Urgent: Visitor Visa for Spouse

[sam_145]

Thanks Simon, Vinny.
You guys are amazing. Bless you for all the good work you are doing, providing valuable guidance to people here.

I understand now, that it's best for me to bring them to the UK ASAP. However, I have elderly parents to look after and such, so the decision is not very easy.
I am fine with my life in India otherwise and don't really feel like going back to the UK for my own reasons. However, I fear that my kids will not be very happy when they grow up to realise that I did not do what was necessary to get their British citizenship sorted.

It's a case of satisfying my parents' wishes or my children's future. Tough choices that life throws at you....

[secret.simon]

You are welcome.

Just one word of caution; Do not assume that your children will thank you for British citizenship. See this thread, where an 18 year old wanted to reverse his UK citizenship via registration, that his parents did for him with his interests at heart, but he still wanted to retain the right to live in the UK.

As regards your parents (and even your wife and children), you may wish to investigate the "Surinder Singh route". Google it or look in the EEA Route Applications forum. You may even, if you wish, help your parents settle in Spain or Italy, which are warmer or with better weather prospects than the UK.

[sam_145]

Hi All,

We are contemplating moving back to the UK and I would like to understand a few things before we take the plunge. We are also considering the SS route (as pointed out by Simon).
Could you please answer the following questions around the settlement visa route, so we can make an informed choice.

Details About us
Husband : British Citizen
Wife : Indian Citizen (was in the UK for 11 months on Tier 1 dependent visa in 2011. In India, since then)
Child 1 and Child 2 : Indian passport holders, never been to the UK. Born before father acquired citizenship.


Visa Fees

As it is an expensive proposition to move with my family to the UK, I would like to know the financial impact. I understand that visa fees may change in the future. However, I would like to
work out our visa fees expense based on the prevailing fee schedule.

Settlemet Entry Visa : 30 months

Wife: 956
Child 1: 956
Child 2 :956
NHS Surcharge for all 3 : 1800
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Total = 4668 GBP


FLR Visa : 30 months

Wife: 649
Child 1: 649
Child 2 :649
NHS Surcharge for all 3 : 1800
----------------------------------
Total = 3747 GBP

ILR application : Lifelong

Wife : 1500
Child 1: Not applicable as I can apply for child's registration as BC once my wife gets her ILR. Please correct me if this is a wrong assumption
Child 2: Not applicable as I can apply for child's registration as BC once my wife gets her ILR. Please correct me if this is a wrong assumption
----------------------------------------------
Total : 1500 GBP

Naturalization / Registration Of Minors

Wife: 1005 (Naturalization)
Child 1 : 749 (Registration)
Child 2 : 749 (Registration)
--------------------------------------
Total = 2503

Grand Total : 12418 GBP


Accomodation Related:

I am planning to rent a 1 bed flat in the UK, before applying for my wife and kids' settlement visa. We have twin boys , both aged 2.5 years.
Is 1 bed flat OK or do I need a 2 bed flat? Will the ECO in India raise concerns around overcrowding? I plan to submit the rental agreement as proof.
Is that sufficient?

Benefits Related

When we are in the UK, will I be allowed to claim child benefit? My wife would be on settlement dependant visa and will not have recourse to public funds.
However, as a British Citizen, can I claim child benefit or would it affect their FLR / ILR applications?


Thanks in advance for your answers experts. As always, totally appreciate your time and effort.

[vinny]

ILR application : Lifelong

Wife : 1500
Child 1: Not applicable as I can apply for child's registration as BC once my wife gets her ILR. Please correct me if this is a wrong assumption
Child 2: Not applicable as I can apply for child's registration as BC once my wife gets her ILR. Please correct me if this is a wrong assumption
----------------------------------------------
Total : 1500 GBP

Risky.

Accomodation Related:

I am planning to rent a 1 bed flat in the UK, before applying for my wife and kids' settlement visa. We have twin boys , both aged 2.5 years.
Is 1 bed flat OK or do I need a 2 bed flat? Will the ECO in India raise concerns around overcrowding? I plan to submit the rental agreement as proof.
Is that sufficient?

There may be concerns.

[sam_145]

Thanks vinny.

I understand that applying for BC without ILR for the kids could be risky, and I will take a call on that closer to time. It might mean that I need to spend 2.5 grand more. Will play it by ear.


With regards to accommodation, I went through the link you shared , and this is what I gather, with respect to my scenario

Number of people:

Husband : 1
Wife 1:
Two boys aged 2.5 each : 0.5+0.5 = 1

Total number of people = 3
Number of rooms required = 2.

I think the living room is counted as a room. So 1 bed flat would mean 2 rooms. 1 living and 1 bedroom.

Going by that logic, shouldn't 1 bed flat be enough? Please correct me if I am wrong.

[sam_145]

Hi experts,

Is the above assumption around accommodation, enough fro ECO or do I have to go for a 2 bed flat?

Also, my earlier query around benefits? Any thoughts on that?

[secret.simon]

For two boys of 2.5 years, a 1 bedroom, 1living room residence would be sufficient.

EDIT: Age noticed at about the same time as Vinny highlighted it.

[vinny]

Two boys aged 2.5 each : 0.5+0.5 = 1