Building a career in the UK through the Skilled Worker route can be a life-changing milestone. However, the idea of leaving loved ones behind can deter professionals from taking on these jobs. The Skilled Worker Dependent Visa addresses this issue by enabling families of Skilled Worker Visa holders to join them in the UK, specifically to reunite and alleviate the challenge of families being separated due to work. This visa also allows your dependents to participate in the opportunities your career move in the UK provides. To qualify for this visa, your dependents must be able to prove their relationship with you. They must also fulfil all the requirements to satisfy the Home Office’s standards for dependents of a Skilled Worker Visa holder. This article explains the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa, including who is eligible to apply, the requirements for eligibility, and the application process.
What Is a Skilled Worker Dependent Visa?
The Skilled Worker Dependent Visa is designed for immediate family members of professionals who are already in the UK or are applying to enter the UK through the Skilled Worker Visa. It allows your spouse, partner, and children to live with you, ensuring that your career move is a family opportunity rather than a solitary one. The Skilled Worker Dependent Visa ensures that family unity is preserved, allowing your dependents to study, work, and build their own paths in the UK alongside you.
Your dependents’ visas ultimately depend on your status as the main Skilled Worker Visa holder. As such, their visa duration aligns with yours, and they cannot stay in the UK longer than you while on the visa. Your dependents can apply to join you in the UK if you’re already there by linking their applications to yours using a family linking code. Alternatively, if they’re accompanying you to the UK, you and your dependents can apply at the same time to create a family group application.
Who Is Eligible to Apply as a Dependent?
To be eligible for the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa, your dependents must be any of the following:
- Children under the age of 18: This includes your biological children, stepchildren, or adopted children.
- Children over 18 who are already in the UK as dependents on a Study Visa.
- Partner: The dependent must be your unmarried partner, partner, or spouse who can prove having a relationship with you akin to marriage for at least 2 years.
Eligibility Requirements for the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa
The criteria you and your dependents must meet for them to qualify for the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa include:
- Age requirement: Your dependents under 18 years of age may apply. Only children over the age of 18 who are currently in the UK as dependents or who were previously dependents on a Student Visa may apply for this Skilled Worker Dependent Visa. They must establish that they are financially dependent on you, live with you, and are not married to prove their need for you as the sponsor.
- Financial requirements: To sponsor your dependents, you must demonstrate that you make up to £29,000 per year. You also need to set aside £285 for your partner, £200 for each additional child, after the first, and £315 for your first child.
- Relationship evidence: Your dependents (spouse or unmarried partner) must prove that they have been in a genuine and ongoing relationship with you. Your spouse or civil partner may present a marriage certificate, but your unmarried partner may provide proof of cohabitation, such as joint tenancy agreements or shared utility bills. Your children’s birth certificates or adoption documents may serve as proof of your relationship with them.
The Skilled Worker Dependent Visa Application Process
To apply for the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa so that your dependents can travel to the UK with you, follow these steps:
Online Application
Start the Skilled Worker Dependent Visa application by visiting the UK government’s online application portal to complete your Skilled Worker Visa application form with the correct details. Similarly, your dependents must also complete their Skilled Worker Dependent Visa application forms. To form a family group application, you should submit your application along with those of your dependents.
Gather Required Documents
You and your dependents must provide all the necessary documents required for the Skilled Worker Visa and Skilled Worker Dependent Visa. These documents can include a tenancy agreement, shared bills, a marriage certificate, and a birth certificate.
Pay the Required Fees
You must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and the application fee for a Skilled Worker Visa. Each accompanying dependent must pay separate IHS and Skilled Worker Dependent Visa application fees.
Book and Attend a Biometric Appointment
Visit a nearby UK visa application center with your dependents to demonstrate your identity by providing your biometric information (digital copies of your fingerprints and photographs). Alternatively, if you qualify, you and your dependents can use the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app to confirm your identity.
Await a Decision
The Home Office may take up to 3 weeks to process UK Skilled Worker Dependent Visa applications from outside the United Kingdom. However, they can process applications submitted within the UK in 8 weeks. To receive a decision on your visa application in as little as 24 hours or within 5 days, you can choose to pay an additional fee for priority or super-priority services.
Conclusion
The Skilled Worker Dependent Visa transforms your UK career move into a shared adventure with your loved ones. Instead of facing the challenges of relocation alone, your family can be part of the journey. The ability for your dependents to reside, work, study, and eventually settle in the UK creates a significant opportunity for your family that extends beyond your job. This visa can help you build a stable and prosperous future together with your family. It legally recognizes, supports, and provides your dependents with the foundation for long-term success. You can consult a professional immigration lawyer to help you and your dependents prepare comprehensive applications that meet the Home Office standards and increase your applications’ chances of success.
