UK Parent Visa: Adult Dependent Relatives – Complete Expert Guide

Understanding Dependency: What the Home Office Really Looks For

The Home Office requires evidence of long-term personal care needs—not financial support, companionship, or general assistance. Here’s what constitutes genuine dependency:

Medical Dependency Criteria

Physical Care Requirements:

• Assistance with daily living activities (washing, dressing, feeding, mobility)
• Medical care administration (medication management, wound care, physiotherapy)
• Supervision due to cognitive impairment or mental health conditions
• Emergency response capability for medical crises

What this means for you: The dependency must be for personal care, not household tasks. Needing help with shopping or cooking alone won’t qualify—you need evidence of hands-on personal care requirements.

Care Availability Assessment

The Home Office will investigate whether adequate care is available in the applicant’s home country through:

Local Care Infrastructure:

• Professional care services availability
• Family support networks
• Healthcare system capacity
• Cost and accessibility of care options

Real mistake we’ve seen: Applicants claiming care is “unavailable” without properly researching local options. The Home Office often conducts independent research into care availability in the applicant’s country. We’ve seen refusals where applicants claimed no care was available, but the Home Office found evidence of care homes or professional services.

Financial Dependency Proof

While not the primary focus, financial dependency can strengthen your case:

Acceptable Evidence:

• Bank statements showing regular financial transfers
• Property ownership or rental agreements paid by UK sponsor
• Medical bills and healthcare costs covered by UK sponsor
• Evidence of applicant’s limited income/assets

If you’re applying from countries with limited banking infrastructure: Consider using formal money transfer services with clear records rather than informal arrangements that are difficult to document.

Medical Documentation: Building Your Evidence Foundation

Medical evidence forms the cornerstone of successful applications. The Home Office requires comprehensive documentation from qualified medical professionals.

Required Medical Reports

Primary Medical Assessment:

• Comprehensive report from applicant’s current doctor/specialist
• Detailed diagnosis with prognosis and care requirements
• Assessment of daily living limitations and supervision needs
• Opinion on long-term care requirements (minimum 12 months)

What this means for you: A simple letter saying someone “needs care” isn’t sufficient. The report must detail specific care tasks, frequency of assistance required, and medical justification for why this care is necessary.

Independent Medical Assessments

Why Independent Assessment Matters: The Home Office values objective medical opinions from healthcare professionals who aren’t treating the applicant regularly.

Recommended Approach:

• Seek assessment from geriatrician, psychiatrist, or relevant specialist
• Ensure assessor understands UK immigration requirements
• Include functional capacity evaluation
• Document progressive conditions with future care projections

Real mistake we’ve seen: Using only family doctor reports without specialist input. We’ve seen strong cases refused because the medical evidence lacked specialist assessment of complex conditions like dementia or progressive neurological disorders.

Ongoing Care Needs Evidence

Documentation Strategy:

• Medical appointment records showing treatment frequency
• Prescription medications requiring supervision
• Incident reports (falls, medical emergencies, wandering episodes)
• Care diary maintained by current caregivers

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Video evidence showing daily care interactions can be powerful supporting evidence, particularly for cognitive impairment cases where written reports may not capture the full extent of supervision needed.

Medical Evidence Checklist

Essential Documents:

• Comprehensive medical report from treating physician
• Specialist assessment (geriatrician/psychiatrist/neurologist)
• Diagnostic test results (MRI, cognitive assessments, blood work)
• Medication list with administration requirements
• Functional capacity assessment
• Care needs timeline (current and projected)

Supporting Documents:

• Hospital admission records
• Care diary/incident log
• Professional care assessments from home country
• Insurance coverage limitations documentation

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Exceptional Circumstances: What Actually Works

The Home Office defines exceptional circumstances as situations where refusal would result in “unjustifiably harsh consequences.” Understanding what constitutes genuine exceptional circumstances is crucial for application success.

Successful Case Examples

Case Type 1: Progressive Neurological Conditions

• Alzheimer’s disease requiring 24/7 supervision
• Family member in UK trained in specialized care techniques
• Local care facilities lacking specialized dementia programs
• Evidence of behavioral issues requiring familiar caregiver

Case Type 2: Complex Medical Conditions

• Multiple chronic conditions requiring coordinated care
• Specific dietary or medication requirements unavailable locally
• UK sponsor with medical training or specialized experience
• Previous care arrangements that failed or proved inadequate

Case Type 3: Geographic/Infrastructure Limitations

• Rural locations with no professional care services
• Political instability affecting healthcare delivery
• Natural disasters disrupting care infrastructure
• Economic collapse limiting care accessibility

What this means for you: Exceptional circumstances aren’t just about medical needs—they’re about the specific combination of care requirements and local limitations that make adequate care impossible in the home country.

