Planning future return to UK - Apply visa extension now or later

Hello,

I am a British Citizen. My wife and daughter are on dependant visa currently but we have a family need to move out of the country for an indefinite period. However, we eventually would come back to settle in UK, just don't know when at this stage. My wife and daughter are eligible for ILR as of now but given that ILR has 2 year return to UK window, I was wondering if it would be sensible to apply for ILR now or apply for dependant visa as and when we decide to get back to UK. However, my daughter is 13 now and I think there is a limit of 18 under for to be able to considered as a dependant. Their current dependant visas expire end of 2025.

I am basically looking for a way which could help our potential future return to UK smoother. Would greatly appreciate any advice in this regard - as in should I apply for any sort of visa extension now or do it at the point of our return from abroad?

Many thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
Adi

Hello,

I am a British Citizen. My wife and daughter are on dependant visa currently but we have a family need to move out of the country for an indefinite period. However, we eventually would come back to settle in UK, just don't know when at this stage. My wife and daughter are eligible for ILR as of now but given that ILR has 2 year return to UK window, I was wondering if it would be sensible to apply for ILR now or apply for dependant visa as and when we decide to get back to UK. However, my daughter is 13 now and I think there is a limit of 18 under for to be able to considered as a dependant. Their current dependant visas expire end of 2025.

I am basically looking for a way which could help our potential future return to UK smoother. Would greatly appreciate any advice in this regard - as in should I apply for any sort of visa extension now or do it at the point of our return from abroad?

Many thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
Adi

If you leave the UK with your family, and then choose to return, your wife and children would re-set their immigration clock. This means they will then be required to apply for a new family settlement visa, and to meet the Home Office criteria in place at that time.

This could also be with higher visa fees, and an increase in the specified financial limit.

Thank you @Casa. I understand the immigration clock reset part. So, basically, if/when we have to return we would have to rely on Family settlement visa and cannot re-apply for dependant visa? I just checked the charges including NHS surcharge and they seem to be quite high. Also, say we get the family visa - how many days after it would they be eligible for naturalisation?

If you get a new spouse visato return, you start a new 5 year path to ILR,2 x 2.5 year visas, then ILR and then citizenship.

It would make sense to apply for ilr and if requirements are met, immediately for citizenship before going abroad. Makes it easier to return later.

As a minimum, apply for ILR. Don't get this far and lose it all.

Worse case, they could always apply for returning resident.

Thank you everyone!!

Understand getting an ILR now will probably save me some money and time in the future. However, unfortunately, I don't have enough time left for ILR as they have lost some time in UK between 2020-22 as they were away and got stuck abroad during COVID. That is the reason I did not apply for ILR yet but now I don't have enough time for it with about 1.5 months left for my exit from UK. Also it costs around £6k for two people and resettlement cost is around £637 per person. If I only take money into consideration looks like family VISA for two people as per today's rates is going to cost me around £13k (for 5 years) which is almost double the cost of ILR. I honestly not sure which option to pick with my uncertain future.