In several cases, the question of whether UK citizens should take their extended family members to accompany them permanently has been quite prevalent. There are not many immigration options for someone’s extended relatives in the UK, but they do provide a few for immediate family. For those asking, “Can I bring my cousin to the UK permanently?” is not simple. It's hard as there are many aspects, which include relationships, the visa category you're applying for and the sponsor's position in the UK. This article will outline the possibilities for sponsoring an extended family in the UK, such as cousins, to enter the UK through available visa options and explain how to pass through the UK's system.
Family Visas for Immediate Relatives
The UK has always kept its immigration door open to family members, who may include spouses, children, and even dependant parents, to be reunited with British citizens or settled individuals. Family visas are one option for close relatives to apply and stay, work, and study in the UK if they qualify. However, the visa is not for cousins or otherwise more distant relations.
For someone questioning, "Can I bring my cousin to the UK permanently?" a standard Family Visa does not apply. For the UK, family reunification is a priority if the dependants, such as elderly parents or minor children, are not able to be independant.
Adult dependant Visa in the UK
The adult dependant visa in the UK targets people who require extensive care from a relative living in the UK. This visa allows elderly or seriously ill parents and grandparents to live with family members if they can prove that they need care that is either unavailable or unaffordable in their motherland.
Unfortunately, adult dependant visas in the UK are not available for cousins. The visa covers only close relatives such as parents and grandparents, and it is hard to get because of its strict conditions. This visa requires detailed medical evidence and evidence that the UK-based relative can support you financially without recourse to public funds. This visa does not cover extended family, making it unsuitable for someone asking, "Can I bring my cousin to the UK permanently?"
The video below will list all the new rule changes when it comes to dependant visas in the UK.
Visa Options for Extended Family Members
Sponsoring extended family members in the UK is permissible only in some very limited conditions. Cousins and any other extended family members fall outside the general description of the usual applicants applying for the Family Visa. On the contrary, there are, however, specific visa routes that may be applicable in particular situations:
Skilled Worker Visa: If your cousin receives an offer of employment from a UK employer with a sponsor licence, he will be granted a Skilled Worker Visa. Some migrants receive a Skilled Worker Visa for work in the UK for a given skill. An individual under this visa can apply for ILR after five years in the UK. This is inadmissible as it has nothing to do with family ties. However, it will still be an avenue through which a relative can be brought to the UK for employment and not family reunification.
Student Visa: If your cousin would like to study in the UK, they might qualify for a Student Visa. This visa allows international students to stay in the UK to study at a registered UK institution. This is not a method of family reunification. Still, it could be used temporarily as an option for a relative to come to join you, with possible later switches to another type of visa.
Visitor Visa: Other extended family members’ cousins can also come to the UK for short stays, up to six months, on a Visitor Visa. It is not a permanent visa, and one would not be permitted to work or stay for a long time. However, it would certainly allow family members to come over for significant life events such as weddings or holidays. They would have to leave the UK at the end, though.
EU Settlement Scheme: Extended family members who can demonstrate dependency are eligible to join a UK resident under the EU Settlement Scheme. However, that is only for people who were relatives of an EU national living in the UK before the Brexit transition period ended. This visa depends on the particular case and how one can prove dependency.
The Issues with Sponsoring Extended Family
In the UK, very few choices are available to be able to sponsor a relative who is not a family member, such as a cousin, and live permanently there. The UK's immigration policy actually prefers the system of family reunification. However, this is only for close relatives. Options usually result in restrictions to employment or student-based visas and, therefore, require a challenge to sponsor extended families in the UK unless they fall into the specific criteria for one of the many visa categories.
Conclusion
That question, ‘Do I bring my cousin to the UK permanently?’ is still complicated. The United Kingdom immigration system has numerous visa for the immediate family but limited visas for cousins and other extended relatives. Depending on your cousin's circumstances, they will most likely qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa or Student Visa. However, the Family Visa and Adult dependant Visa in the UK do not include cousins, so it is better to find a solicitor who can give you proper advice on your specific circumstances. Immigration specialists at A Y & J Solicitors specialise in UK immigration law and can guide you through the complex process of sponsoring extended family in the UK.
