Family Visit Visa UK Solicitors — Fixed Fee From £950
Having family in the UK explains the purpose of your visit. But if your home ties are weak, those same UK family ties can make the application harder to approve.
Most family visit visa refusals are not caused by dishonesty. They are caused by evidence that fails to prove the one thing the caseworker needs to see: that life at home is strong enough to pull the applicant back.
Home Office visit guidance allows caseworkers to consider the balance between the applicant's ties at home and ties in the UK when deciding whether they are a genuine visitor. The more family you have here and the fewer documented ties you have at home, the harder the application becomes.
The caseworker does not care how much you miss your mother. They care whether the evidence proves she has a life, home, responsibilities, and reasons to return outside the UK.
KQ Solicitors prepares family visit visa applications for UK-based sponsors and overseas applicants in Luton and across the UK who cannot afford a refusal on the applicant's immigration record. Fixed fee. We aim to respond the same day.
Quick Answer
There is no separate family visit visa for the UK. All family visits are made under the Standard Visitor route. Selecting visiting family and friends on the application form does not trigger different rules, a different process, or a different evidence standard. The genuine visitor test applies to every applicant regardless of the reason for the visit.
The application is assessed on one question: will this person leave at the end of their stay? Every document submitted exists to answer that question — and having close family in the UK makes it harder to answer convincingly, not easier.
KQ Solicitors assesses the pull factor in your specific case, checks your evidence against the Home Office genuine visitor test, and prepares the full application so the weaknesses are addressed before submission.
Need the pull factor checked before submission?
Book a free consultation. We will identify whether your application has a pull factor problem and what evidence fixes it.
What is the UK Family Visit Visa?
The UK family visit visa is the Standard Visitor route — the same one used for holidays and business trips. It sits under Appendix V of the Immigration Rules. There is no separate visa category for family visits.
The visa allows the applicant to visit family in the UK for up to six months per visit. Long-term multiple-entry visas valid for 2, 5, or 10 years are available — but each individual stay is still limited to six months. The visa does not give the right to work, claim public funds, or remain in the UK permanently.
This page explains our legal service. The full Standard Visitor rules, evidence requirements, document examples, and application process are covered in our complete UK visit visa guide.
Who can apply?
Any overseas family member can apply to visit a UK-based relative under the Standard Visitor route. There is no closed list of adult family relationships, but children travelling to visit family may need additional parental consent and safeguarding evidence.
What varies is the level of scrutiny the application attracts — not whether the person can apply.
| Relationship | Pull Factor Risk | Key evidence needed |
|---|---|---|
| Parents visiting adult child in UK | High | Property, pension, other children remaining at home |
| Grandparents | High | Independent income, other close family at home |
| Siblings | Medium | Employment, family responsibilities at home |
| Extended family — cousins, aunts, uncles | Lower | Higher general credibility burden |
| Romantic partner (unmarried) | Higher scrutiny where evidence suggests visitor route is being used as a substitute for a partner visa | Strongest ties evidence — relationship future plans matter |
Every applicant applies separately. There is no joint family application. Four family members visiting means four separate applications, four separate fees, and four separate biometric appointments. Every child including babies needs their own application.
We can help if...
- The applicant has weak home ties — limited employment, no property, or most of their immediate family already in the UK — and the pull factor is a genuine concern.
- The applicant is retired or unemployed and needs help presenting independent financial evidence convincingly.
- The UK sponsor has a large or unexplained deposit in their account and needs the invitation letter and financial evidence handled carefully.
- The applicant has a previous refusal and needs a strengthened fresh application that directly addresses what went wrong.
- The sponsor has previously sponsored a visitor who overstayed and needs to address this proactively.
- The invitation letter needs to be correctly structured and cross-checked against the application form.
- The family group involves children travelling without both parents and parental consent needs to be correctly documented.
- The application involves a romantic partner and there is a risk the visitor route may be questioned as a substitute for a partner visa.
The pull factor — the single biggest reason family visit applications fail
The pull factor is the gravitational effect of UK family ties working against the application rather than for it.
Home Office visit guidance allows caseworkers to consider the balance between an applicant's home-country ties and their UK ties when assessing genuine visitor intent. Where home ties are thin and UK ties are strong, the application faces a credibility problem that no amount of sponsor support resolves on its own.
Caseworker Insight: Caseworkers are not questioning the family's love for each other. They are assessing the probability that the strength of those relationships will cause the applicant to overstay. The burden is entirely on the applicant to prove on the balance of probabilities that they will leave.
Evidence that neutralises the pull factor
- Employment letter with a confirmed return-to-work date — the single most powerful piece of evidence available.
