On 8 November 2021, the Home Office updated the guidance on dependant family members in work routes. There are some significant changes:<\/p>\n
2- year unmarried partner requirement <\/strong><\/p>\n If an individual is applying for a dependant partner of a lead\/main applicant, such as a Skilled Worker, and if they are not married or in a civil partnership, they must demonstrate their relationship by showing that they have lived together for a continuous 2 years prior to the date of application, and by demonstrating that their relationship is genuine and subsisting.<\/p>\n Migrants can submit the following supporting documents:<\/p>\n However, in some circumstances, the 2-year period does not have to have been completed immediately prior to the date of application, for instance:<\/p>\n Please note that the applicant must demonstrate that:<\/p>\n Dependant child requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n When applying for a dependant child of a Skilled Worker etc, both parents o must be either applying at the same time as the child have permission to be in the UK (other than as a visitor) unless one of the following applies:<\/p>\n However, the Home Office will take into consideration some exceptional circumstances \u2013 beside the serious and compelling circumstances- for example:<\/p>\n Dependent Partners qualifying period for Settlement application<\/strong><\/p>\n Dependant partners of Global Talent, International Agreement Workers, Innovator, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson and Skilled Worker must complete a 5-year qualifying period prior to qualifying for settlement. However, the qualifying 5-year period can be combined under different work routes.<\/p>\n For instance, if a main applicant held an Innovator visa for 2 years and then switched to a Skilled Worker visa for 3 years, the dependant partner of the main applicant will be able to apply for Settlement after continuously residing in the UK for 5-years period as a dependant partner of an Innovator and as a dependant partner of a Skilled Worker. He\/She does not need to wait another 2 years as a dependant partner of a Skilled Worker in order to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).<\/p>\n However, if the main applicant was granted ILR on the basis of Long Residence (LR), including where they have subsequently naturalised as British citizens, his\/her partner cannot extend their permission or apply for settlement as a dependant under these routes. For instance, the main applicant was able to apply for LR having spent 6 years as a Student visa and 4 years as Skilled Worker visa (4 years). Their partner is currently residing in the UK as a dependant partner of a Skilled Worker. As a result, he\/she will not be able to apply for an extension of a dependant partner or apply for ILR under Appendix Skilled Worker and they will need to switch into the partner of a settled person (ILR holder) and apply for leave to remain under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.<\/p>\n Please note that if the main applicant gained settlement through UK Ancestry or Representative of an Overseas Business permission, the dependant may apply for settlement without completing a qualifying period.<\/p>\n Contact Our Immigration Team<\/strong><\/p>\n For expert advice regarding any aspect of the UK visa application, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On 8 November 2021, the Home Office updated the guidance on dependant family members in work routes. There are some significant changes: 2- year unmarried partner requirement If an individual is applying for a dependant partner of a lead\/main applicant, such as a Skilled Worker,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,12],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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