Bringing a child over

[llizgal]

Am so happy to have come across this forum. I have been going through it looking for some answers and it has been of great help.

Here is about myself:

Am African married to a british. Am on 2 year spouse visa. My visa expires in 6 months time and will be applying for my ILR then. I have a daughter back in Africa who is 10years. When i was applying for my visa i mentioned her in the questionnare.

I have always been the sole provider for my daughter. Am the only parent named in her birth certificate.

Both myself and my husband are working.

Initially we were not able to bring her when i was applying for my visa due to financial strains.

My question is, i would like to bring her over to the UK. Should i wait till when i get my ILR then i bring her over. Or can i bring her now. So when am apply for my ILR i could include her in it? Just dont know what is the best way forward.

Can someone please enlighten me on this.

Many thanks
Lizzie

[John]

You can apply for her Child Settlement visa now. If granted it will have the same date of expiry as your current spouse visa. Then when you apply for your ILR you will include her on the application form, and you will both end up with ILR.

But a question, do you have Sole Responsibility for your daughter? Who is looking after her at the moment? Have you been sending money out to support her? She is at school? Who decided what school she attends?

[llizgal]

John Thanks so much for getting back to me.

I have got sole responsibility of her. Currently she is in a boarding school. I do go to see her ie take her back to school at least twice per year. I got evidence of airtickets. I also got evidence of school fees receipts that i have paid for. As we pay schoolfees unlike here in UK. I do ring school at least twice a month to catch up with her. So i will ring the school and they will put her through to me. During school holidays she stays at my mums. If anything needed i do send cash to my mum and she does the necessary. So i have always looked after her. I got evidences ie western union, some bureua agencies that i send money to my mum, as i cant send money direct to her.Do you know any other thing that i could include as evidence of sole responsibility.

Another question please. Suppose i wait till i get my ILR, and then i go over apply for her joining me, what sort of visa will she get?

Once again thanks alot for answering my questions.

[John]

That evidence of Sole Responsibility looks good. Extra evidence? As well as an invoice for school fees, maybe a School Report showing that she really is there.

If you get your ILR before applying for the Child Settlement visa that visa would be issued as ILE ... indefinite leave to enter .... the equivalent of ILR that is issued outside the UK.

But why wait? Surely better to reunite the family sooner rather than later. When will she turn 11? Just wondering what type of school she will attend when she gets here .... primary .... secondary?

[llizgal]

Thanks again for getting back to me.

She will be turning 11 in july.

Am planning to do the application if all goes well april/may.

Another question just so that i know just incase plan A doesnt work....with ILE, will i be able to apply for her British Citizenship same time as mine ie next year?

Once again thanks for responding

[John]

Her visa will follow yours, so if you still have a time-limited visa then the expiry date will be the same as yours, but if you have ILR then she will get ILE.

Assuming she is then in the UK, getting her British Citizenship at the same time as yours will not be a problem. In fact just a further form to fill in, and a further fee to pay.

Given her age in UK terms she is currently a Year 6 child .... top of primary school. So in September she will be Year 7 ... the start of Secondary School. Her primary school is bound to be very temporary, so it is the Secondary School that is more important. Have you started to give thought as to what Secondary School she might go to?