At First Law Solicitors, we assist families in bringing elderly or vulnerable relatives to live with them in the United Kingdom through the Adult Dependent Relative (ADR) Visa route. This is one of the most complex and tightly regulated areas of UK immigration law, requiring detailed medical, financial, and evidential preparation.
Based in Manchester and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823), our immigration solicitors represent clients across the UK and internationally. We combine technical precision with compassionate advocacy to help families reunite while meeting the Home Office’s demanding requirements.
The ADR route, governed by Appendix FM-ADR of the Immigration Rules, allows certain family members, typically parents or grandparents of British citizens or settled persons, to join their relatives in the UK permanently.
To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate that, as a result of age, illness, or disability, they require long-term personal care that can only reasonably be provided in the UK by their sponsoring relative.
This route is designed for exceptional circumstances. The Home Office applies the rules strictly, and applications must be supported by robust evidence demonstrating both medical need and the impossibility of adequate care in the applicant’s home country.
An applicant must meet three key requirements:
1. Relationship: The applicant must be a parent, grandparent, sibling, or adult child of a British citizen, settled person, or someone with refugee or humanitarian protection status in the UK.
2. Long-Term Care Needs: The applicant must require long-term personal care to perform everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, or preparing food. Medical evidence must clearly describe the condition and the nature of the care required.
3. Care Unavailability Abroad: The applicant must prove that the care needed is not available or affordable in their home country. This is the most challenging element and often the deciding factor in ADR cases.
Our solicitors prepare detailed statements and gather independent evidence from medical specialists, social care professionals, and financial experts to satisfy these stringent standards.
Applications under Appendix FM-ADR are decided based on the “balance of probabilities” test, but the evidential burden is significant. The Home Office routinely scrutinises medical reports, care cost estimates, and family support evidence to assess whether care could be provided in the applicant’s home country.
We ensure that all medical reports are up to date, detailed, and compliant with Home Office evidential standards. Where care options exist abroad, we provide comparative cost and accessibility analyses to demonstrate why the UK sponsor’s personal care remains the only viable option.
High-quality medical evidence is essential. Reports should describe the applicant’s physical or mental health condition, prognosis, and why professional or family care abroad is not feasible.
We work with accredited clinicians, geriatric specialists, and occupational therapists who provide expert assessments tailored to Home Office standards. These are accompanied by witness statements from the UK sponsor and evidence of their practical and emotional involvement in the applicant’s care.
Sponsors must demonstrate that they can maintain and accommodate the applicant in the UK without recourse to public funds. This often requires evidence of sufficient income or savings, as well as proof of suitable housing.
We prepare detailed financial schedules and accommodation reports to show that all arrangements are sustainable, credible, and compliant with the Immigration Rules.
Successful ADR applicants are granted indefinite leave to enter from the outset, meaning they become permanently settled in the UK. This route does not lead to temporary or time-limited visas.
Given the permanent nature of this visa, the Home Office applies a particularly high evidential threshold. Our solicitors are experienced in presenting complex, multi-jurisdictional cases where medical, cultural, and financial factors intersect.
ADR refusals are common, often due to insufficient medical evidence or a failure to demonstrate that care cannot reasonably be provided abroad.
We act swiftly in such cases, preparing detailed appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Appeals are typically argued under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), focusing on family unity and the emotional impact of separation.
Our approach combines rigorous legal argument with human insight. We prepare comprehensive bundles including expert witness reports, family statements, and updated medical assessments to demonstrate that separation would breach Article 8 and the UK’s obligations under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
All applications are securely filed through our encrypted digital portal, compliant with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. We use Digital ID Verification (IDV) and Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for document authentication, ensuring full data security and compliance with modern Home Office digital processes.
At First Law Solicitors, we go beyond the checklist. We build a narrative that connects medical, emotional, and financial realities into one cohesive case for reunification.
Technical Mastery: Every application is built from the ground up with precision, ensuring that no evidential gap undermines the outcome.
Compassionate Strategy: We handle each case with empathy, recognising the emotional weight of family separation.
Cross-Border Coordination: For clients abroad, we coordinate with overseas medical experts and British consular services to ensure seamless submission and compliance.
Our objective is to deliver security, peace of mind, and family unity through meticulous, strategic representation.
If you need to bring an elderly or dependent relative to live with you in the UK, contact First Law Solicitors today for tailored, professional advice.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
Complete our secure online enquiry form to arrange a private consultation.
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