Yes, provided they meet certain requirements
Who counts as a family member?
Under UK immigration law your family members are your husband or wife (spouse) or your civil partner and your children who are under 18 on first entry to the UK.
How do they apply to come with me?
Most people coming to the UK for a period of longer than 6 months must apply for entry clearance (visa) before travelling on Form VAF1. Your family member must meet all necessary requirements :
For spouse or civil partner:
- she or he is married to or entered into a civil partnership with you
- she or he intends to live with you
- you can accommodate and maintain yourselves, without recourse to public funds
- she or he intends to leave the UK after your studies have finished.
For children coming to the UK
- they must be your children
- they are under 18 on first entry to the UK
- they are not married or in a civil partnership and they do not lead an independent life
- they will not stay in the UK beyond the period granted.
If your family members are applying after you have already arrived in the UK, it is important that you provide them with evidence that you have permission to be in the UK and the length of that permission. Also you need to show that you can afford to support your family and have suitable accommodation for them. An enrolment letter from the University, available from Registry, would be helpful too.
Full details at: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk
What about children born in the UK?
Children born in the UK after 1-1-83 are not British Citizens by birth unless one parent is British, or in very limited other circumstances. But the child is legally in the UK , and an immigration application is not essential. However, if you want to leave and re-enter the UK with your baby, you will need to apply for either leave to remain for your baby before you leave or entry clearance for the baby before you return.
For more details and information of making applications to remain in the UK as family members of a student see the Ukcosa (Council for International Education) Guidance note: http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/images/yourfamily.pdf
Will my family be able to work in the UK?
If you, the student, have been given permission to be in the UK for more than 12 months, your family members should automatically be given permission to work. The only condition on his or her entry clearance will be “no recourse to public funds”. He or she can take up full or part time work, be self employed or set up a business. If the words “no work” or “work prohibited” are conditions which appear on the entry clearance your family member is not allowed to undertake any work, paid or unpaid.
Will my family be able to receive free medical treatment?
Your family members will be eligible for free National Health Service treatment if your course is at least 6 months long.
Will my children be able to attend school?
Children are required by law to attend school, which is free for all children up to the age of 16. With some exceptions, schools are under the control of the Local Education Authority (LEA) which, in the case of Cardiff, is Cardiff County Council.
The following websites are helpful:
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/guidenote.htm
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/inter/study/welfare/family.html
