Extension Of Sole Representative Dependant Visa

The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa (for setting up a UK branch or subsidiary) closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. This means you cannot now apply as a new Sole Representative main applicant under the original route. 

You can apply for renewal of Sole Representative dependant visa if the main applicant is either applying for extension or ILR as Sole Representative migrant. You must be in the UK to apply for an extension. Applications from outside the UK are not accepted for extensions; they are only accepted for new dependant entry clearance.   

As specialist work visa solicitors, we have wealth of knowledge and extensive experience of dealing with all types of dependant visa applications. Ask a question to our work visa solicitors for free immigration advice or book an appointment for detailed immigration advice concerning extension/renewal of your Sole Representative dependant visa.

Eligibility Requirements for Extension of Sole Representative Dependant Visa 

To apply for an extension applicants should meet the following requirements: 

Application Validity and Timing 

To qualify for an extension of a Sole Representative dependant visa, the applicant must submit a valid application from within the UK and meet the applicable validity, suitability and eligibility requirements. The application must be made either at the same time as the main applicant’s extension application or before the expiry of the dependant’s existing permission. Failure to submit the application within the required timeframe will result in the loss of lawful immigration status in the UK. 

Existing Dependant Status 

An applicant may apply to extend or, where permitted, switch to permission as the dependant of a Sole Representative from within the UK, provided they meet the relevant Immigration Rules and are not in a category from which switching is prohibited. This requirement applies to spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, and same-sex partners of the main visa holder.  

It also applies to children under the age of 18, including children who were born in the UK during the period of the parent’s lawful residence. In addition, a child aged 18 or over may qualify only where they were previously granted permission to stay as a dependant and have continuously resided in the UK under that dependant status. 

Relationship requirements for a Partner 

To qualify for an extension of a Sole Representative Dependant visa as a partner, the applicant must be the spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of the Sole Representative. The sponsoring Sole Representative must either currently hold valid leave to remain in the UK under the Sole Representative route or be applying at the same time for further leave to remain under this route.  

Where the sponsoring Sole Representative is settled in the UK, meaning they hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship, the applicant must have previously held permission to stay as their dependant under the Sole Representative route.

For Unmarried or Civil Partnership

Where the applicant and the Sole Representative are not married or in a civil partnership, additional requirements must be met under the Immigration Rules. The parties must have been in a relationship similar to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years before the date of application, and any previous relationships of either party must have permanently broken down. 

The applicant must not be closely related to the Sole Representative in a manner that would prevent a lawful marriage or civil partnership in the UK. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting at the time of application, and the applicant and the Sole Representative must have met in person.

Relationship requirements for a Child 

To qualify for an extension as a dependant child of a Sole Representative, the applicant must be the child of a person who either currently holds permission under the Sole Representative route, is applying at the same time for further permission under that route, or is settled in the UK or a British citizen after previously holding permission under that route. Where the parent is settled or British, the child must meet the relevant requirements in Appendix Children. 

As a general rule, both parents must be applying at the same time as the child or must already have permission to be in the UK, other than as a visitor. An application may be made where one parent is the sole surviving parent, has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing, or where there are serious and compelling reasons to grant permission. An exception may also apply where the other parent is a British citizen or has a right to enter or stay in the UK without restriction and lives, or intends to live, in the UK. 

 Age and Care Requirements 

The applicant must normally be under the age of 18 on the date of application. An applicant aged 18 or over may qualify where they were last granted entry clearance or permission to stay as the dependant child of the same parent or parents and meet the relevant requirements of Appendix Children. The applicant must not be leading an independent life, regardless of their age. This means the applicant must not have a partner and must normally live with their parent or parents, except where they are living elsewhere for full-time education. Where the applicant is under the age of 18, there must be suitable arrangements in place for their care and accommodation in the UK which comply with relevant UK law. 

Immigration Status Restrictions 

Certain immigration status restrictions apply to dependant applications. A person holding permission as a Visitor cannot switch to a dependant visa from within the UK. Where the applicant is applying from a student visa, they may only switch to a dependant visa if they have completed their course of study or, where they are undertaking a PhD, if they have completed at least 24 months of study. 

