Initial Application Under 7 Years Child Residence Route - Specialist Solicitors for Private Life Applications

You can apply for initial leave to remain for 30 months or 60 months under the 7-year child residence route if you are a child under the age of 18 who was born outside the UK and has lived in the UK for at least 7 years continuously. An application for an initial leave to remain as a child under the 7-year child residence route is made in accordance with the requirements as set out in Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules. The qualifying child who has completed 7 years of residence will be granted leave to remain for 30 months or 60 months, as requested, under the 5-year route to settlement, which means the child can apply for ILR after 5 years of continuous residence under this route. A child born in the UK who has been continuously resident for 7 years may qualify for immediate settlement on this route.

Family Members Of The Child Who Has Completed 7 Years of Residence

Parent and minor siblings of the qualifying child who has completed 7 years of residence can also apply for leave to remain in the UK either at the same time or after the child has been granted a stay under the 7-year child residence route. The family members will be granted leave to remain for 30 months under the 10-year route to settlement, which means they will qualify for ILR after completing 10 years of lawful residence in the UK under Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules. A child born in the UK to a person with permission under the Private Life route can apply for permission for the same duration as their parent.

Free Immigration Advice for 7 Years Child Residence Route Application

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide 5 minutes of free, one-off immigration advice regarding your private life application based on 7 years of residence of your child in the UK. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your application for leave to remain based on 7 years of child residence.

Specialist Immigration Solicitors for 7 Years' Child Residence Applications

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in private life applications based on a child's 7 years of continuous residence in the UK. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain leave to remain on the basis of private life under the 7-year child residence route. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your 7-year child residence route application. 

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

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At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our immigration solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the private life application process with professionalism and care. 

Our team comprises a diverse group of immigration solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.

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Requirements for Initial Leave to Remain Under the 7-Year Child Residence Route

A child applying for initial leave to remain on the basis of living continuously in the UK for 7 years should meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules as set out in Appendix Private Life:

Valid Application

The applicant must submit a valid application for leave to remain as a child who was born outside the UK and lived in the UK for 7 years continuously in accordance with the requirements for a valid application as set out in Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules.

Suitability Requirements

The applicant's application for initial leave to remain as a child must not fall for refusal on suitability grounds as set out in Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Residence Requirement

The applicant must have lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years from the date of entry into the UK, at the date of application.

The period of continuous residence may include time spent in the UK with or without permission. The period of continuous residence does not include any period during which the applicant was serving a sentence of imprisonment or was detained in an institution other than a prison.

The period of continuous residence is broken (i.e. is no longer continuous) if any of the following apply:

• the applicant has been absent from the UK for more than 6 months at any one time; or
•  the applicant has spent a total of 550 days or more absent from the UK during the relevant period of continuous residence of 7 years; or
• the applicant has been removed, deported or has left the UK having had an application for permission to enter or stay in the UK refused; or
• the applicant left the UK with no reasonable expectation at the time of leaving that they would lawfully be able to return.

Not Reasonable To Expect The Child To Leave The UK Requirement

The decision maker must be satisfied that it is not reasonable to expect the applicant to leave the UK. In accordance with the findings in the case of AB Jamaica (Secretary of State for the Home Department v AB (Jamaica) & Anor [2019] EWCA Civ 661), consideration of whether it is reasonable to expect a child to leave the UK must be undertaken regardless of whether the child is actually expected to leave the UK.

In the caselaw of KO (Nigeria) and Others [2018] UKSC 53, with particular reference to one of the appellants NS (Sri Lanka), the Supreme Court found that ‘reasonableness’ is to be considered in the real-world context in which the child finds themselves. The parents’ immigration status is a relevant fact to establish that context. The determination sets out that if a child’s parents are both expected to leave the UK, the child is normally expected to leave with them, unless there is evidence that it would not be reasonable.

In relation to children whose parents do not have permission to stay, there is no presumption in favour of them and their parents being granted permission to stay. It remains necessary, in each case, to evaluate all the circumstances to determine whether it would be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK with their parents. If it would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK, then the family as a whole may be entitled to remain.

The above assessment must prioritise the child’s best interests. The Home Office UKVI should carefully consider all the relevant points raised in the application and carefully assess any evidence provided. Decisions must not be taken simply on any assertions about the child, but rather on the basis of an examination of all the evidence provided. All relevant factors need to be assessed in the round.

Super Priority Service for a  Decision Within 24 Hours

As specialist immigration solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) to provide Super Priority Service for initial applications for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route, whereby a decision on your application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service. This way, you may not have to wait months (sometimes years) for a decision on your application.

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed-fee basis in relation to your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route. Our fixed fee for your application for leave to remain under 7 years child residence route will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your application for leave to remain under 7 years child residence route until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for leave to remain under 7 years child residence route. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for leave to remain under 7 years child residence route will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the requirements you need to meet for your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route to succeed.

Advice on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for leave to remain under 7 years child residence route.

Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route are in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route.

Submitting an application via Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route through Super Priority Service to obtain a faster decision.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After you submit your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route online, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route, explaining how all the legal requirements are met for approval.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload all supporting documents online to support your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will handle all follow-up until the Home Office UKVI issues a decision on your application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route.

Our Fixed Fees For Your Application For Leave To Remain Under 7 Years Child Residence Route

• Our immigration solicitors will charge a fixed fee ranging from £1,500 + VAT to £3,000 + VAT for your initial application for leave to remain as a child born outside the UK and who has lived continuously in the UK for at least 7 years since the date of first entry. The agreed fee will depend on the complexity and volume of work involved in the application for leave to remain under the 7-year child residence route.
• Our fixed fee for the application does not cover any disbursements, e.g., the UKVI fee for the application, and the applicant must separately pay the Home Office UKVI fees.

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