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Family visas
Family Visa UK Lawyer in Bedford: Bring Your Children and Parents to the UK
Want your child to join you in the UK, or need to stay with your child who lives here? Basharat Hussain, an IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer at 93 Ford End Road, Bedford, works out which family route fits and checks the relationship, housing and financial evidence before anything is submitted.
Fixed fees from £350 for child, parent and EU family member applications. Office, phone and video appointments, Monday to Friday, or on Saturdays by appointment.
IAA regulated · Ref F201800051
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Office, phone & video
Quick answer: what is a UK family visa?
A UK family visa lets a relative live with a family member who is British, settled, or has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK. Besides partners, the main family routes are for children under 18 and for parents of a child who lives in the UK. Each route has its own rules on relationship, accommodation and support without public funds. In Bedford, Immigration Inn advises on all of them, and on EU Settlement Scheme family permits.
Which family visa route fits your situation?
| Who is coming | Usual route | Apply from |
|---|---|---|
| Your child under 18 | Child visa (joining a parent) | Outside the UK, or switch inside in some cases |
| You, to be with your child in the UK | Parent visa | Outside or inside the UK |
| Relative of an EU citizen with settled or pre-settled status | EU Settlement Scheme family permit | Outside the UK |
| Husband, wife or partner | Spouse or partner visa | Outside or inside the UK |
| Relative visiting for a short stay | Standard Visitor visa | Outside the UK |
Written and reviewed by Basharat Hussain, IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer (Ref F201800051). Rules checked October 2026 against GOV.UK.
Child visa: bringing your child to the UK
A child under 18 can usually join a parent who is British, has Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status, or is applying for settlement at the same time. The Home Office looks closely at who is responsible for the child, so this is where most child applications succeed or fail.
- Responsibility: both parents live in the UK, or the parent here has had sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing, or there are serious reasons that make the child’s exclusion undesirable.
- Age and status: the child is under 18, not married or in a civil partnership, and not leading an independent life.
- Accommodation: a home the family owns or occupies, without overcrowding.
- Support: enough income and savings to look after the child without public funds.
Sole responsibility is not the same as custody. We help you gather school reports, money transfers, messages and statements that show you made the important decisions in your child’s life. If the child’s other parent is abroad, their consent letter is usually essential. For a deeper guide, see our child dependant visa page. Source: GOV.UK child family visa.
Our child dependant visa guide goes further into sole responsibility, the other parent’s consent, TB tests and children joining a parent on a Skilled Worker, Student or Graduate visa.
Parent visa: staying with your child in the UK
The parent route is for a mother or father whose child is under 18, lives in the UK, and is British, settled, or has lived in the UK for at least 7 years. It is not a route for grandparents or for elderly parents of adult children.
- You have sole parental responsibility, or the child lives with you, or you have direct access to the child (for example under a court order or agreement).
- You are taking, and will keep taking, an active role in your child’s upbringing.
- You can support yourself and live without public funds.
- You meet the A1 English speaking and listening requirement, unless an exemption applies.
Evidence of an active role matters most: letters from the school or GP, contact arrangements, photos over time and proof of shared expenses. Source: GOV.UK parent family visa.
Why an accountant helps with family visas
Every family route asks whether the household can manage without public funds. Because Basharat is also an accountant, he works through the numbers with you before you apply:
- Household budget for everyone who will live at the address
- Income from employment, self-employment or a company, matched to bank statements
- Savings history and where large deposits came from
Family of EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status
If your relative is an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with status under the EU Settlement Scheme, close family members may be able to join them with an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, then apply to the scheme once in the UK. Eligibility depends on the relationship and, in many cases, on whether it existed before 31 December 2020.
- Spouses and civil partners
- Children under 21, or older if dependent
- Dependent parents and grandparents
- Durable partners, in limited circumstances
The family permit is free to apply for, but the evidence of the relationship and the sponsor’s status still needs care. Source: GOV.UK family permits.
Documents most family applications need
| Evidence | Examples |
|---|---|
| Relationship | Birth certificates, adoption orders, DNA results where requested |
| Sponsor’s status | British passport, BRP or eVisa share code, EU Settlement Scheme status |
| Responsibility or care | School and GP letters, contact orders, medical reports, care home quotes |
| Accommodation | Tenancy or mortgage documents, landlord consent, property inspection report |
| Finances | Payslips, bank statements, tax returns, company accounts, savings history |
| Translations | Certified English translations of any document in another language |
Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge differ by route and change regularly, so check the current figures on GOV.UK before you apply.
Family routes
Four ways to bring family to the UK
Most close family members fit one of these four routes.
Family visa packages
Choose how much help you need
Three levels of support for child, parent and EU family applications, each handled by Basharat Hussain. Fixed fees from £350, agreed in writing before any work begins.
How payment works:1. Pay just £50 today2. We study your case & confirm your fee in writing3. Pay the package fee later & we start
Silver package
Expert Check
Starts from£350
Today you pay only £50. The package fee is paid later, after we study your case and confirm it in writing.
Best for you if… Your case is simple and you are happy to prepare and submit the application yourself. You just want an expert to check it first.
