SETTLEMENT FOR PARTNERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
The UK offers several routes to settlement for partners and family members of British citizens and settled persons in the UK, under the Spouse or Civil Partner, Unmarried Partner, Adult Dependent Relative and Child immigration routes.
What are the main eligibility requirements for Settlement for Partners and Family Members?
If applying for indefinite leave to remain as a Spouse, Civil Partner or Unmarried Partner, you will need to have completed 5 years (60 months) in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or settled person. You will also need to satisfy the strict financial requirement under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules.
Unless an exemption applies, you will also need to meet the higher English Language requirement that applies to settlement applications and have passed the Life in the UK test.
If applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain as an Adult Dependent Relative or Child, you will need to demonstrate that you will be adequately maintained, accommodated and cared for without recourse to public funds. There is no English language requirement and it is not necessary to pass the Life in the UK test.
Each of the family related settlement categories also have their own additional eligibility criteria, which are summarised below.
What else do I need to know about Settlement for Partners and Family Members?
If you qualify for settlement, or indefinite leave to remain, you will be able to stay in the UK without any time restrictions.
Your settled status will lapse if you are absent from the UK for more than 2 years. If your ILR has lapsed, you may wish to consider applying for a Returning Resident visa in order to return to the UK.
Achieving permanent resident status is central to qualifying for a British passport, since Naturalisation as a British Citizen requires that the applicant be settled in the UK.
You will not need to satisfy the English language requirement or pass the Life in the UK test if you are under 18 or at least 65 years of age. The Home Office also has a discretion to waive the requirement if it would be unreasonable to expect you to fulfil that requirement due to a mental or physical condition. Various other exemptions also apply.
How our immigration solicitors can help
Our immigration solicitors regularly advise and assist family members to settle in the UK with their British citizen and settled partners.
Whether you require expert advice on the requirements of the Immigration Rules, an independent assessment of your prospects of qualifying for settlement or professional assistance with preparing an application for indefinite leave to enter or remain, our immigration barristers are experts on settlement for partners and family members.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to family members as part of a professional and friendly servi
- Agreed/Fixed Fee
Costs: Average cost from £3,700 (plus VAT at 20% )
Who Will Carry Out the Work?
- Director assisted by a Solicitor
- Associate and Assistant Solicitor assisted by Paralegal and Caseworker
- Casework supervised by Solicitor and Director
- All work supervised by the Director
Estimated Time:
- On average, 15 hours to complete
The exact time required depends on the specifics of your case, such as:
- The amount of supporting evidence needed
- Your language(s)
- Whether you are applying with dependants
- Complexities like past refusals, criminal convictions, or adverse immigration history
Providing sufficient evidence at our first meeting and clearly meeting the applicable Immigration Rules may result in lower costs.
Services Included:
- Initial consultation to consider options and assess the most appropriate application
- Advising on immigration rules/guidance and required evidence
- Advising on submission methods (priority, premium, standard)
- Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
- Assisting with obtaining further evidence, including engaging with third parties (medical experts, banks, employers)
- Preparing the application with supporting evidence
- Preparing detailed representations with an index and finalising the application
- Submitting the application and providing updates on progress
- Advising on the outcome of the application, implications of status, and next steps
Exclusions:
- Home Office fees for making the application, which you will pay directly. Find the updated list of Home Office Fees.
- Other expenses such as VAT and disbursements for medical/expert evidence or barristers.
- Advice and assistance with appeals or reconsiderations if your application is refused.
We will notify you promptly and before incurring any such fees if they are applicable.
Home Office’s application fees
Each application to the Home Office, attracts a specific Home Office’s fee.
For the current fee for your application , please click the following link Uk Home Office’s current application fees
Our timescale to Submit your application:
- Applications typically take six to eight weeks from instruction, depending on the complexity of the applicant’s immigration history. We will inform you as soon as possible if it is likely to take longer.We’ll ensure that your application is submitted on time before your existing leave to remain or leave to enter expires.
The Home Office’s current timescale for Processing your application:
- We cannot guarantee the Home Office’s processing time. However, the currently Home Office’s processing time is between 4 to 6 months in average.
Please note that the estimated hours and fees are based on the provided information. All applications vary, and we can provide a more accurate estimate once we have more details about your specific case.
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