As yet another year is coming to a close, which seems to have happened alarmingly quickly, we at Cross Border Legal Solicitors would like to once again send our best wishes for the festive season to you and your families. We hope that 2023 brings success and good fortune in all endeavours that you pursue. It has been a pleasure getting to know and assisting all of our clients and their families this year. 

Matters Immigration…

2022 started with the Covid restrictions still rumbling on, but as the vaccines have proven successful things in immigration have gradually returned to normal. Backlogs have gradually reduced, although the war in Ukraine increased delays for certain types of visas as the Home Office struggled to process the resulting increase in applications.

This article seeks to clarify the level of financial support required to bring a family to the UK permanently.

Spouse and Dependants Visa

For a British citizen or a person settled in the UK (e.g. with Indefinite Leave to Remain, Settled Status or EU nationals with Pre-Settled Status) who has a foreign national Spouse or Children looking to relocate or stay in the UK permanently, the correct visa to look at is a Spouse Visa / Dependant Visa.

On the 6^th of April 2022, the Home Office increased some of the fees for settlement, residence, nationality, visit, study, and work visas.

One of the underlying principles in UK law is that children’s safeguards and wellbeing must be at the forefront of any government decision. This is clearly protected under section 55 of the Borders and Citizenship Immigration Act 2009 and is known by the term ‘Best Interests of the Child‘ principle.

Best Interests of the Child Principle

Under immigration law and the implementation of the Best Interests of the Child’ principle, children’s interests must be the primary consideration (although not the sole consideration) for the Home Office when considering any actions that may affect children. This approach is enshrined in law by a case called ZH (Tanzania).