Is your child at an independent school in the UK? You may be able to apply for a Parent of Child Student Visa to come to the UK. Learn more here
If your child has a Child Student Visa or the previous version, a Tier 4 (Child) visa, then you, as their parent, can apply for a Parent of Child Student Visa. When you apply, your child must attend an independent school in the UK and be aged between 4 and 11.
Only one parent can apply to accompany their child to the UK. The other parent must remain overseas and maintain the main family home outside the UK; they cannot travel with the child.
You must have enough money to support yourself and your child in the UK and plan to return home when your visa expires. Other family members cannot come with you on this visa, although they may be able to apply to go to the UK on a Short-term Visit Visa.
If you come to the UK on a Parent of Child Student Visa, there are various things you are not allowed to do.
If you want to apply for a Parent of Child Student Visa, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself and your child when in the UK and that you have enough money to do so. The amount required is £1,560 for every month you stay up to a maximum of nine months. This figure is for you and your child. Based on a nine-month stay, you need to show you have £14,040 available in your bank account. If you bring more than one child to the UK, then each extra sibling incurs a cost of £625 per month, again subject to the nine-month maximum. However, if you have already been in the UK for a previous twelve-month period on a valid visa, then the requirement to show you have enough money to support yourself and your child is waived.
UK immigration law is complex and changes frequently, so it can be challenging to determine which is the correct visa for your visit and whether you satisfy the eligibility criteria. If you want to accompany your child to the UK whilst they study, it can be daunting and stressful to face a complicated set of rules and regulations and understand what you must do to apply.
Consulting an immigration expert can take all the stress and strain out of applying for a Parent of Child Student Visa. Find out what documents you need and let someone else handle the application process on your behalf.
WH Solicitors are immigration experts with many years of experience representing overseas families with children and parents who want to accompany them to the UK when they study. Our advice is always practical and conveyed in easy-to-understand language.
WH Solicitors’ specialist immigration advisors provide a professional service offering practical help and support with Parent of Child Student Visas applications. Our prices are reasonable, and we deliver a cost-effective service that removes the worry and stress of applying for a visa.
Here’s how we can help.
You can stay in the UK until your child’s visa expires or they have their twelfth birthday, whichever happens first. If you decide to leave the UK whilst your child remains in private education, you will have to make arrangements for their care. Sometimes, a parent goes when their child starts boarding at their current school, or they could live with other family members in the UK.
The visa application fee for a Parent of a Child Student Visa is £637. Additionally, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge, typically £624 per year for each year you remain in the UK. This will allow you to access the National Health Service (NHS).
You can bring another child or children to the UK, but they must be siblings of the primary child you are supporting. Each sibling will need their own Child Student Visa, and you will have to be able to demonstrate that you have the financial means to support them.
Contact WH Solicitors for practical and professional advice on your visa application. Our lawyers are friendly and approachable and will handle the whole process for you, including dealing with any questions or queries raised by the Home Office. Our fees plus the costs to apply for a Parent of Child Student Visa are clearly set out before we start work and are completely transparent, with no hidden charges.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.
