You can apply for switching into parent of British child visa (10 years route) if you are a parent of British child and do not meet all the requirements of the parent visa under 5 years route. An application for switching into parent visa under 10 years route is usually made by those applicants who cannot meet the adequate maintenance requirement, immigration status requirement or English language requirement. An application for parent visa under the 10 years route is made using online application form FLR (FP). A successful applicant is granted leave to remain for a period of 30 months under the 10 years’ route to settlement. A person who has been granted initial leave to remain as a parent under the 10 years’ route can switch into parent of British child visa under 5 years route as soon as the initial leave to remain has been granted under the 10 years’ route.

What Is Parent Visa Route?

Parent of a British child visa route is intended for a parent who has responsibility for or access to their child following the breakdown of their relationship with the child’s other parent. The route is also for applicants who:

• have sole parental responsibility for their child; or
• do not live with the child (who lives with a British or settled parent or carer), but they have direct access (in person) to the child, as agreed with the parent or carer with whom the child normally lives, or as ordered by a court in the UK; or
• (for a leave to remain application) are the parent with whom the child normally lives, rather than the child’s other parent who is British or settled.

The parent route is not for couples who are in a genuine and subsisting partner relationship. An applicant cannot meet the parent route if they are or will be eligible to apply under the partner route, including where for example the definition of partner cannot be met, or other eligibility criteria for access to a 5-year route are not met. Applicants in this position must apply or will only be considered (where they are not required to make a valid application), under the partner route, or under the private life route.

Specialist Parent Visa Solicitors

Our expert team of parent visa solicitors in London specialise in applications for switching into parent visa (10 years route). Our specialist parent visa solicitors have successfully helped thousands of clients with the applications for switching into parent visa under 10 years route. Our best team of parent visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee immigration services concerning your application for switching into parent visa under 10 years route. Ask a question to our expert parent visa solicitors for free immigration advice or submit an online request to book an appointment for detailed legal advice for your application for switching into parent visa under 10 years route.

Requirements For Switching Into 10 Years Parent Visa Route

The requirements to be met for switching into parent of British child visa under 10 years route are that:

• the applicant and the child must be in the UK;
• the applicant must have made a valid application for switching into parent of British child visa under 10 years route
• the applicant must not fall for refusal under S-LTR: Suitability leave to remain; and
• the applicant meets the requirements of paragraphs E-LTRPT.2.2-2.4. and E-LTRPT.3.1-3.2 of Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules; and
• paragraph EX.1. applies.

Relationship Requirement

The child of the applicant must be-

• under the age of 18 years at the date of application, or where the child has turned 18 years of age since the applicant was first granted entry clearance or leave to remain as a parent under this Appendix, must not have formed an independent family unit or be leading an independent life;
• living in the UK; and
• a British Citizen or settled in the UK; or
• has lived in the UK continuously for at least the 7 years immediately preceding the date of application and paragraph EX.1. applies.

Furth more, Either-

• the applicant must have sole parental responsibility for the child or the child normally lives with the applicant and not their other parent (who is a British Citizen or settled in the UK), and the applicant must not be eligible to apply for leave to remain as a partner under this Appendix; OR
• the parent or carer with whom the child normally lives must be-
  • a British Citizen in the UK or settled in the UK;
  • not the partner of the applicant (which here includes a person who has been in a relationship with the applicant for less than two years prior to the date of application); and
  • the applicant must not be eligible to apply for leave to remain as a partner under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.

Additionally, the applicant must provide evidence that they have either-

• sole parental responsibility for the child, or that the child normally lives with them; OR
• direct access (in person) to the child, as agreed with the parent or carer with whom the child normally lives or as ordered by a court in the UK; and

The applicant must provide evidence that they are taking, and intend to continue to take, an active role in the child’s upbringing.