Common Failure Reasons

Insufficient Evidence of Local Research:

• Not demonstrating proper investigation of local care options
• Failing to provide evidence of costs and availability
• Assumption that family preference equals exceptional circumstances

Real mistake we’ve seen: An applicant claimed no care was available in their major city, but the Home Office found multiple care facilities within 10 miles. The application was refused because the research was clearly inadequate.

Weak Medical Evidence:

• Generic medical letters without specific care requirements
• Outdated medical assessments
• Lack of specialist input for complex conditions

Financial Contradiction:

• Claiming unaffordability while showing significant assets
• Inconsistent financial evidence
• Not demonstrating efforts to fund local care options

Evidence Strengthening Strategies

Research Documentation:

• Contact local care providers for quotes and availability
• Document infrastructure limitations (power, water, transport)
• Evidence of failed attempts to arrange local care
• Professional assessment of local care standards

Care Capability Evidence:

• UK sponsor’s care experience or training
• Accommodation suitability assessment
• Support network in UK (other family members, community)
• Long-term care planning and backup arrangements

If you’re applying from countries with high refusal rates: Pay particular attention to demonstrating that adequate care truly isn’t available at any price point. The Home Office is especially skeptical of applications from countries with developed healthcare systems.

Exceptional Circumstances Framework

Assessment Criteria:

1. Medical Dependency Level: Requires personal care (not just assistance)
2. Care Availability: Adequate care genuinely unavailable locally
3. Care Capability: UK sponsor can provide required care
4. Proportionality: Circumstances justify permanent settlement
5. Alternative Options: Other solutions properly considered and excluded

Alternative Options: Exploring All Pathways

Before pursuing the Adult Dependent Relative route, consider alternative options that may be more appropriate or achievable.

Visitor Visa Extensions

Family Visitor Route:

• Initial 6-month visitor visa with possible extensions
• Lower evidence threshold than settlement visa
• Allows time to assess care needs and arrange local solutions
• Can be stepping stone to settlement application if circumstances deteriorate

What this means for you: If the care needs are temporary or if you’re unsure about long-term requirements, visitor visas may provide immediate solution while preserving future settlement options.

Other Family Route Possibilities

Adult Dependent Child Route:

• For unmarried children over 18 who remain dependent
• Different evidence requirements focused on ongoing dependency since childhood
• May be relevant for adult children with disabilities or chronic conditions

Exceptional Circumstances Outside Immigration Rules:

• Human rights-based applications in truly exceptional cases
• Higher evidence threshold but may be option when standard route fails
• Requires legal expertise due to complexity

Cost-Benefit Considerations

Financial Analysis:

• Application costs vs. local care arrangement costs
• Long-term financial commitment in UK
• Healthcare costs and insurance considerations
• Impact on UK sponsor’s career and family

Real mistake we’ve seen: Families focusing only on application costs without considering long-term financial implications. We’ve worked with clients who succeeded with their visa application but struggled financially to provide adequate care in the UK, where costs are often higher than anticipated.

Timeline Considerations:

• Processing times (typically 6-12 months)
• Urgent care needs requiring immediate solutions
• Appeal timeframes if application is refused
• Visitor visa options during processing

Resources from AVID

📎 Downloadable Resources

Medical Evidence Checklist Comprehensive checklist ensuring you gather all required medical documentation from qualified professionals

Exceptional Circumstances Assessment Tool Self-evaluation framework to assess the strength of your exceptional circumstances claim

Care Research Template Structured approach to researching and documenting local care options in your home country

📝 Expert-Designed Templates

Medical Report Request Letter Template for requesting comprehensive medical assessments from healthcare professionals

Care Diary Template Daily care log format for documenting ongoing care needs and incidents

📄 Application Support Materials

Supporting Document Organization Guide Step-by-step approach to organizing and presenting your evidence package

Timeline Planning Template Project management tool for coordinating medical assessments, document gathering, and application submission

🧠 Common Applicant FAQs

Q: Can I apply if my parent has family in their home country who could provide care? A: The presence of other family members doesn’t automatically disqualify your application, but you must demonstrate why they cannot provide adequate care or why circumstances make it impossible.

Q: How long does the medical evidence need to show care requirements? A: The Home Office expects evidence of long-term care needs (minimum 12 months), preferably with medical opinion on future deterioration or ongoing requirements.

Q: Can I include multiple family members in one application? A: Each family member requires a separate application with individual evidence of dependency and exceptional circumstances.

Q: What happens if the application is refused? A: You have limited appeal rights, but can submit a fresh application with additional evidence. Understanding refusal reasons is crucial for improving future applications.