Step daughter remains whilst wife leaves?

[Bearish]

Hi,
So it's looking like the relationship with my wife (non-eu) beyond repair both now and with our separate ideals for our future.

The problem is that her daughter (my stepdaughter who has lived with us for the last 6 years since she was 1) will be much better off living with me.

We already started an adoption, before things started going wrong between us, but is there anyway for my stepdaughter to be able to remain in the UK with me if her mother and I split up as they are here on spouse visas and dependent of.

The mother agrees that she should stay with me as I can provide for our daughter but my wife is saying we will have to live together as friends for the next 4 year until my daughter has permanent residence.

Help !

Thanks.

[CR001]

Unless you legally adopt the child and can provide proof of sole custody, the child won't be able to remain with you as you are not her parent.

If her mother doesn't renew her visas, the child is unlikely to renew hers either.

How long has your wife and step daughter been living in the UK and what is their full immigration history/visas held?

[Bearish]

Thanks for your answer.

We lived together in their home country until almost 2 years ago then moved here.

They are currently on their first settlement visa and that runs out in November 2019.

The adoption process is taking ages, we applied in August last year and only got out on the waiting list a few months back because they had question marks around those not on indefinite leave to remain being able to be part of the process.