Sole Responsibility Child Applications

Where one parent in the UK has sole responsibility for a child living overseas.

For a parent settled in the UK who has been directing their child's upbringing, where the child now wants to join them.

What sole responsibility usually means

Sole responsibility is about continuing control and direction of the child's upbringing — decisions about schooling, health, welfare and finances — not simply about who pays maintenance or who the child lives with day to day.

What we will check

The history of the child's care since the parent came to the UK.
The role, whereabouts and involvement of the other parent.
Who makes the important decisions, and the documents that show it.
Accommodation and maintenance in the UK without public funds.

Common problems
Evidence that shows financial support only, with no decision-making.
A carer overseas who appears to share responsibility.
Unexplained gaps in contact or visits.
Statements that are not supported by school, medical or travel records.

Where sole responsibility cannot be shown and the application would rely on other family or compelling circumstances, the matter is outside our Level 1 authorisation and we will signpost you.

How WLIS can help

1 We check that the route suits your plans and that the matter is a straightforward one within our IAA Level 1 authorisation.
2 We review your eligibility and your documents, and explain plainly anything that needs attention.
3 We give you a document checklist written for your circumstances rather than a generic one.
4 We prepare the application form and supporting documents, and you check and approve the final information before anything is submitted.
5 We help with submission, biometrics or identity steps, and your eVisa and UKVI account after the decision.

What we can and cannot help with

We provide advice and application assistance for straightforward immigration matters within our IAA Level 1 Immigration authorisation. Where a matter falls outside that authorisation — for example because it involves adverse immigration history, a discretionary or human-rights claim, an administrative review, an appeal or tribunal work — we will tell you and signpost or refer you to an adviser authorised at the appropriate level.

If an application is refused, we will explain the decision and whether any further work remains within our Level 1 authorisation. Where an administrative review, an appeal or other higher-level casework is needed, we will signpost or refer you to an appropriately authorised adviser. We do not provide appeal or tribunal representation.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) makes the final decision on every application. No immigration adviser can guarantee that an application will be approved.

Our IAA regulation How we work Fees

Questions clients often ask

What does "sole responsibility" actually mean?

It means that you, rather than anyone else, have been directing the important decisions in the child's upbringing: schooling, health, welfare and finances. Day-to-day care can be carried out by a relative overseas without defeating the test, but continuing involvement by the other parent in the major decisions usually does.

My child lives with their grandparents. Does that count against me?

Not by itself. Practical care by grandparents is common and the rules recognise it. What matters is who has been making the decisions and providing for the child, which is shown through school and medical correspondence addressed to you, remittance records over time and evidence of regular contact.

What if I cannot show sole responsibility?

Then the application would have to rely on other family or compelling circumstances, which is a discretionary judgement rather than a straightforward application. That is outside our Level 1 authorisation, so we would explain the position and signpost you to an appropriately authorised adviser.

Official sources we check

We check what we publish against the Home Office's own guidance. These are the GOV.UK pages behind the advice on this site — use them to confirm anything you read here, because the rules change and the official page is always the current one.

GOV.UK content is published by the UK government and is not part of this website.

Talk to us about sole responsibility child applications

Tell us what you want to apply for, the status you hold now and when your current permission ends. We will confirm whether the matter is within our Level 1 authorisation and offer a suitable appointment.

Start an enquiry See how we work

The enquiry button opens the secure WLIS enquiry form on enquiry.wlisuk.com in a new tab. Please do not send identity documents until we ask for them.