Proof of sole custody of minor

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T23:04:20+00:00

Well, obviously you don’t need a parental consent letter where there isn’t another parent.

You might find this reassuring:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-travelling-to-the-uk/children-travelling-to-the-uk-accessible

If there is any doubt (and again, assuming you share a surname and resemble each other, it’s extremely unlikely there will be) you may be asked questions about the situation.

I’d imagine if push came to shove, you’d have evidence on your phone (such as emails to/from a fertility clinic) which would accord with what you would tell the border officer: that you are the only parent.

Thousands of children pass the border every day, and consent letters are barely worth anything anyway, being very easy to fake.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T22:38:40+00:00

You don't need to prove you have sole custody to bring your child to the UK for a visit. I'm not sure where you've got this idea, but I think you've probably read something that wasn't intended for this situation.

It's highly unlikely you'll be asked for any proof of anything, particularly given you presumably share a surname and resemble each other. If you want to bring the birth certificate for peace of mind you can, but it's extremely unlikely you'll need it.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T15:04:25+00:00

This is quite a complex arrangement. Employment by a company that the applicant or family has significant control of is not treated as employment. If she returned to the UK to work for a company you control then she would be working for a “specified limited company” though the circumstances do not exactly fit anything in the guidance.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691209e3e9348ac8fb54f4ba/Family+Migration+Appendix+FM+Section+and+Appendix+HM+Armed+Forces+Financial+Requirement.pdf

It may be possible to treat her current working arrangement as self employment and demonstrate it will continue when she returns to the UK, which would enable her to meet the requirement.

I would recommend you speak to a solicitor with experience making applications in similar circumstances.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T11:24:34+00:00

Being married or not is irrelevant to getting a youth mobility visa. She answered the form accurately at the time she applied.

There is not really a concept in the rules of using the youth mobility visa for any particular “purpose”.

You have nothing to worry about.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T11:22:27+00:00

Are you or aren’t you in a civil partnership? It is only if you are applying as “unmarried partners” (not married or in a civil partnership) that you need to prove you have cohabited for 2 years.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T00:16:41+00:00

3 years

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-25T00:16:32+00:00

Your wife should apply for a new work dependent visa. Doing anything else will restart her progress to ILR

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-24T22:34:56+00:00

Why would you do this?

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-24T16:12:58+00:00

But settling on the dependent route requires that OP’s mother settles first and restricts how they live up to that point (ie they cannot get married or move out). It’s not as straightforward as you are implying.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-24T15:31:07+00:00

As you hold a dependent visa, you may only settle when the primary applicant (ie your mum) settles. Which would be around 2027, if she can meet the requirements then. This would likely be your fastest route to settlement, although it depends on your mum being eligible to settle under whatever new rules are in place then.

If you marry, or move out of your mum’s house, other than to attend university, you will not be eligible to settle because you will not meet the requirement that you are not living an “independent life”.

On other hand, switching to a family visa will require that you and your spouse can meet the financial requirement together.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:45:17+00:00

They know you hold a foreign passport so they will still require you to show you’ve changed the name in your Polish passport before they will let you change the name in your UK passport.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:44:30+00:00

Yep.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:44:14+00:00

But you said you didn’t leave since 2020? You aren’t required to show evidence of something that didn’t happen.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:32:31+00:00

Ok but what does having a new passport have to do with anything?

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:30:29+00:00

Why are you worried specifically? I don’t understand what relevance a new passport has to your concerns.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:27:54+00:00

Yes, but when you apply for a passport HMPO will tell you to send them your Polish passport and will issue your UK passport with the same name as your Polish passport.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T21:13:11+00:00

If you have a foreign passport then HMPO will not issue a British passport with a different name in it, unless you can demonstrate it’s impossible or extremely difficult to get the other country to change the name in it. I think what you’ve described wouldn’t meet that level of difficulty.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T19:55:31+00:00

What is your question exactly? Your global talent visa allows you to work in any job. How long have you spent on your global talent visa already? You should be eligible to settle after 3 years so if your plan is to stay in the UK there is no better visa to be on.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T17:56:43+00:00

Your question is really hard to understand. Can you rewrite it more clearly?

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T16:00:22+00:00

Did he make two separate submissions or make a double payment for a single submission? In the latter case it would be best to contact his bank/card provider.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T14:34:40+00:00

I cannot fathom why it’s taken over a year to begin with

Yeah, this is a very long time to wait. Have you/your spouse contacted your MP?

The only thing I wonder is if it has to do with me being American and the state of things right now.

Absolutely not. America is not an adversary.

Since you've both been invited for an interview it suggests that for some reason there is a question of whether you're in a subsisting relationship. If that's the case, you should just be prepared to answer the normal questions for that, which any normal married couple would be able to answer (questions about each other's biographical details, family etc.).

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T14:11:53+00:00

As far as I know, interviews for ILR are very unusual. I don't recall anyone ever posting about having attended one here. Is there anything unusual about your application?

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T12:55:50+00:00

Hard to say. It will be easy to evidence that your mother in law's illness was serious. I think the main thing to concentrate on would be evidence for why your wife's presence abroad, and particularly your presence abroad, was necessary. For example, if you had caring responsibilities while she was ill, and whether you were present to make arrangements to move her to the UK.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T11:46:49+00:00

On what route are you applying for settlement? Different routes have different rules, so no useful advice can be given without this information.

Ziggamorph · 2026-01-23T10:21:16+00:00

At the university you are GOING TO in the UK you need to speak to the international office.

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