Advice for Visit visa

[Ads10]

Hi,

I am in the process of trying to obtain two visit visa's from relatives in Pakistan and was hoping for some advice. My mother (now in her early 80's) moved here to the UK decades ago, and is now widowed. I am her only son and I am currently working in London (100 miles away from her) meaning she is currently alone.

The two relatives are her sisters who currently live in Pakistan. They are Pakistani citizens and I would love for them to come and stay with her for 6 months if possible on a visit visa. They are in their 70's I believe. One of them has been to the UK before a very long time ago and kept to the terms of her visa (this was over 20 years ago).

I would like some advice on how best to go about applying for a visa, so that it is a smooth process and that there is minimal chance of rejection and having to go through an appeal process etc.

My mother owns a 3 bedroom semi detached property so they would be able to stay at her home without any issue. I also have savings in the region of about £17k, I work as a chartered accountant and would be happy to sponsor them if needed. My mother is retired and receives her state pension.

Any advice on how to best go about applying would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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[Casa]

It's not proving what your mother has to offer her visitors that will secure a successful application. The key is in the evidence submitted showing that your Aunts have strong ties with their home country, to convince the Entry Clearance Office that they will return without overstaying. Do they own property or a business in Pakistan, or have dependent relatives there? Although a visitor visa will be issued for a 6 month period, requesting a stay for the full term is unlikely to be granted, A visit of a few weeks stands more chance of being viable.

[Ads10]

I see,

They are two sisters who never married and therefore do not have any immediate family or children who are dependant on them. My mother and sisters were amongst over 10 siblings in a large family and now live with other brothers and sisters. I'm not sure if they have any particular property to their name but I can find out about this.

They wouldn't intend to stay any longer than the visit visa issued, but I appreciate now that showing that they intend to return would be the key. Would the fact that they have most of their family in Pakistan and expect to return to them hold valid ground in this process? They live with their brothers children and grandchildren and do look after the kids on a regular basis.

[Casa]

They would have to submit a convincing case of strong family ties/commitments etc. I suggest that they avoid any mention of their sister being 'lonely' and keep it to a desire to spend a little time with her after being apart for many years (if this is the case).
They will also have to submit evidence of their finances.

[Ads10]

That is the case. They wish to come and spend some time with her after being apart for a long time. With regards to their finances, what is it that they would need to prove to the clearance authorities regarding this? That they are financially stable? Or would it be a case of them being able to support themselves while in the UK?

[Casa]

Both I believe, but wait for advice from others who may have more experience with the financial requirements for visitors.

[CR001]

Also, 6 months is not a 'visit'. The sister will have to convince the ECO that they are 'genuine visitors' and prove their income in their home country as well as personal/family/property ties there, as casa has said.

UKVI is scrutinising these visas a lot more now, given the history of abuse in the past. There have been many refusals in the last year.

There is no appeal rights for refused visitor visa, except under human rights, which wouldn't seem likely in this case given that they have not attempted to visit in all the years.

[Ads10]

I understand that, and I appreciate that there is more scrutiny now due to people abusing the visa's in the past.

I guess my point is that if anyone wanted to look at this case in isolation they would see that there is no chance of any abuse in this case. Both of the potential visitors are elderly women in their 70's and aren't exactly going to go missing once they arrive here, they would have nowhere to go. I feel that my mother has worked hard in the UK since her mid 30's when she moved here, now that she is retired a little company from her sisters for a few months would not be an unreasonable request. My mother and I are both British citizens.

I will try to find out if her sisters have any claim to property in Pakistan. Failing this, and without a right to appeal as stated earlier, I would find it difficult to accept that this request would not be granted simply because her aunties don't have claim to business or property in Pakistan. The only real tie that I could think of would be that they have lived in Pakistan their whole lives and are always around their extended family whom they would of course want to go back to see again once they have visited here. If anyone has any advice in these circumstances I would be grateful.