If you are planning on moving to the UK with your spouse, there are some legal requirements that you need to satisfy to be allowed to bring someone to the UK on your student visa. You’re eligible to invite family members to join you in the UK for a certain period of time on your Tier 4 student visa if the following conditions are met:
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- You’re studying at the postgraduate level.
- Your degree course is full-time and takes at least 9 months to be completed.
- You’re attending a study program for 6 months or longer, which is funded by the UK government or a foreign government.
- You’re a Ph.D. graduate holding visa under the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
Note that, if you studying for an Advanced Diploma you’re not eligible to apply to bring a family member on a Tier 4 visa.
Only a few relatives you can bring to the UK under the Tier 4 Dependent visa. The definition of a dependent is determined through existing laws in the UK.
These family members are eligible to apply for Tier 4 Dependent visa in the UK.
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- Your spouse, wife, or a civil partner
- Your relationship partner
- Your children aged under 18 including those who were born in the UK while you were residing there.
Are spouses allowed to work in the UK?
The work permit for your spouse in the UK is dependent on various factors. Your course selection is a critical deciding factor in whether your spouse will be allowed to work in the UK or not. For course programs that are 12 months or longer, a work permit is granted to the spouse in most cases, but the situation may vary for some.
Government-sponsored students have the upper hand in this case, and their spouses are easily granted a work permit.
When to Apply for a Dependent Visa in the UK?
Students should apply for their spouse’s dependent visa right when applying for their UK course program. Moreover, they can do it right after receiving their visa application.
Suppose the student is still waiting for the outcome of his UK visa application. In that case, their spouse’s visa application should also be kept on hold until the first visa application is accepted.
How to apply for Tier 4 Dependent Visa?
Your family members cannot apply for a Tier 4 Dependent visa until you have been granted your student visa in the UK. Similarly, if you’re in the process of extending your stay in the UK on a Tier 4 visa, your dependents have to wait until you receive a response about your application. Your dependents can apply for a Tier 4 Dependent visa online. There is an application for each dependent.
To apply for a Tier 4 Dependent visa your dependents must present the following documents:
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- Their Passport.
- A Tuberculosis certificate.
- Proof of your relationship (for instance if they’re your husband or your wife they have to submit the marriage certificate).
- Proof you have been granted a student visa beforehand.
At first, they will be issued a temporary residence permit in the UK for 30 days. Once they enter the UK they must have to make an appointment at the closest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) for collecting their biometric information to authenticate their identity.
Biometric information contains some of your personal data including name, date, place of birth, immigration status, your accessibility to public funds like health services, and also your fingerprints and a facial image.
In case you want to extend your visa or switch to another type of UK visa, you and your dependents are required to apply at the same time. If for whatever reason this is not possible, your dependents must wait for your application to be processed so they apply for their dependent visa.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Tier 4 Dependent Visa in the UK?
Every dependent applying for a Tier 4 dependent visa must pay:
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- ₤475 for the visa (₤348 for dependents who apply outside the UK).
- An additional yearly healthcare charge (around ₤300).
- Around 20 to get a biometric residence permit.
Financial Requirements
Your dependent must have at least ₤680 each month to a maximum of 9 months. If you do the math it turns out they need at least ₤6,120 for their visa to be granted. Nevertheless, it is recommended for them to collect more funds because the chances to get the visa would then be higher.
A bank statement that testifies the money belongs to the person in question is sufficient proof of financial resources. Make sure those funds have been deposited at least 28 days before getting the document. Moreover, it must not be more than 31 days before the date of application.
If you’re studying in the UK on a scholarship or a similar grant, it is possible for you to provide financial coverage for your dependents as long as this is allowed by your sponsor. In that situation, immigration authorities in the UK will require you a document from your scholarship provider which confirms the amount of money they do offer you to cover your dependents. If that amount is not sufficient you need to provide additional funds.
For more info and guidance, register here: http://bitly.com/UKTCL