Bringing your family to the UK as dependants
If you have a Tier 4 (General) student visa, or will be applying for one at the same time as your dependant makes their application
Your husband, wife, civil partner or eligible partner and children under 18 can join you as your dependant in the UK if:
- You are government-sponsored and your course is over six months long OR
- You are doing a postgraduate level course of 12 months or longer at a Higher Education Institution OR
- You had Tier 4 or pre-Tier 4 student leave for your previous course where the course was over six months long AND
- your permission is current or expired no more than three months before this immigration application AND
- your new immigration application is for a course over six months long AND
- your dependants already have Tier 4 dependant or “student” dependant leave AND
- you apply for immigration permission at the same time as your dependant
The dependants of international students are normally given permission to remain in the UK for the same period as the student, on the understanding they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds. They may also need to register with the police.
Your dependant may take up employment as long as you have leave to remain in the UK for 12 months or more. Please note that anticipated earnings cannot be presented as evidence of funding when applying to come to the UK.
The new maintenance requirements for student dependants can be found on pages 10 – 13 of the Policy Guidance on dependants of points-based system migrants, which can be downloaded from the UK Border Agency website. Currently, this states that a dependant (of a student studying outside London) must be able to show living costs of £450 per month for up to 9 months (£4,050) depending on the length of the student’s course.
Applying for entry clearance as the dependant of a Points Based System migrant
Your dependant should apply for entry clearance using the Application Form VAF10- PBS Dependant either online or on paper depending upon the facilities available in the country in which they are applying. This form can be downloaded from the UK visas website. They should also refer to the 'PBS Dependant Guidance Notes’ that are available on the same web page, when completing the form, and the Points Based System – Dependants Policy Guidance. It is their responsibility to check the UK visas website for a full list of documents that will be required. The length of time in which applications are processed varies, so it is advisable to contact the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your own country as soon as possible.