Guidance

Appendix family reunion: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on family reunion applications.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Published: 5 July 2011
• Last updated: 6 August 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 6 August 2026

     Updated to reflect vignette decommissioning.

  2. 11 November 2025

     Updated to remove references to Part 9: general grounds for refusal which has been replaced by Part Suitability.

  3. 4 September 2025

     Changes following the Immigration Rules that came into effect on 4 September 2025.

  4. 28 May 2025

     Updated guidance to clarify the definition of habitual residence under section ‘Relationship requirements for a partner’ and to clarify compelling compassionate circumstances.

  5. 9 April 2025

     The appendix family reunion guidance has been updated.

  6. 17 July 2023

     Removed reference to the application of the differentiation policy introduced under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. Added guidance on the new ‘unsafe journeys’ policy.

  7. 12 April 2023

     Updated in line with the April 12 Immigration Rules changes to show the route for children applying to stay with or join non-parent relatives with protection status has been removed and placed into its own guidance product.

  8. 9 November 2022

     Updated guidance in line with changes to the Immigration Rules.

  9. 29 July 2022

     Updates to the biometric enrolment requirements for Family Reunion applications.

  10. 28 June 2022

      Guidance changes in light of the Nationality and Borders Bill.

  11. 1 April 2022

      Added detail of what will be covered by proposed amendments.

  12. 31 December 2020

      Updated the guidance.

  13. 9 January 2020

      Updated information on biometric enrolment for in-country applications.

  14. 19 March 2019

      Updated document with a new version.

  15. 29 July 2016

      Updated guidance.

  16. 27 July 2016

      Updated guidance.

  17. 5 July 2011

      First published.

Documents

Appendix family reunion (sponsors with protection) (accessible)

HTML

Appendix family reunion (sponsors with protection)

PDF, 475 KB, 38 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff make decisions on applications for family reunion.

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