Understanding the UK Adult Dependent Relative Visa
Key Takeaways
- Visa Purpose: Facilitates long-term care provision in the UK by a family member.
- Eligibility Criteria: Adults needing care due to age, illness, or disability.
- Application Process: Detailed and document intensive.
- Outcome: Indefinite leave to enter if criteria are met, subject to conditions.
The Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) visa Is a testament to the UK’s commitment to family unity and support. It is a route for individuals whose health and personal circumstances necessitate the need for sustained care, which they cannot receive in their home country. This visa allows them to reside in the UK with a close family member. In the following guide, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the ADR visa, exploring eligibility criteria, the application process, and proactive steps to take if an application faces refusal.
Primus’ Overview of the ADR Visa
The ADR visa is designed for adults who, due to certain health conditions, require substantial and ongoing personal care. The individuals health conditions and need for indefinite treatment must mean that they cannot reasonably return to their home country, due to a threat of destitution or lack of sufficient treatment available in their country of origin. They must also prove that they can only be adequately managed in the UK by a relative who is either a permanent resident or a British citizen. The adult dependant relative visa is a potential immigration route for those in vulnerable positions to gain the necessary support and comfort that only familial care can provide.
Successful applicants are awarded indefinite leave to enter the UK, giving them the legal right to stay indefinitely in the UK, and accords them full access to the National Health Service and social care services, essential for their well-being and care.
For applicants whose UK-based sponsors are not yet settled or do not hold British citizenship, the visa granted is a limited leave, aligning with the sponsor’s existing permission to stay in the UK. During this period, they are not entitled to public funds. However, this does not diminish the prospect of obtaining indefinite leave once the sponsor secures this status. The transition process and implications can be navigated with experienced immigration specialists, our immigration solicitors at Primus have a detailed understanding and expertise in ADR Visas and can ensure guidance on how you can comply with the rules and regulations of the UK dependant visa.
Who is Eligible for the ADR Visa?
The eligibility criteria for the ADR visa are stringent and carefully defined. With the updates introduced in March 2023, the ADR route now follows Appendix Adult Dependent Relative, which clarifies the qualifying relationships and sponsor requirements.
Eligible dependents include:
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Adult siblings (over 18)
- or Children, while sponsors are required to be British citizens, settled in the UK, or hold another specific immigration status.
The relationship between the applicant and the sponsor is a fundamental aspect of the eligibility criteria. The applicant must be a direct relative of the sponsor, such as a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son, or daughter who is at least 18 years old.
The Adult Dependant Relative Visa Requirements
To qualify under the ADR route, an applicant must provide evidence of the need for long-term care and the inability to access or afford such care in their home country. This care must be of a nature that only the sponsor in the UK can reasonably provide. Moreover, the applicant must demonstrate that they can be adequately maintained without reliance on the British public’s funds, meaning detailed financial planning is a necessity.
Essential Documentation for a Dependant Visa
The foundation of a successful ADR visa application lies in documentation that substantiates the applicant’s eligibility.
This may include:
- Medical Records: Providing clear and detailed medical records is crucial. These records should convincingly demonstrate the need for continuous care due to age, illness, or disability.
- Sponsor’s Eligibility: Ensuring that the sponsoring family member meets the criteria for eligibility is paramount. Depending on their status in the UK, their capacity to provide care and support should be well-documented.
- Proof of Relationship: Establishing the relationship between the applicant and the sponsoring family member is essential. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, or other relevant documents serve as tangible evidence.
- Financial Capability: Demonstrating that the sponsoring family member can financially support the applicant for at least five years is vital. This includes accommodation, care, and daily expenses.
Eligibility You Will need to Meet For an ADR Visa.
To qualify for the ADR visa, applicants need to meet a set of specific criteria that focus on the nature of their care needs and their relationship with their sponsoring family member in the UK:
- Care Necessity: Applicants must demonstrate that they require consistent, long-term care to manage daily personal and household tasks due to age, illness, or disability. This criterion highlights the visa’s focus on addressing profound care needs.
- Unavailable or Unaffordable Care: The visa emphasises the importance of care availability. Applicants need to show that the necessary care isn’t accessible or affordable in their home country, highlighting the unique nature of the care required.
