Best Dependent Visa Lawyers in Stonehaven

About Dependent Visa Law in Stonehaven, United Kingdom

Dependent visas allow eligible family members of a primary UK visa holder to live in the United Kingdom. Stonehaven is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, but immigration is governed by UK law administered by UK Visas and Immigration. If the main applicant holds an eligible visa, such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, or certain Student permissions, their partner and children may apply as dependants. Applications are made online, with biometrics provided at a visa application centre abroad or a UKVCAS service point in the UK. Stonehaven residents typically use services in nearby Aberdeen for biometric appointments.

A dependant partner is usually a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner who has been in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years. Dependant children are usually under 18 at the time of the first application, or over 18 if they are already in the UK as dependants of the same main applicant and continue to be financially and emotionally dependent. Dependants are normally granted permission in line with the end date of the main applicant’s visa and must meet suitability, relationship, and financial maintenance requirements.

Student dependants are now tightly restricted. Most new Student visa holders cannot bring family members unless they are studying a PhD or other research based postgraduate course or are government sponsored. Rules change periodically, so it is important to confirm current eligibility before applying.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Proving a genuine and subsisting relationship can be document intensive. Unmarried partners must evidence at least two years of cohabitation and shared financial or domestic life. A lawyer can advise on appropriate proof and how to present it clearly.

Complex family situations often benefit from legal support. This includes blended families, children from previous relationships who need consent from the other parent, adoption or legal guardianship cases, and children approaching 18 who may need careful timing or alternative routes.

Prior immigration issues can complicate applications. Past refusals, overstaying, breaches of conditions, or criminal convictions require careful analysis of suitability rules and may call for expert representation or detailed legal submissions.

Switching, extending, or keeping family members in line with the main applicant’s visa can be nuanced. Changes to the main applicant’s job, sponsor, or immigration category can affect dependants. A lawyer can plan the best sequence of applications to avoid gaps in permission.

Appeals, administrative reviews, or fresh applications after refusal demand strategic handling. Understanding the refusal reasons and addressing them with targeted evidence can save time and money.

Student dependant rules and financial maintenance thresholds have shifted. A lawyer can confirm current eligibility, the correct Immigration Rules appendix for your route, and whether the sponsor can certify maintenance to reduce funds you must show.

Local Laws Overview

Immigration is reserved to the UK Parliament and applies uniformly across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, living in Stonehaven involves Scottish systems for public services and daily life.

Right to rent checks that landlords carry out in England do not apply in Scotland. In Stonehaven you still need standard tenancy checks, a tenancy agreement, and compliance with Scottish deposit protection rules, but there is no immigration status check mandated for renting.

Healthcare is provided by NHS Scotland. Most dependant applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge during the visa application, which then allows registration with a GP and access to hospital services under NHS Scotland. Local services are delivered by NHS Grampian.

Schooling is managed by Aberdeenshire Council. Children of dependants have a right to state education and must be enrolled in school according to age and residence. You will need proof of address and immigration status when enrolling.

Civil status matters, such as marriage and civil partnership registration or obtaining certified copies of certificates, are handled by local registrars in Scotland. Accurate certificates and, where necessary, certified translations are essential for dependant applications.

Police registration for certain nationalities has been abolished. Biometric residence permits are being replaced by UKVI eVisas. Keep your UKVI account details current, as physical BRP cards are being phased out in favor of digital status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies as a dependant under UK immigration rules

Eligible dependants are usually a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner who has lived with the main applicant in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years, and children under 18. Children who turn 18 can sometimes continue as dependants if they already hold dependant status in the same family unit and remain financially and emotionally dependent. Extended family members such as parents or siblings are not normally eligible under work or study dependant routes.

Can unmarried partners apply and what evidence is needed

Yes, if you can show a durable relationship akin to marriage with at least two years of cohabitation. Evidence often includes joint tenancy or mortgage, joint bank accounts, shared utility bills, official correspondence to the same address over the two year period, photos, travel records, and statements explaining the relationship. Consistency across documents and continuity of cohabitation are important.

Can my child over 18 apply as a dependant

Usually no for a first time application. A child who is already in the UK as a dependant of the same main applicant can often extend even after turning 18 if they remain part of the household and are not leading an independent life. Adult children outside the UK typically need to qualify under a different route.