Business Ownership Restriction (Spouse/Partner Only) 

The spouse or partner of a Sole Representative must not own or control a majority interest in the overseas business represented by the main applicant. This restriction applies where the partner has a majority stake in, or otherwise owns or controls a majority of, the overseas business, whether through shareholding, a partnership arrangement, sole ownership or another form of control. Where this requirement is not satisfied, the application must be refused. 

Suitability Requirements

• The applicant must not be in breach of immigration laws, except where the Exceptions for overstayers under Part Suitability apply. 

• The applicant must not be on immigration bail, except where an applicable exception under Part Suitability applies. 

• There must be no grounds for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability (e.g. criminal history, deception).

Intent to Live in the UK Without Recourse to Public Funds 

• The applicant or the Representative of an Overseas Business must be able to adequately maintain and accommodate the applicant and any other dependants in the UK without access to public funds. 

• There is no fixed financial threshold, but sufficient evidence must be provided to show that the applicant or the main applicant can adequately maintain and accommodate the dependant without access to public funds, with funds evidenced in accordance with Appendix Finance. 

How long you can stay

A Representative of an Overseas Business visa can generally be extended for up to 2 years. A dependant partner will normally be granted permission ending on the same date as the main applicant’s permission. Different periods of permission may apply where the main applicant is granted settlement or where the applicant is a dependant child. 

Fees and Biometric Information  

Each applicant must pay a fee to apply for a visa extension: 

• £943 if applying from inside the UK 

• £819 if applying from outside the UK (for entry clearance rather than an in-country extension) 

In addition to the visa fee, you must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application.  For partner and dependant children of age 18 or over the IHS fee is £1,035 per year. For children under the age of 18 the IHS fee is £776 per year.  

You will be required to attend a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information). There is no fee for submitting your biometric information. 

Processing Time and Faster decisions if available 

Under the standard service, a decision is typically made within 8 weeks from the date of the UKVCAS biometric appointment.  

The 5-working-day Priority Service is not currently available for Sole Representative dependant extension applications made using form FLR(IR). 

For faster results, the Super Priority Service is available at an additional cost of £1,000 per applicant, with a decision by the end of the next working day following the biometric appointment. However, if the appointment is on a weekend or bank holiday, the decision may take up to 2 working days instead. 

 Availability of these faster services depends on the location and time of booking. 

Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours) For Extension Of Sole Representative Dependant Visa

As the expert immigration solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours of the submission of the application at a designated service centre.

Our immigration solicitors can prepare and submit your Sole Representative Dependant visa extension application to the Home Office, UKVI through Super Priority Service (SPS) and get decision on your Sole Representative Dependant visa extension application within 24 hours. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your application for months (sometimes years).

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of dependant visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee legal services for your application for extension/renewal of Sole Representative dependant visa. We will carry out all the work on your application until you get a decision from the Home Office UKVI on your Sole Representative dependant visa extension application. Our immigration solicitors’ work on your Sole Representative dependant visa extension application may include the following:

• assessing your eligibility for extension of Sole Representative dependant visa by considering all the relevant eligibility requirements;
• advising on relevant documents to be submitted in support of your Sole Representative dependant visa extension application;
• completing online application form for extension of Sole Representative dependant visa;
• submitting your completed application online, paying the Home Office UKVI fees and booking your appointment with the UKVCAS Application Centre for you to enrol your biometrics;
• preparing a detailed cover letter in support of your application to explain in detail how all the relevant requirements for extenson of your Sole Representative dependant visa have been satisfied by you;
• uploading all the supporting documents online in support of your Sole Representative dependant visa extension application;
• doing all the follow up work including responding to any queries raised by the Home Office UKVI until decision is reached on your Sole Representative dependant visa extension application.

Our Fixed Fees For Extension/Renewal Of Sole Representative Dependant Visa

Our fixed fees for extension / renewal of sole representative dependant visa from inside the UK are as given in the fee table below:

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application for extension of sole representative dependant visa and the volume of casework involved in the application. In addition to our fixed fee for extension of sole representative dependant visa from inside the UK, the applicant also has to pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.