Tier 2 Sponsorship
WORKING IN THE UK: BRINGING YOUR FAMILY TO THE UK UNDER TIER 2
This section of the Tier 2 sponsorship information explains how you can apply for your dependants to join you or stay with you in the UK if you are sponsored in the UK under the skilled worker category UKBA Tier 2 (General) of the (‘PBS’) points-based system.
Can dependant’s apply? - This subsection explains who can apply as a dependant of a skilled worker (Tier 2 General) and how they should apply under the PBS (points-based system)
Who is a dependant?
A dependant is: your husband, wife or civil partner; or your unmarried or same-sex partner; or your child aged under 18 years old. Your dependants can be over 18 years old if they are in the UK now as dependants.
Can my dependants make their own application?
Your dependants can apply for permission on their own if they want. They will need to meet the requirements of the immigration category that they want to apply under.
If they do apply, their application will be considered separately to yours and we cannot guarantee that both applications will be successful or that they will be given permission to enter or stay for the same length of time as you.
Conditions dependants must meet to get permission to stay - If their application is successful, your dependant will be given permission to come or stay in the UK, as long as: they have no access to public funds, which means they will be unable to claim most benefits paid by the state; as the spouse, civil partner, unmarried, or same-sex partner of a migrant given permission to stay under parts 3, 5 or 6 of the immigration rules; or as the partner of a UKBA points-based system worker (provided that permission was not subject to a condition preventing them working as a doctor in training).
What maintenance (funds) dependants must have - To be eligible for permission to stay (leave to remain) as a dependant of a Tier 2 applicant, your dependant must show that they have enough personal funds to support themselves for the entire time of stay here. You and your dependants should have already assessed the potential living costs, based on past living expenses, to make sure that you have enough funds to support yourselves. If you or your dependants are unable to meet the maintenance requirements, your application will be refused. If the main applicant under Tier 2 is outside the UK or has been in the UK for less than 12 months, the family member must show that the main applicant or the dependant has at least £600 to support the dependant as well as the funds needed to support the main applicant. This is unless the sponsor of the migrant has agreed to maintain and accommodate the dependant until the end of the first month. If the main applicant has been present in the UK for 12 months or more, the main applicant or the family member of the Tier 2 applicant must have £600 to support themselves. For example, if you are the main applicant and you are bringing 2 children with you to the United Kingdom, you must have your £900 for your maintenance (funds) and £1,200 for your children, so a total of £2,100.
Documents required - This subsection of the Tier 2 information explains what proof dependants of a person sponsored under Tier 2 must provide of their available maintenance (funds) to support an application for permission to stay as the dependant of someone who is here under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General) of the points-based system to work in the UK. The evidence can relate specifically to the dependant or it can include evidence for the main applicant which has not been used as evidence of funds on the main applicant's own application or that of other dependants.
Dependants must send one or a combination of the following: Letter from the main applicant's sponsor (ie If the migrant's UKBA A-rated sponsor says they will maintain and accommodate the UK Tier 2 migrant and dependant until the end of the first month of the migrant's employment in the UK, you must send a letter from them which confirms this); Personal bank or building society statements covering the 3 months before applying; Building society passbook covering the 3 months before applying; Letter from bank confirming funds and that they have been in your account for three months before applying; Letter from a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority confirming funds.
[Note: The rules covering these financial documents are basically the same as for the maintenance evidence for the main Tier 2 application, save that the documents presented should clearly show: the name of the main Tier 2 applicant and/or the family member making the application, or (for children only) the name of their other parent who is in the UK].
Application fees - This subsection of the Tier 2 sponsorship system information explains the application fee that you must pay if you want to enter or stay in the UK as a dependant of a Tier 2 (General) sponsorship skilled worker under the points-based system.
The application fee that you must pay depends on whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK - and, if you are inside the UK, on whether you are applying by post or in person. You can pay a reduced fee if you applying from inside the UK and are sending your application at the same time and in the same envelope as the main Tier 2 sponsee's own application. You must send in your fee or we will not consider your application.
Tier 2 (General, Sportsperson, Minister of Religion) application fees - Fees for applicants under UKBA Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) of the points-based system (PBS): these are as shown in the table of fees in the Application Fees section above (ie in the Tier 2 information provided for the principal Tier 2 sponsorship applicant).
Withdrawing your application - When the payment handling service has received your application, the application fee is charged. The fee cannot then be refunded if you withdraw your application.
Duplicate applications - If you send more than one application, you will be charged the application fee for each application.
How to pay your application fee if you are inside the UK - Please refer to the Application Fees section above (ie in the Tier 2 information provided for the principal Tier 2 sponsorship applicant).
Payment information on the application form - Please refer to the Application Fees section above (ie in the Tier 2 information provided for the principal UKBA Tier 2 sponsorship applicant).
How to pay your application fee if you are outside the UK - Please refer to the Application Fees section above (ie in the Tier 2 information provided for the principal application for Tier 2 sponsorship).
Applying - This subsection explains how you can apply for your dependants to join you or stay with you in the UK if you are sponsored in the UK under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General PBS) of the points-based system
If your dependants are applying from outside the UK - If you currently have UK sponsorship but your dependants are living outside the UK they will need to make an application for permission to come to the UK (entry clearance) at their nearest British diplomatic post. Your dependants should see the applying from outside the UK section, for information about how to make their application and for information about the cost and waiting times for deciding applications.
If your dependants are applying from inside the UK - If you have UK Tier 2 sponsorship and your dependants wish to join or remain with you in UK, you or they should fill in the separate dependant application form. We encourage you to send dependant applications at the same time as the main application. Dependants should tell us: if they are sending their application at the same time as your application, as it tells us that both applications should be looked at together; if the main applicant has already received official word from us that their application has been successful; the tier and category that the main applicant has applied under.
Children born while you are in the UK - If you have 1 or more children while you are in the UK, you can apply for their permission to stay in the UK. You must complete the dependant application form and send a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both of the child's parents.
Working and conditions - This subsection explains what work dependants of skilled worker (Tier 2 General) applicants of the points-based system to work in the UK can do. Your dependants are allowed to work except as a doctor in training.