type ties to home country.

Got it, thanks!

They are unlikely to be granted a longer term visa. You should do a few 6 months visas and then attempt the longer term options.

I will try our luck with 6 months visa then.

She needs to prove she is financially stable without supporting from all family members. Showing the support etc would weaken her case considerably.

The inflow of money would come from 3rd party/escrow accounts. Ideally we want her to be employed and getting a salary, looking at current market situation that is highly unlikely to happen in next couple of months.