Family life as a parent route

[LilyLalilu]

Hi,

I have a non-EEA question for once and hope I can get some help and advice.

I am expecting a baby in December. I hold permanent residence and as the child will be born in the UK she will be a British Citizen. The dad is a non-EEA national and currently here on a work visa - he was due to apply for ILR next February but now can’t as he’s a teacher and ‘only' earns 30K...
Due to several issues we are no longer together but remain friends and plan to co-parent our child.
We are trying to find a way to keep him in the country and have done some research and found the following route:

Family life as a parent (5-year route): https://www.gov.uk/remain-in-uk-family/eligibility

My questions are:

1) Has anyone gone down this route successfully? If so, how did you prove access rights? Was the birth certificate and a statement from the other parent enough or does it have to be a court order?

2) How long did it take the Home Office to approve the application? (I guess we'd be in for a long wait and potentially several appeals?!)

3) Most importantly; if we apply before his working visa expires, does this mean that he can stay in the country until a decision has been made?

4) Would he be allowed to work on this visa?

Thanks!

[LilyLalilu]

Anyone?

[mickshanti75]

Hey L,

I have successfully applied for this visa from Australia!

Yes, evidence provided included a lovely and supportive letter from my UK sons mum, a birthcertificate and ancient parental agreement (no-longer used/needed) and a long and boring essay about my circumstances and plans.

If you are genuinue and honest I would not be worried.

Read the guidelines, although they are not that clear because they also include PARTNER rules as well.


I think that mostly the department are also needing evidence of income/saving etc.

Good luck.

I got mine back with a fast track fee inside of a WEEK!!

[Dorkey]

Hi,
I applied for FLR FP visa in the UK in 2014 and was granted 2.5years visa based on parent life.
Documents submitted
A letter from my son's father stating that our relationship ended but we both play our parental roles in the upbringing of my child.
My passport, child's British passport and father's passport showing ILR
My child's medical red book
My payslips and employment letter
My child's father payslips
Prove of both parents addresses
Pictures of my child and I and of my child and father
A personal statement explaining my immigration story note that I have never been illegal in the UK
My educational certificates taught in English
Personal Bank statement
GP registration letter showing child lives with me
Child's birth certificate

Please note that I applied for a 5year route but was granted a 10year route and I have also read from some members stories here that they were also granted a 10year route. Reasons for this I have no idea

[Dorkey]

Also visa was granted within a month of applying. No appeals didn't use a lawyer as they were charging ridiculous amounts.

[Reus]

hi dorkey,
This is a bit strange for me. please are u saying u had right to be in the country and applied 5 year route and was given 10yr route wiv parent applaication. Does that mean icant switch from my 10yr route to a 5yr route then? sorry to bother

[Dorkey]

Hi,

I applied for FLR FP visa well in time before my previous visa expired for 5years route but granted 10year route. I have never been illegal in the UK so I really don't understand why I was granted 10year route. And I am yet to hear from anyone who was granted a 5year route.

I don't know if it's possible to switch to a 5year route later.

[LilyLalilu]

Thank you so much for your replies. Glad to hear this visa seems pretty 'easy' to obtain if you are genuine
Did the visa say that you had a right to work in the UK? The baby's dad has savings to support himself for at least a year and also owns a house here but he'd obviously be keen to continue working so to be better able to support himself and us in the long term.

So we're thinking of providing as soon as the baby is born:
- birth certificate
- parental agreement
- supporting letter from myself
- baby's UK passport
- my Document Certifying Permanent Residence and passport
- details of father's savings, housing situation and English language knowledge
- letter from my employer
- details of my savings and housing/residence
- documents showing child lives with me (e.g. GP/hospital letters)

Fingers crossed, will give an update here once we have received an outcome.

I guess even if the family visa is granted on the 10 year route he could then always apply for ILR under the 10-year long residence route once he's completed another 6 years (as he's already been here for almost 5 years).

[Dorkey]

If granted the 2.5years visa he can work and study. Can't claim benefits. I guess he can apply for ILR after completing 10yrs in the UK as stated in my letter from HO.

Good luck to you both and safe delivery of your baby.

[LilyLalilu]

Thanks for all your help

[tolessblue]

Hello guys,
I am sorry if I am posting in the wrong place. I just need some advice and could not find the right place to post. I do hope somebody can be of help.

I came into the Uk in September 2007 on a student visa and have been renewing my visa up until September 2015. My wife and my 2 year old daughter joined me in December 2007 and have been renewing with me since.
Because my engineering career was being delayed after my degree without work permit, we decided to apply on the basis of our daughter being here for more than 7 years in March 2015. We were refused but gave us an appeal because we still had a valid visa and we submitted the appeal and have been waiting for the hearing date since then. We got the date now and we have started putting things together.
My question are:
What is our chances of getting through
What are the things that we can do to convince the judge
Is it compulsory we have to use a counsel
And all other necessary advice.
Thanks