- Property ownership or long-term tenancy at home — title deeds, mortgage statement, or tenancy agreement in the applicant's name.
- Other close family members remaining at home — children, elderly dependants, a spouse not travelling.
- Ongoing financial commitments at home — mortgage repayments, business obligations, dependants whose costs the applicant covers.
- Previous compliance with UK and other countries' visa conditions — old passports showing consistent entry and departure.
For retired or unemployed applicants, employment evidence is not available — which means property, pension income, other family at home, and financial commitments must carry proportionally more weight.
What your UK sponsor needs to provide
The sponsor is the UK-based family member inviting the applicant. Their evidence supports the application — but it does not replace the applicant's credibility. The applicant must still independently satisfy the genuine visitor test.
The sponsor must be lawfully present in the UK. If the sponsor is in breach of their immigration conditions, their financial support may be given little or no weight by the caseworker.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Passport, eVisa share code, or proof of UK status | Confirms lawful presence — support may carry little weight without this |
| 6 months bank statements | Shows financial ability to support the visit |
| Payslips or income evidence | Confirms income matches bank deposits |
| Proof of accommodation | Shows where the applicant will stay and that it is adequate |
| Invitation letter — correctly structured | Confirms relationship, dates, costs, accommodation |
Caseworker Insight: A large deposit in the sponsor's account shortly before writing the invitation letter is a red flag, not a strength. Six months of consistent statements with income clearly matching payslips carry far more weight than a large recent deposit.
Sponsor history: If a previous visitor sponsored by the same person overstayed or failed to comply with their visa conditions, this can weaken the current application. We advise on how to address this proactively before submission.
Fees and costs — updated April 2026
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| KQ Solicitors fee — standard application | £950 |
| KQ Solicitors fee — complex or previous refusal | £1,250 |
| Home Office fee — Standard Visitor (6 months) | £135 |
| Home Office fee — Standard Visitor (2 years) | £506 |
| Home Office fee — Standard Visitor (5 years) | £903 |
| Home Office fee — Standard Visitor (10 years) | £1,129 |
Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The IHS applies to work and study routes — family visitors are exempt.
The Home Office fee is usually not refunded once the application has been processed or decided.
What makes a case complex — and £1,250: Previous refusal, strong pull factor with weak home ties, sponsor with a difficult sponsorship history, romantic partner application, or retired and unemployed applicants requiring careful financial evidence structuring.
Home Office fees can change. Always verify the current fee on GOV.UK before submitting.
What our family visit visa service includes
- Initial assessment of your circumstances — we identify the pull factor risk, assess the sponsor's evidence, and tell you honestly whether the application is straightforward or needs careful structuring.
- Document checking — we review every document against the genuine visitor test and check the invitation letter against the application form for consistency.
- Application preparation — we prepare the full application, ensuring the evidence addresses the pull factor and every detail is consistent.
- Document uploading — we submit the finalised bundle so nothing is missed, mis-uploaded, or submitted with a date discrepancy.
No hidden costs. No hourly billing. Home Office fees are paid separately by you directly to UKVI.
How we work — your process with KQ Solicitors
- Free consultation — you explain the family circumstances, we identify the pull factor risk and tell you honestly what the application involves.
- Pull factor and risk assessment — we assess home ties evidence, sponsor financial position, invitation letter strength, and any previous refusal or sponsorship history.
- Personalised document checklist — you receive a list specific to the applicant's circumstances and relationship type.
- Document review — we cross-check dates and details across the application form and invitation letter.
- Application preparation — we structure the evidence to address the pull factor and finalise the complete bundle.
- Submission and confirmation — we upload everything to UKVI and confirm receipt.
Processing times — 2026
| Service | Target Time |
|---|---|
| Standard | Approximately 3 weeks from biometric enrolment |
| Priority (selected countries only) | Approximately 5 working days |
Do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation before receiving a decision. A refusal after booking non-refundable travel costs the visa fee plus flights and hotels.
Peak periods — June to August and November to December — see longer processing times.
