Dependent Child Visa UK: Apply From the U.S.
The Dependent Child Visa UK allows children of US citizens or residents who have settled status in the UK or who already have British citizenship to come to join them in the UK.
Call us on +1 844 290 6312 for immediate help and assistance with your visa application.
Page Contents
- What is the Dependent Child Visa UK?
- What are the Dependent Child Visa requirements for US Citizens?
- Parent’s residence and the UK Dependent Child visa
- What are the financial requirements for the Dependent Child Visa?
- Required and supporting documents
- Processing time for the Dependent Child Visa
- How much does the Dependent Child Visa cost?
- What are the benefits of the Dependent Child Visa?
- Can the Dependent Child Visa be refused?
What is the Dependent Child Visa UK?
The Dependent Child Visa UK is a visa issued to children of any person, including US citizens, who have the right to remain legally in the UK.
The parent needs to either hold a valid resident visa, Indefinite Leave to Remain or have British citizenship. In order to get this visa, parents need to prove that it is their sole responsibility to take care of the child.
To be eligible for the Dependent Child Visa, the child needs to be younger than 18 years old at the time of submitting the application. If the application is successful, they will receive a visa valid for as long as one of their parent(s).
For assistance with the UK Dependent Child visa, call +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.
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What are the Dependent Child Visa requirements for US Citizens & Residents?
In order for the application to be successful, you and your child need to meet the following criteria:
- The child must be younger than 18 years old
- The child needs to be dependent on the parents and cannot be living an independent life
- Parents need to financially support the child, the child cannot rely on public funds
- The child cannot be married or be living in a civil partnership
- One of the parents needs to be applying for a UK visa, either to join the other parent, for example, on the UK Spouse Visa or as a parent who wants to settle in the UK and has the sole responsibility of taking care of the child.
In some special circumstances such as when a child has mental or physical disabilities, it is possible to apply for the Dependent Child Visa even if a child is over 18 years old.
In instances where a child has formed their own family unit and is not financially dependent on the parent based in the UK, the individual is not eligible for the status of a dependent child.
Do both parents have to live in the UK to be eligible for the Dependent Child Visa?
In most cases, the Dependent Child Visa is granted on the condition that both parents live in the UK. Nevertheless, it is possible to receive the visa if only one parent lives in the UK, providing that they can prove they have sole responsibility for the child.
If only one parent of the child lives in the UK and the other lives in the US or in another country that is not the UK, it is necessary to provide extensive evidence as to why bringing the child to the UK is essential. The parent has to prove that making the child stay in the US or another country where they are currently located is against their best interests.
If you and your partner residing in the US or another country that is not in the UK share custody of a child, the application for the Dependent Child Visa is more complex. In order for your application to be successful, you may need to prove that you have not been receiving any help and support in the upbringing of the child from the other parent.
If the Home Office finds any evidence indicating that you and your partner have a shared responsibility for raising the child, your application may be rejected. The Dependent Child Visa is granted on the condition of having sole responsibility for the child.
What are the financial requirements for the Dependent Child Visa?
An important requirement of the Dependent Child Visa is showing that the parents have enough money to support themselves and the child that joins them in the UK.
If the parent lives in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain or has British citizenship, they need to be able to prove that they will be able to provide for the child and support them financially without recourse to public funds.
If the parent is in the UK on Spouse Visa or Fiance Visa, they need to prove that they have an income of at least £18,600 a year. On top of that, they need to show that they have £3,800 to support the first child they want to bring to the UK.
If the parent wants to bring more than one child to the UK, they will need to prove that they have additional funds to support them. These add up to £2,400 extra for every other child that comes to the UK with them after the first one.
To meet the financial requirements, funds can come from several income sources such as annual salary, cash savings, employed and self-employed work, property rental, or pension.
What documents do US citizens need to include in the application?
As part of the Dependent Child Visa application, US citizens need to submit the following documents:
- A passport or another valid travel document
- Two passport photographs
- Evidence of your and your child’s age, which can be proved by, for example, birth certificates
- Details of your accommodation in the UK
- Documents that show that you meet the financial requirements, which can be bank statements, a letter from the employer including your current salary, and a few months’ worth of payslips.
You need to make sure that all the information you submit is accurate and detailed. Failure to do so might lead to UK Visas and Immigration rejecting your application. If the documentation you provided is not authentic and valid, you might see a 10-year ban on being granted an entry permit to the UK.
What is the processing time for the Dependent Child Visa?
If you apply from the US or any other country that is not the UK, processing of the Dependent Child Visa can take around 12 weeks from the date of your visa appointment.
If you need to get the decision sooner, you can pay an additional fee and submit the application using the priority service. Then, your application should be processed within 5 working days.
If you currently are in the UK and you submit the application from inside the country, your application will typically be processed within 8 weeks from the date of your visa appointment.
You can choose to submit your application using priority or super-priority services for an extra fee. If you use the priority track, you will receive the decision within 5 working days. If you opt for the fastest – super-priority track, the application will be processed in just 24 hours.
We can help you apply for a UK Dependent Child visa with regular processing or faster processing (priority or super-priority visa). For more information or assistance, call our USA office on +1 844 290 6312 or our UK office on 0333 305 9375.
How much does the Dependent Child Visa cost?
The application fee for the Dependent Child Visa varies depending on where you are applying from. If you are applying from the US or any other country that is not the UK, you will need to pay £1,523 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,200.
If you are applying from inside the UK, you will need to pay a Government fee of £1,033 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,000.
What are the benefits of the Dependent Child Visa?
If your application for the Dependent Child Visa is successful, your child will be able to come to join you in the UK and remain here legally. They will be able to work and study in the UK and attend either a state or private school. Your dependent child will also be granted access to free state healthcare.
Moreover, after your child has lived in the UK for five continuous years, they might be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
If your child turns 18 years old while they are in the UK on the Dependent Child Visa, they will still be classified as dependants and will be able to apply for an extension of their visa in accordance with the parent’s leave to remain. That is provided that they still live with their parent after their 18th birthday and that they remain financially dependent on them.
For more information or assistance with a UK Child Dependent visa, call our USA office on +1 844 290 6312 or our UK office on 0333 305 9375.
Can the Dependent Child Visa be refused?
Sadly, it can happen that your application for UK Dependent Child Visa is refused. It can happen for numerous reasons, the main ones being:
- Attaching incorrect or insufficient documentation with your application
- Not disclosing previous immigration issues
- Making a mistake in the application.
If you want to avoid your Dependent Child Visa application being rejected, you should make sure that your application is submitted correctly.
If your Dependent Child Visa application is rejected and your child is in the US or another country that is not the UK, you will have 28 days to appeal against the decision to an independent Immigration Tribunal.
In order to avoid mistakes and have a higher chance of your application being successful, get expert legal advice from our immigration lawyers.
How can Total Law help?
At Total Law, we are professional immigration lawyers that help individuals obtain visas and immigration permits. We can help you get a UK Dependent Child visa for your child who is in the US. Our immigration services cover the following:
- Assessing their eligibility for a Dependent Child visa
- Advising on the evidence and documents to provide
- Completing a high-quality application
- Liaising with the Home Office on your behalf
For more information on how we can help you, please call our USA office on +1 844 290 6312 or our UK office on 0333 305 9375. You can also contact us online through live chat or contact form, or email info@total.law.
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