Immigration Status Requirement

To qualify for switching into parent visa under 10 years route, the applicant must not be in the UK-

• as a visitor; or
• with valid leave granted for a period of 6 months or less, unless that leave was granted pending the outcome of family court or divorce proceedings;

Furthermore, the applicant must not be in the UK –

• on immigration bail, unless:
  • the Secretary of State is satisfied that the applicant arrived in the UK more than 6 months prior to the date of application; and
  • paragraph EX.1. applies; or
• in breach of immigration laws (except that, where paragraph 39E of these Rules applies, any current period of overstaying will be disregarded), unless paragraph EX.1. applies.

Applicants who are overstayers in the UK and do not meet the above mentioned immigration status requirement may also be able to switch into 10 years parent visa route based on the best interests of the British child or children and the exceptional circumstances of the applicant’s case.

What Is EX1 Criteria For Switching Into parent Visa 10 Years Route?

To succeed in an application for switching into parent visa under the 10 years route, the applicant must meet the requirements of EX1 of Appendix FM under the Immigration Rules. The requirements of EX1 can be satisfied by showing that:-

• the applicant has a parental relationship with a child under 18 who is in the UK and who  is:
  • British Citizen; or
  • holding ILR; or
  • has lived in the UK continuously for 7 years; and
• it is unreasonable to expect such child to leave the UK.

Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours) For Switching Into Parent Visa

As one of the expert immigration solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours of the enrolment of biometrics at a designated service centre.

Our specialist parent visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application to the Home Office, UKVI through Super Priority Service (SPS) and get a decision on your parent visa application within 24 hours. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your parent application for months (sometimes years).

Switching From Parent Visa 5 Years Route To Parent Visa 10 Years Route

A person who is already in the UK with leave to remain as a parent under 5 years route can switch into 10 years route if he/she is unable to meet all the requirement to qualify for renewal of leave under 5 years route. Most of the time, the applicants who cannot meet the adequate maintenance requirement would apply for switching into 10 years route.

Re-Applying For Switching Into Parent Visa After The Refusal

If your application for switching into parent visa has been refused by the Home Office, UKVI and you believe that the decision to refuse your application is valid and lawful and therefore cannot be challenged successfully by way of appeal, you have the option to re-apply for switching into parent visa. We can provide the required legal help and assistance with re-applying for switching into parent visa through our Super Priority Service.

How Can We Help?

Our expert team of parent visa solicitors specialise in UK parent visa applications under 10 years route. If instructed to represent you regarding your application for switching into parent visa under 10 years route, our specialist team of parent visa solicitors will carry out all the work on your application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your parent visa application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our parent visa solicitors will include the following:

• Assessing your eligibility for switching into parent visa under 10 years route by considering all your personal circumstances;
• Advising you on the weaknesses and strengths of your parent visa application under 10 years route;
• Advising you on the relevant documents to be submitted in support of your parent visa application under 10 years route;
• Assessing your documents to ensure that the documentary evidence is as per requirements of the Home Office UKVI immigration Rules;
• Completing and submitting the online application form FLR(FP) to apply for switching into parent visa under 10 years route by gathering all the relevant information from you;
• Helping you with paying the parent visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the parent visa application;
• Booking your appointment with the UKVCAS application centre for verification of documents and enrolment of biometrics;
• Where necessary, preparing detailed witness statement of the applicant explaining the relationship of the applicant with the British child and other relevant factors pertaining to the parent visa application;
• Preparing a detailed cover letter to introduce and support your parent visa application under 10 years route;
• Uploading online all the relevant supporting documents before you attend your appointment for enrolment of your biometrics;
• Liaising with the Home Office UKVI for a timely decision on your parent visa application.

Our Fixed Fees For Switching Into UK Visa As A Parent Of A British Child

Our fixed fees for application for switching into leave to remain as a parent of a qualified child are as given in the fee table below:

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of casework involved in the application. In addition to our fixed fee for legal services in relation to your application, the applicant will also have to pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.

Divorce & Family Law Services

If your relationship with the other parent of British child is broken down irretrievably and resultantly you no longer intend to live together permanently, our expert team of divorce and family law solicitors can provide following services relating to your divorce and family law matters:

• Getting A Divorce
• Divorce Financial Settlement
• Child Arrangements Order
• Non Molesation & Occupation Orders
• Judicial Separation
• Separation Agreements