Family Visa-Long term

[send2archan]

Hi,

I am applying for an ILR in Sept 2012. My parents have visited me in the UK in the past and every time they apply for a Visa they get a 6 months visa. I am from India and everytime the visa is processed via VFS centre. Can anyone please tell me whether their is any long term family visa? Like my parents get like a 5-10 year visa so that it saves them the hassle of applying for it every time. I do know that they will not be able to stay for a continuous period of max 6 months.

Please advise.

[Lucapooka]

Short-term and long-term visit visas
A short-term visit visa allows you to come to the UK for a maximum of 6 months (or a maximum of 12 months if you are accompanying an academic visitor).

A long-term visit visa is valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years. The application fee is higher than for a short-term visit visa.

If we grant you a long-term visit visa, you are allowed unlimited entry into the UK for the time that the visa is valid. However, you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 180 days during any 12-month period. For example, a 2-year visit visa does not entitle you to stay in the UK for 2 years.


http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas- ... ily/apply/

[send2archan]

Hi,

Many thanks, that is very helpful

So basically if my parents get a 5 year visa, for each 12 months, they can stay a max 6 months (approx 180 days),right? My parents come for short holidays so say 3 weeks max. So is it OK if they say get a long term visa for 5 years in Aug, they come in sept stay for 3 weeks, then come back in Nov and stay for another 3 weeks etc? In total, they cannot stay more than 180 days in a year, is my understanding correct?

[send2archan]

Also, is there a link whereby I can see what do I need to establish in order to get a 5/10 year family visitor visa?

I will get an ILR in Aug 12. Is it a better idea to apply for a 5-10 year visa after I get my ILR?

I do not want the long term visa to be rejected. My dad has visited me twice and my mom three times. Everytime they apply for a normal tourist visa, they have been granted this without any issue. Is it OK to apply for a 5 year visa now? What are the reasons for rejection of such visas?

Pls help!