- Sponsor’s Capability: The sponsoring family member in the UK should possess the financial and practical means to provide support, accommodation, and care for a minimum of five years. This condition ensures the applicant’s well-being and integration into the host country.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be 18 years or older, reflecting the visa’s intention to cater to the needs of adult dependents.
- Sponsor’s Eligibility: The sponsor in the UK must meet specific eligibility criteria, which vary based on their status as a British citizen, settled individual, or someone with limited leave or protected status. The sponsor’s ability to provide adequate care is a pivotal aspect.
Adult Dependant Relative Visa Application Process
Applying for an ADR visa is a complex process that demands detailed preparation and the gathering of a wide range of supporting documentation. When our solicitors complete the application on your behalf, we require that the applicant demonstrates their family relationship with the sponsor, the necessity for long-term personal care, and the sponsor’s ability to provide for the applicant’s needs without public aid for at least five years.
The documentation required is vast and must be meticulously compiled. It includes medical evidence substantiating the applicant’s health condition and care needs, financial documentation proving the sponsor’s ability to support the applicant, and legal documents confirming the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor.
ADR Visa Processing Time Frame
The processing time for an Adult Dependent Visa typically takes about 12 weeks for the Home Office to decide on these applications when filed from outside the UK. However, this timeframe can be longer if the application is complex and requires additional analysis.
What to Do If Your Is Application Refusal
Despite thorough preparation, ADR visa applications face a high refusal rate due to the restrictive nature of the visa’s criteria. If an application is refused, the applicant may have the right to challenge the decision through reviews or immigration appeals. If you find yourself in such a circumstance, the guidance provided by our immigration experts in challenging visa refusals becomes invaluable in the next steps of your ADR Visa.
Professional legal advice is paramount, both in preparing the initial application and in responding to a refusal. A well-prepared application anticipates potential grounds for refusal and includes compelling evidence and arguments to demonstrate the necessity of care provision in the UK. In cases where an application does not meet the standard requirements, it is essential to explore whether there are exceptional circumstances that may still justify the grant of the visa under human rights grounds.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The journey to secure an Adult Dependant Relative Visa can be complex and challenging. When facing the intricacies of the Adult Dependent Visa application process, the expertise and guidance of seasoned legal professionals are invaluable. Success depends on a clear demonstration of the applicant’s care needs that cannot be met outside the UK and the sponsor’s capacity to provide the necessary support without public funding.
Primus Solicitors offers a combination of experience, competitive pricing, and personalised service that stands out in the field of immigration law.
From the moment you engage our services by instructing one of our immigration solicitors, we’ll provide comprehensive support tailored to your unique case and situation. We understand that each Adult Dependant Relative Visa application is unique, and we commit to understanding your specific needs. Whether it’s gathering the required documentation, providing a detailed outline of the potential UK Family or partner Visas available to you, or preparing for potential appeals, we are with you every step of the way.
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Hi,
I’m hoping you can help with some advice on the below Adult Dependant Relative Visa.
I need to know if there is any chance of my application for an Adult Dependant Relative visa being accepted under the below grounds, as the applicant is not dependant on long term care, but more so exceptional circumstances:
The visa is for my younger brother who is living in South Africa. He is 19 years old. We were both born in South Africa, but I have British Nationality through my father. I have been living in the UK since 2012. I am employed, own my home and can financially support him.
My brother has just left school and has no where to live currently. His father has never been active in his life and truthfully we probably will never locate him. Our mother has her own issues and cannot look after herself, nevermind look after my brother. She struggles with alcoholism and cannot provide shelter or care for him. Along with a whole lot of other child abuse that I won’t share in this message as it will be too long. I have worked very hard to build a life here in the UK to make mine and my brothers life better. The only wall we meet now is that he has no UK Citizen ties besides me, I want him to come and live with me and get him out of his situation, so that he can work and build a life for him self that is worth it, just as I have done. Which I believe is what anyone in our situation would try everything they can do to get. I am aware how difficult these visas are to get accepted, but I know that they can be under exceptional circumstances. I just want to know if it is worth it to apply for this visa under these circumstances or do you believe that this will not be classed as exceptional circumstance and be refused?
I appreciate the help in advance,
Dani
Hi Dani, would you be able to call our office to discuss your case further?
Our office number is 0161 222 5860