Common reasons family visit applications fail
| Problem | Why It Causes Refusal | How We Help |
|---|---|---|
| Weak home ties versus strong UK family pull | Most family in UK, little documented life at home — the pull factor tips against the applicant | We identify which evidence neutralises it in your specific circumstances |
| Retired or unemployed applicant with no independent financial evidence | No pension, rental income, or savings with clear origin means the caseworker cannot establish credible circumstances at home | We structure the available evidence and advise on what to obtain |
| Inconsistency between form and invitation letter | A single date discrepancy damages the entire file's credibility | We cross-check every detail before submission |
| Large unexplained deposit in sponsor's account | Where source is unclear, caseworkers may give the funds little weight | We advise on how to document and present financial evidence |
| Previous family settlement route refusal | Caseworkers consider whether the visitor route is being used as a substitute for a family migration route | We address this proactively in the cover letter |
| Frequent visits creating de facto residence concern | Cumulative time in UK approaching or exceeding time at home | We advise on genuine home life and visit pattern evidence |
| Vague or open-ended invitation letter | “Come for as long as you need” signals that departure is not planned | We structure the invitation letter with specific dates and departure confirmation |
| Group visiting without separate applications | No joint family visa exists | We confirm the correct process before fees are paid |
When should you speak to a solicitor?
Not every family visit application needs a solicitor. If the applicant has strong employment ties, clear financial evidence, a straightforward relationship to the sponsor, no previous refusals, and the sponsor's financial position is clean — a carefully self-prepared application is possible.
- The applicant is retired, unemployed, or has limited independent financial evidence.
- Most of the applicant's immediate family is already in the UK.
- The applicant has a previous refusal on any UK visa application.
- The sponsor has previously sponsored a visitor who overstayed.
- The sponsor has a large or recent unexplained deposit in their account.
- The application involves a romantic partner where the visitor route may be questioned.
- The invitation letter needs to match complex visit dates across multiple family members.
- You are unsure whether the pull factor is likely to cause a problem.
The Home Office fee is usually not refunded if the application fails and a refusal becomes part of the applicant's UK immigration history. If you are not confident the pull factor is properly addressed, a free consultation costs nothing and prevents a non-refundable loss.
When this service may not be right for you
If the applicant has strong employment ties, clear independent finances, a simple relationship to the sponsor, and no previous complications — you may not need legal representation. A well-structured invitation letter and consistent financial evidence is something many applicants manage without professional help.
We would rather tell you that than charge you for work you do not need. If after your free consultation we think you can handle it yourself, we will tell you.
Ready to apply? Talk to KQ Solicitors
The difference between an approved family visit and a refused one is not how much your sponsor loves you. It is how convincingly the evidence proves that life outside the UK is strong enough to pull the applicant back.
From £950 fixed fee. Pull factor assessment, document checking, application preparation, and uploading. No hidden costs. No hourly billing.
Frequently asked questions
No. There is no separate family visit visa. All family visits are made under the Standard Visitor route. Selecting visiting family and friends on the application form does not trigger different rules or a different evidence standard — the genuine visitor test applies to every applicant.
Not automatically — and in many cases it creates a pull factor problem. Home Office visit guidance allows caseworkers to consider the balance between home-country ties and UK ties. Where home ties are weak and UK family ties are strong, the application faces a credibility problem that must be actively addressed with evidence.
The Home Office fee is £135 for a 6-month visa, £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years, and £1,129 for 10 years. KQ Solicitors charges £950 for a standard case and £1,250 for complex cases or previous refusals. Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
They do not need employment income. A UK sponsor can help with costs, but the applicant still needs credible evidence of their own circumstances, support arrangements at home, and genuine reasons to return. Without this, the caseworker cannot establish an independent life at home regardless of the sponsor's financial strength.
No. Every family member must submit a separate application, pay a separate fee, and attend a separate biometric appointment. There is no joint family application and no group discount. Every child including babies needs their own application.
Most Standard Visitor refusals do not carry a right of appeal. Your practical option is a fresh application with strengthened evidence that directly addresses every reason in the refusal letter. Reapplying with the same documents almost always produces another refusal. A refusal becomes part of the applicant's UK immigration history and must be declared on every future UK application.
Yes. Our service covers initial assessment, pull factor review, document checking, application preparation, and uploading. The applicant attends the biometrics appointment — we handle everything else.
Yes. Every child including babies needs their own application, their own fee, and their own biometric appointment. Children travelling without both parents require a parental consent letter from the absent parent.
Book a free family visit visa consultation
We will assess the pull factor, sponsor evidence, and the applicant's reasons to return before you pay the Home Office fee.
- GOV.UK — Appendix V: Visitor
Primary legal source governing the Standard Visitor route including the genuine visitor test at paragraph V 4.2. - Home Office — Visit Caseworker Guidance
Caseworker-level guidance including the genuine visitor assessment, sponsor evidence requirements, and child safeguarding obligations. - Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 — Section 55
Statutory duty to safeguard child welfare relevant to child visitor applications. - Children Act 1989 — Sections 66 and 105
Definition of close relatives relevant to private foster care threshold for visiting children. - GOV.UK — Immigration and Nationality Fees 8 April 2026
Official fee schedule confirming Standard Visitor visa fees.