what kind of visa for a relative?????

[southeaster]

Morning all,
Please could somebody assist with a bit of info.
My sister is wishing to come to the UK (isle of Man to be precise),
She holds an SA passport.

I have a british passport by means of marriage/naturalisation.

Would there be any chance that we could get her here as a relative.
Or would she have to go with the original plan of a work/hol visa and then later make some alternative applications once she is here if she wants to stay. or could we go with a holiday only visa and then apply for something else when she is here.

Thanks in advance for any potential help. We have rattled our brains for days and have got no-where. some fresh input would mean the world.
SE

[kimbo]

Morning all,
Please could somebody assist with a bit of info.
My sister is wishing to come to the UK (isle of Man to be precise),
She holds an SA passport.

I have a british passport by means of marriage/naturalisation.

Would there be any chance that we could get her here as a relative.
Or would she have to go with the original plan of a work/hol visa and then later make some alternative applications once she is here if she wants to stay. or could we go with a holiday only visa and then apply for something else when she is here.

Thanks in advance for any potential help. We have rattled our brains for days and have got no-where. some fresh input would mean the world.
SE

As far as I am aware, unless there are compelling compassionate circumstances and you can prove that she is totally dependent on you, that her living circumstances are sub-humand, etc etc, you cannot get her here as a relative. There was recently a case of a SA 18 year old who's mother was a British Citizen - she was going to be deported even though her whole family was here! They managed to get ILR only after petitioning Downing Street etc.

She would have to get the holiday visa. Even then, if she is in a position which may warrant a work permit, she would have to return to SA to obtain clearance from there, as you cannot switch.

I stand to be corrected on this.

[John01]

Hi Southeaster,

Unfortunately, your British Nationality will not help your sister. Are any of your Grandparents born in the UK?
Is there any other EU ancestry in your family? (i.e. Irish citizenship is available to those with grandparents born in Southern or Northern Ireland.

[southeaster]

Morning,
thanks for the replies. Well it looks like thats a bit of a dead end then.
I am not sure about ancestry.

Not entirely sure about grandmother on Fathers side of family. Will have to check.
Have given her a letter to state that she will be living with us and that she has a job to come to. We are in the fortunate position of being self -employed.
Its just a case of choosing the right visa now ( once her passports comes through -- which will be who knows how long after the paper headlines of "SA runs out of passports" )
Thanks all
SE

[southeaster]

Morning,

just had a thought ( which is quite a scary experience)!!!
Something at the back of my mind says that one of the G-Parents was born in the old Rhodesia. Was that not a Uk dependant country? Or am I clutching at straws here.

SE

[lols]

Morning,

just had a thought ( which is quite a scary experience)!!!
Something at the back of my mind says that one of the G-Parents was born in the old Rhodesia. Was that not a Uk dependant country? Or am I clutching at straws here.

SE

Unfortunatly even though Rhodesia was part of the UK, and people living there were issued with British Passports which state Southern Rhodesia they are cannot be used. I have tried this route for my mom!

[Cheffie]

Have given her a letter to state that she will be living with us and that she has a job to come to.

If she is coming over on a tourist visa, they'll turn her back with that letter.

Look into sponsorship or getting her a work permit and a letter like that will be accepted at customs.

[southeaster]

are they not a bit sticky on the work permits though cos she is not really qualified as much expcept as a bar person, which is not considered high priority.
if she comes over sponsored does it not have to be for a skilled job


SE

[John01]

Unfortunatly even though Rhodesia was part of the UK, and people living there were issued with British Passports which state Southern Rhodesia they are cannot be used. I have tried this route for my mom!

lols, did you succeed with bringing your mom here?
Firstly, you would be amazed to know how complex old commonwealth citizenship applications can be. Often, it requires a time trace line to match events with dates to determine. Consulates often get it wrong. (and there are special rules for Rhodesia, esp. around Ian Smith's time.

Secondly there are EU rules that give strong rights to EU citizens who wish to be joined by an ascending maternal or paternal parent.

[lols]

lols, did you succeed with bringing your mom here?
Firstly, you would be amazed to know how complex old commonwealth citizenship applications can be. Often, it requires a time trace line to match events with dates to determine. Consulates often get it wrong. (and there are special rules for Rhodesia, esp. around Ian Smith's time.

Secondly there are EU rules that give strong rights to EU citizens who wish to be joined by an ascending maternal or paternal parent.

Unfortunatly John when we looked into it and spoke to the British High Commisson in SA a few years ago they said it would not be possible. She did show them her "British Passport". Do you know what this process is and would it be worth while looking into it! I do know that she could go down the ancestral route but there are complications and age unfortunatly is against her.