- One-to-one consultation (office, phone or video)
- Your case and documents reviewed by an IAA-regulated immigration lawyer
- Relationship, care and accommodation evidence checked
- Every weak point identified, with clear advice on how to fix it
- Personal document checklist for your route
- Email support throughout your review
You prepare and submit the application yourself. Re-check after corrections is included in Gold.
Select SilverGold package
Full Review & Re-check
Starts from£500
Today you pay only £50. The package fee is paid later, after we study your case and confirm it in writing.
Best for you if… You want it right first time. You make the corrections and we re-check everything before you submit.
- Everything in Silver
- Line-by-line review of your form and every document
- We re-check your application after you make corrections
- Email support plus phone support when you need it
Submit with confidence, knowing an expert has checked it twice.
Select Gold
Most popular
Platinum package
Complete Peace of Mind
Starts from£1,000
Today you pay only £50. The package fee is paid later, after we study your case and confirm it in writing.
Best for you if… You have a previous refusal or a complex history, or you simply want us to handle everything for you.
- Everything in Gold
- We prepare every part of your application for you
- We upload your documents and submit on your behalf
- Unlimited support by phone, WhatsApp and email until the decision
Smooth, stress-free and fully managed. Our most popular choice.
Select PlatinumGet started for just £50
A £50 working fee gets your case moving today. We study your case, review your documents and recommend the right package for you. Your package fee is then confirmed in writing, with no surprises and no obligation to continue.
- ✓ Just £50 to get started
- ✓ Expert case study first
- ✓ Clear fee in writing
Note: Package prices are starting fees. Every case is different, so your final fee is confirmed in writing once we have assessed your case. Home Office fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge are paid separately.
Silver suits…
A straightforward child application where you already hold most documents and only need the route confirmed.
Gold suits…
Parent visa cases and child cases where sole responsibility or the other parent’s consent needs explaining.
Platinum suits…
Previous refusals, complex sole responsibility cases, or families who want us beside them at every step.
More than one child? Each additional child on the same application is quoted at a reduced fee.
Not included: Home Office application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge where it applies, DNA tests, medical reports, translations and other third-party costs. If a refusal needs an appeal, we will tell you and refer you to a solicitor or barrister.
How we help
From first question to decision
You deal with Basharat Hussain throughout, on a fixed fee agreed in writing before any work starts.
1
Check the route
We confirm which family route fits, and whether your relative should apply from abroad or from inside the UK.
2
Test the finances
Basharat checks that your income, savings and housing support everyone without public funds, before any fee is paid.
3
Build the evidence
You get a route-specific checklist: relationship, care, accommodation and financial documents, reviewed line by line.
4
Apply and follow up
We help you submit, prepare your relative for biometrics, and explain next steps once the Home Office decides.
Client reviews
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Families who trust Immigration Inn
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Very positive and really helpful I will highly recommend it. Plus a great personality to talk to.
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Bringing your husband or wife?
Partner applications have their own income and English rules. Our spouse visa page explains them, with fixed-fee packages.
Spouse visa Bedford
FAQ
Family visa questions
Your question not here? Call 01234 962804, Monday to Friday, or on Saturdays by appointment.
Yes. Parents can apply for a Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months, or a long-term visit visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years, if they show they will return home after each visit and can be supported during their stay. We prepare the invitation and sponsor letter on our visit visa service.
Usually yes, if the child is under 18, is not married or living independently, and you have sole responsibility for them or the other parent is also in the UK or applying. You must also show adequate accommodation and that you can support the child without public funds.
There is no single salary figure for most child applications. Instead you show the Home Office that your income and savings cover the family without public funds. Where a child is joining a parent on the spouse or partner route, the household is assessed together, which we explain on our spouse visa page.
Children under 18 do not need an English language test. A parent applying on the parent route usually needs to pass an A1 speaking and listening test unless an exemption applies.
In most cases no. Visitors usually cannot switch into a family route from inside the UK, and each family route has its own switching rules, so we check yours before anyone travels.
Processing times depend on the route and where the application is made. We give you the current timescale from GOV.UK when you apply.
Close family members, such as a spouse, child or dependent parent, may be able to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit or join under the scheme, depending on when the relationship began. We check eligibility against the EU Settlement Scheme rules first.
We read the refusal letter with you and explain each reason. If a fresh application with better evidence is the right step, we prepare it. If an appeal is needed, we tell you straight away and refer you to a solicitor or barrister, as appeals are outside our scope.
Answers reviewed by Basharat Hussain, IAA regulated Immigration Lawyer. Last reviewed: October 2026. Check current processing times on GOV.UK.
Contact
Talk to a family visa lawyer in Bedford
Tell us who you want to bring to the UK, their age and where they live now. We will explain the route, the evidence it needs and the realistic chances before you spend money on an application.
- 93 Ford End Road, Bedford MK40 4JT
- 01234 962804
- info@immigrationinn.co.uk
- Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays by appointment
We advise families in Bedford, Kempston, Luton, Dunstable, Stevenage, Milton Keynes and Northampton, and by video across the UK.
