How to apply for UK Tier 2 Dependent Visa?

The UK Tier 2 visa of the United Kingdom allows family members of the main visa holder to join him in the UK with a Tier 2 Dependent visa.

The Tier 2 visa is no more active for new applications. The Skilled Worker visa and the Health & Care Worker visa (for healthcare professionals) have replaced it.

At Visas Avenue, we assist to the Tier 2, Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker visa dependents, based on factors, i.e. eligibility, requirements and process to apply.

Key requirements for Tier 2 dependent visa

The qualifying criteria for the dependant visa are as follows:

Primary visa applicant

Eligibility for a dependent visa is restricted to immediate family members of person who have, or are applying for, leave to stay in the United Kingdom under one of the below categories:

• Tier 2 (General), now Skilled Worker visa, including the Health & Care Worker visa
• Tier 2 Minister of religion
• Tier 2 Sportsperson
• Tier 2 Intracompany Transfer

Otherwise, the primary applicant may already possesses ILR or British citizenship, after having formerly having had leave to stay under the Tier 2 visa category.

Immediate family members

Immediate family members are limited to:

• The primary visa holder’s spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried partners of minimum 2 continual years
• Kids aged under 18 at the time of application (including those born in the UK during the visa stay)
• Kids over 18, if presently in the UK as the primary visa holder’s dependant

Proof requirements

Evidence of all relationships must be there in the application. The relationship with spouse or partner must be true, and evidence will be required that the primary applicant and dependant have been staying together in a relationship for minimum 2 years at the time of applications. Marriage and civil partnerships needs to be recognised by law in the UK. Intent must be there to live together for the whole period of stay in the UK.

For the kids 16 years or above, proof needed that they are financially dependent on the primary applicant, are not married or have own child (staying with primary visa applicant), except the fact that they are staying away from family for studies, etc. If the child does live with the primary applicant, evidence needed to support this, i.e. a bank statement or official letter from their college/university.

Settlement Funds

Both Skilled worker and Tier 2 dependents doesn’t have any recourse to public funds. Thus, they can’t claim state benefits in the UK. In case of dependant visa application, main applicants need to submit evidence of having sufficient funds to prove that they support their dependents when they are in the UK.

Refer the table for better understanding:

Members	Maintenance Requirement
Main applicant	£1,270 (for most skilled workers)
For Partner	£285
For one dependent child	£315
For each additional dependent child	£200

 

What is accepted as maintenance funds proof?

In most cases, applicant must submit bank statements for at least 28 consecutive days within 31 days of the dependant visa application submission.

Please note that a proof of funds is not required if both main applicant and dependants are already living in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or the main visa applicant’s employer is covering the overall family costs for the first month stay in the UK.

Age

To qualify for skilled worker and health & care worker visa, both the primary applicant and dependent must age at least 18 years on the date of their arrival in the UK.

Admissibility requirement

To be admissible in the UK, applicants must ensure that they didn’t have following visas previously:

• a UK visitor visa
• short-term study visa on or after April 2015
• granted leave as a parent of a Tier 4 (child) student on or after April 2015

Additionally, they must have a clear immigration history, and genuine intention to leave the UK when their partner or relative’s visa expires.

Tier 2 Child Dependants Guidance

Children who are born in the UK to a parent who is Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa holder will not get British citizenship automatically.  They’ll need a dependant visa for each child to travel in and out of the United Kingdom.

To qualify as a dependent child, you must apply:

As a family to the Home Office, i.e., one parent under the Skilled Worker and the rest as dependents

OR

Both parents are must be in the UK and one of them or both must have Tier 2 Visa, while their dependent child is applying to reunite with

OR

One parent must be in the UK, while the other is applying together with the dependent child to join as dependents

Under following conditions, applicants will be exempted from the above conditions:

• If only one parent is alive
• If one parent holds the entire responsibility for the dependent child
• If there are compelling or serious considerations which needs be taken into consideration

What is the application process for dependant visa?

To apply for dependent visa, a separate application must be submitted and fees to be paid for each dependant applicant, including child.

You can submit the dependent visa applications either at the same time or after main visa application submission. If successful, applications will be granted leave in line with the period of leave of primary visa applicant.

Please note that the application process may vary based on where the dependent visa application is being submitted.

For Applications Submitted within the UK

Those dependents who are already living in the UK with valid leave to stay under another visa can apply to switch to the dependent visa without leaving the UK before their current visa expires.

However, switching is not permitted under following conditions:

If the dependant is on a:

• visit visa
• short-term student visa
• Parent of a Child Student visa
• seasonal worker visa
• domestic worker in a private household visa
• immigration bail

Or, the individual has been given permission to stay outside UK’s immigration rules, for instance on compassionate or humanitarian grounds.

The application must be made online using the reference number of primary applicant, i.e., the Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN).

In order to prove identity, the dependants must either attend a UKVCAS centre for submitting biometrics, or identity documents.

Dependants who are switching into this category must stay in the UK while their application is under processing, or the authority will reject it.

For Applications Submitted from outside the UK

Applications must be submitted online and must include the primary applicant’s Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN).

Each applicant must provide their biometrics at a visa application centre or via ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. In case of visa centre appointment, applicants must retain the identity documents of all the dependants while the application is under processing.

With a Tier 2 Dependant Visa, you can:

• Work anywhere in the UK
• Stay in the UK for the same period of leave as the primary tier 2 visa holder
• Study any postgraduate course
• Apply for UK ILR if lived in the UK for 5 consecutive years
• Apply for extension with the primary applicant’s leave

Planning to Immigrate to the UK this year? Seek assistance at Visas Avenue

Visas Avenue is one of the leading visa and immigration consultancy company in India. If you seek assistance or support with your UK immigration process, you may contact the certified and highly experienced migration experts on our Toll-Free No: 78-18-000-777.

Alternatively, you may fill out our free assessment form online and confirm your eligibility for the suitable UK immigration program.