Process For Family Immigration

You will need to have a sponsor currently living in the UK in order to apply for immigration. Family immigration is for the following individuals who are immigrating to the UK based on legal presence of a family member in the UK as:

Spouse

You qualify as a spouse if you are married to your sponsor and your marriage is legal and valid.
You MUST have a marriage certificate issued by the province or territory in which the marriage took place.

Same Sex Spouse

The marriage must be legally recognized in the location where you were married as well as under British law.
- The laws vary location to location; it is your responsibility to be sure your marriage was legally binding by the laws where the marriage occurred.
- You will also hold the responsibility of proving the marriage was legal.

Common Law Partner

Applies to both opposite and same sex.
Defined as living together in a conjugal relationship that was uninterrupted for 12 months.
- Short absences due to business or family issues are permitted.
- Relationship has to have lasted at least one year.
Proof will be required. For example:
- Evidence of joint accounts or ownership.
- Utility bills in both names.
- Mail addressed to both people at the same address.

Conjugal Partner

Applies to both opposite and same sex.
Category is for those in a relationship that due to extenuating circumstances cannot live together and classify as common law partners or spouses.
- This is not just a physical relationship. It’s a committed relationship on the same level as a marriage or common law partnership.
- The relationship must have lasted at least one year and you will need to prove why/how you were prevented living together. If you just chose not to live together you will not qualify.

Dependent Child

A child qualifies as a dependent when:
- Under the age of 22 and is not married or in a common law relationship.
- A full time student and is dependent on you for financial support.
  - Had to have began before turning age 22 or getting married/becoming a common law partner.
- Is financially dependent on you due to disability.
  - Can continue after age 22 but the disability/dependence must have occurred before the child turned 22.

Parents

Grandparents

Other dependent relatives

Relation to the aforementioned person(s) must be proven with a birth or marriage certificate.

Family members of Tier 1 Migrants*

*A Tier 1 immigrant is classified as a highly skilled individual who scores the requisite points to immigrate to the U.K. without any kind of sponsorship from an employer. Highly skilled individuals include doctors, scientists, engineers, MBAs, and other educated workers. If you can speak English, have earned at least the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, and can show that you have earned a relatively good income in your home country, Tier 1 is the right scheme for you.

Step by Step Procedures

Fill out the VAF 4 Application. This visa type also applies for immigrants whom are entering the United Kingdom with intentions to settle with family members that are already legally living there. This also includes children adopted by persons already legally living in the U.K.
- For help in doing so, see the VAF 4 Application Guide.
- Keep in mind that these forms are in English and must be completed in English or with certified translation from your language TO English on all documents.

Provide all necessary documents (see page 16 of your VAF 4 application:
- Valid travel document/passport.
- Passport-sized photo, less than 6 months old (45mm high x 35mm wide).
- Appropriate fee:
  - Family Visitor - $104.00 USD
- Evidence to support the information you have given:
  - Personal Details:
    - Unless single, provide evidence of your marital status (e.g. marriage or civil partnership certificate).
    - You may be asked to present written notification from the child’s parent or legal guardian that they consent to the child’s visit/permanent residence.
    - Official record of any convictions, detailing the crime(s) you were convicted of and the sentence you received.
  - Settlement:
    - Evidence of your sponsor’s permission to live in the U.K.
    - Evidence that you have met your sponsor, if appropriate.
    - Evidence of having lived with your sponsor in a long-term relationship, if held.
    - Evidence of your sponsor’s divorce or dissolved civil partnership, if appropriate.
    - Evidence of who owns or rents the house you will live in, in the U.K.
  - Returning Residents:
    - Evidence to show that Indefinite Leave to Remain in the U.K. was granted.
  - Finances and Employment:
    - Evidence of your current employment/self employment/occupation/work.
    - Evidence of your total monthly income from all sources of employment or occupation after tax.
    - Evidence of any income from other sources (e.g. friends, family, savings, property, etc.).
    - Evidence of any job offer you have.
    - Evidence of your sponsor’s current employment/self employment/occupation/work.
    - Evidence of your sponsor’s total monthly income from all sources of employment or occupation after tax.
    - Evidence of any money your sponsor gets from public funds.

You can use the free shipping center located at the British Embassy in Mexico City at this address:

British Embassy
Rio Lerma 71, Col. Cuauhtémoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.

You can also go to Visa Information Services for more information.It can take as little as 24 hours or as long as 12 weeks to get your visa (download the new guidelines on time expected) after you’ve applied. If an entry clearance officer cannot make an immediate decision (this may be based on lack of information, missing forms, etc.), you may need to be scheduled for an interview, which should take place within 15 days after applying. You must complete this interview before attempting to leave Mexico. If an interview is required, the entry clearance officer will contact you.

After you get your visa, please be aware that you may still be asked for certain documents, such as verification of your reasons for coming to the UK, upon arrival. You should also carry all supporting documents that you included with your visa application or that you were asked to provide during your interview with the entry clearance officer.

Options

Husbands, wives, partners

If you are entering the United Kingdom with intentions to settle with either a spouse, fiancé(e), civil partner, proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner of someone who is coming to the UK or is already legally living in the UK, than you need to apply for a Settlement Visa (VAF 4).

Related Forms: VAF 4, VAF 4 Guide

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Family members

If you are entering the United Kingdom with intentions to settle with family members that are already legally living there, then you need to apply for a Settlement Visa (VAF 4). This also includes children adopted by persons already legally living in the UK.