Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

AdviceSeeker101 · Post by **AdviceSeeker101** » Fri May 16, 2025 10:36 am

Hi,
I have a 5-year UK Standard Visitor visa allowing multiple entries and stays up to 6 months each. I arrived over a month ago to visit my sister’s newborn who was recently diagnosed with LCA( Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis ). I need to stay longer to help care for them both.

Can you please advise:

1/ How can I legally extend my stay?

2/ Can I and should I switch to another visa type while in the UK, or must I apply from abroad?

3/ When and how should I apply for a visa extension? - Is it as soon as possible?

4/ What documents will help support my case?

Thanks in advance!

Post by **Ticktack** » Fri May 16, 2025 11:32 am

AdviceSeeker101 wrote: ↑
Fri May 16, 2025 10:36 am
Hi,
I have a 5-year UK Standard Visitor visa allowing multiple entries and stays up to 6 months each. I arrived over a month ago to visit my sister’s newborn who was recently diagnosed with LCA( Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis ). I need to stay longer to help care for them both.

Can you please advise:

1/ How can I legally extend my stay? You can stay for another 5 months. Like you rightly deduced, you have 6 months to stay legally.

2/ Can I and should I switch to another visa type while in the UK, or must I apply from abroad? What are you planning to switch to? There's no other route. Except you want to find a student route or find a job here in the UK.

3/ When and how should I apply for a visa extension? - Is it as soon as possible? Spend 6 months on this stay in total. Leave when your time is up and you can come again next year.

4/ What documents will help support my case?

Thanks in advance!

Quick google check on LCA shows that there's nothing you can do (caused by mutations in one of many genes involved in retinal function).
What about the kids father?
The one thing I know about the NHS is, they take children's health seriously, so the child is going to get the best care possible as a standard.
If you're planning to stay for some moral and emotional support (which is understandable), not sure how that works with the system.

Maybe other member know something compassionate that can swing things your way, I just personally don't see it unfortunately.

Post by **secret.simon** » Fri May 16, 2025 2:34 pm

AdviceSeeker101 wrote: ↑
Fri May 16, 2025 10:36 am
I need to stay longer to help care for them both.

Taking care of anybody may be seen as (unpaid) work and is forbidden under the Immigration Rules for visitors.

You may want to frame that argument differently.

You will need to leave the UK by the end of your six months stay because you don't have a medical emergency (i.e. there is no medical reason that prevent you from flying, etc).

It is expected that you will spend more time in your country of habitual residence than in the UK (the Immigration Rules forbid residing in the UK in the guise of a visit visa, by "frequent or successive visits" for instance).

You may want to look at arranging for family members already resident in the UK to take care of your sister and her child.

There is no visa category for your particular situation that you can switch to.

AdviceSeeker101 · Post by **AdviceSeeker101** » Mon May 19, 2025 9:17 am

Many thanks for your advices.
Looks like there is not much options I have, but leave and come back next year. The "taking care" I mentioned was mainly about emotional support. The news about the baby has left my sister devastated, both emotionally and physically. She is struggling to cope, and I feel I need to stay longer to support her. I thought about extending option after 6 months.

By the way, If I used all of my 6 months this time, will it be difficult for me to come back next year, I mean will I get rejected or questioned at immigration next time I come.
Thanks

Post by **Ticktack** » Mon May 19, 2025 11:23 am

AdviceSeeker101 wrote: ↑
Mon May 19, 2025 9:17 am
Many thanks for your advices.
Looks like there is not much options I have, but leave and come back next year. The "taking care" I mentioned was mainly about emotional support You can do this via the phone. The news about the baby has left my sister devastated understandably so, both emotionally and physically. She is struggling to cope, and I feel I need to stay longer to support her When you run into problems, you'll be no good to her nor yourself.. I thought about extending option after 6 months Not going to work.

By the way, If I used all of my 6 months this time Is this your first time in the UK?, will it be difficult for me to come back next year, I mean will I get rejected or questioned at immigration next time I come If this was your first rodeo, then possibly yes. If not, it could be ignored..
Thanks

Immigrationboards.com: Immigration, work visa and work permit discussion board

Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

Re: Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

Re: Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

Re: Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency

Re: Seeking Advice: Extending Visitor Visa Due to Family Medical Emergency