What work rights do dependants have in the UK

Most adult dependants of work visa holders can work in the UK without restriction, except as a professional sportsperson or coach. Dependants of students may have restricted work rights. Always check the specific conditions printed on your BRP or shown in your eVisa account.

Are student dependants still allowed

Student dependants are now limited. New student applications generally cannot include dependants unless the student is on a PhD or other research based postgraduate course or is a government sponsored student. The main student must also meet course and duration criteria. Confirm current rules before applying, as policies have changed recently.

What financial funds are required for dependants

You may need to show maintenance funds unless your sponsor certifies maintenance. For Skilled Worker dependants, UKVI guidance has set fixed amounts per partner and per child held for a 28 day period. For Student dependants, the amount is calculated per month up to nine months and depends on whether the main student studies in London or outside London. Thresholds are reviewed periodically, so check the latest Home Office guidance at the time you apply.

How long does a dependant visa take and how long is it valid

Outside the UK, standard processing is often around three weeks after biometrics, with optional priority services in some locations. Inside the UK, standard decisions are commonly around eight weeks after biometrics, with a faster priority option sometimes available. Dependants are usually granted permission that expires on the same date as the main applicant’s visa.

Can we switch or extend from within the UK

Many dependants can extend or switch in country, provided they still meet relationship and suitability requirements and are not subject to an in country switching bar under their current route. Timing matters. Apply before current permission expires and consider coordinating with any change in the main applicant’s visa or sponsorship.

Do dependants qualify for settlement and when

Dependants of work route migrants can often qualify for settlement after five years as a dependant if they meet residence and suitability requirements and the relationship is still valid at the time of application. Absence limits and continuous residence rules apply. Time spent as a student dependant usually does not count toward settlement under work dependant rules, but there are exceptions and alternative routes.

What happens if our relationship ends or the main migrant changes employer

If the relationship permanently ends, a dependant’s permission can be affected. You may need to switch to a different route or leave the UK. If the main applicant changes employer within the same route, dependants usually remain valid, but if the main applicant changes immigration category, dependants may need to apply to switch to the corresponding dependant route. Seek advice quickly, as delays can create gaps in lawful status.

Additional Resources

UK Visas and Immigration. The Home Office department that sets policy and decides visa applications.

GOV.UK Visa and Immigration pages. Official guidance, forms, and Immigration Rules appendices for dependants.

Law Society of Scotland. Find a regulated Scottish immigration solicitor for advice or representation.

Citizens Advice Scotland. Free guidance on practical issues like housing, benefits eligibility for migrants, and local services.

Aberdeenshire Council. School admissions, council tax, housing advice, and local registrars for certificates in and around Stonehaven.

NHS Inform and NHS Grampian. Information on registering with a GP, dental services, maternity care, and accessing NHS Scotland.

Scottish Legal Aid Board. Information on eligibility for legal aid in Scotland where applicable.

UKVCAS. Biometric enrolment service used for in country applications, commonly via a service point in Aberdeen.

Next Steps

Confirm eligibility. Identify the main applicant’s visa category and check whether it permits dependants and what relationship types are allowed. Verify whether student dependant restrictions affect you.

Plan timing. Align the dependant application with the main applicant’s visa validity. Avoid gaps by applying before current permission expires. Consider priority processing if travel or employment plans are time sensitive.

Gather evidence. Prepare passports, relationship documents such as marriage or birth certificates, proof of cohabitation for unmarried partners, parental consent documents where required, and financial maintenance evidence or a sponsor certificate of maintenance if available. Arrange certified translations for any non English or non Welsh documents.

Budget for fees. Account for the application fee, Immigration Health Surcharge, and any biometric or priority service fees. Costs change periodically, so check the current totals before submitting.

Seek legal advice. If your case involves previous refusals, complex family circumstances, criminality issues, adoption or guardianship, or you are unsure about financial and evidence requirements, consult a qualified immigration solicitor in Scotland. A lawyer can review your documents, draft representations, and manage deadlines.

Submit and monitor. Apply online, attend biometrics at the designated centre, respond promptly to any UKVI requests, and keep copies of everything. Once granted, check the conditions on your BRP or eVisa. Keep your UKVI account details updated and store all key documents safely for future extensions or settlement.

Settle in Stonehaven. Register with a GP, enroll children in school through Aberdeenshire Council, arrange accommodation without right to rent checks, open bank accounts, and integrate into local services. Keep records of residence and travel to help with future applications.