Appendix FM meaning

This quick-reference checklist supports calculating whether an applicant meets the relevant thresholds for eligibility under family immigration routes. It specifically helps with reviewing both the main financial requirement and the adequate maintenance requirement for routes under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules... Which financial requirement applies? New application from 11 April 2024: £29,000 Renewal or extension from 11 April 2024 (including fiancés converting to partner): £18,600 (plus applicant child increment, capped at £29,000) Pending application made before 11 April 2024: £18,600 (plus applicant child increment, no cap) Sponsoring applicant in receipt of a specified benefit or applying on a specified route (e.g. as a parent): Adequate maintenance based on current income support rates (see below) Where applicable, child increments are: +£3,800 for the first child and +£2,400 for each extra child; e.g. +1 child = £22,400, +2 children = £24,800, +3 children = £27,200, and +4 children = £29,600 (unless capped at £29,000). British children and those with leave under...

In this issue: Key developments UK immigration control: how it works Family members under Part 8 and Appendix FM Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement Citizenship applications Daily and weekly news alerts New Q&As Key developments Future developments—Immigration calendar Note that our Immigration calendar sets out key forthcoming developments relevant to business immigration advisers. UK immigration control: how it works Home Secretary statement on direction of legal migration policy The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, addressed Parliament on the direction of the new Labour government’s future policy on legal migration. She reaffirmed a focus on aligning migration policy with skills and the labour market—a ‘new approach’—to be delivered through a cross‑government programme set out in the pre‑election manifesto and the newly announced Skills England body highlighted in the King’s speech. She also confirmed that ministers will press ahead with the majority of the previous administration’s ‘five‑point plan’ measures. This reflects the government’s view—shared with its...

Analysis of changes to the Immigration Rules in HC 836 This review outlines the key amendments to the Immigration Rules (the Rules) contained in HC 836. The Statement of Changes, accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum (EM), was published on 24 June 2025. For advice on interpreting a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, see Practice Note: Sources of immigration law and their legal status. Implementation Commencement dates differ and are set out in each section below. Most provisions take effect on 16 or 29 July 2025, with certain measures commencing on 17 July 2025. Appendix EU A substantial revision alters the definition of ‘continuous qualifying period’. Where a person with pre-settled status has not been continuously resident in the UK since the end of the transition period at 11pm GMT on 31 December 2020, they may still qualify for settled status if they hold pre-settled leave and have lived in the UK for at least 30 months within the preceding 60 months; this applies to...

Original news R (on the application of Ali) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; R (on the application of Bibi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Liberty Intervening) [2015] UKSC 68, [2015] All ER (D) 150 (Nov) The Supreme Court concluded, among other points, that obliging the overseas spouse or partner of a UK citizen, or a person settled in the UK, to pass an English language competence test before joining them was not an unjustified infringement of rights under ECHR, art 8. What key issues do these cases raise? Mrs Bibi and Mrs Ali are British nationals married to non-EEA citizens. Following amendments to the Immigration Rules on 29 November 2010, their husbands had to demonstrate English language ability by passing a competence test before being admitted to the UK for settlement. The rule does not apply in every case—for example, spouses or partners who are nationals of a majority English-speaking state are exempt. The rule also excuses applicants who: ...

Category Whose income?...

Where a sponsoring partner receives one or more specified benefits, partners and dependent children applying under Appendix FM are not required to meet a minimum income threshold for the five-year route to settlement; instead, the applicable financial assessment is the test of 'adequate maintenance'. The 'adequate maintenance' criterion also applies to the following categories: parents applying under Appendix FM, other family members applying under Appendix Adult Dependent Relative, applications under Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection), and children of settled parents applying under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules, however, under Part 8 there are important differences regarding the treatment of third-party support and offers of employment. It remains unlikely that partners or other family members will now apply under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules; nevertheless, advisers may still encounter someone who has, for whatever reason, remained on that route without obtaining settlement and who may therefore be able to benefit from the transitional provisions. For more information...

The meaning of key terms in the Immigration Rules in relation to eligibility This Practice Note examines the main terms appearing in the Immigration Rules on eligibility for applications by children under Part 8, paras 296–316F, and within Appendix FM, Family life as a child of a parent with limited leave as a partner or parent. The terms covered include: parent under 18 unmarried, not living independently and not having formed an independent family unit 'present and settled' and 'being admitted for settlement'—these definitions apply solely to applications by children of settled persons under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules and are not cited in Appendix FM Relevant evidence and common pitfalls are addressed in this Practice Note, which should be read alongside the following Practice Notes where relevant: Children applying for indefinite leave under Part 8 and Appendix FM: eligibility tables Children of a parent with limited leave as a partner: entry clearance—eligibility tables ...

[ Insert your current residential address ] Entry Clearance Officer, [ Insert address of decision-making centre to which the application is being sent ] [ Insert date ] Dear [ insert organisation name ] Application for entry clearance as a [ spouse OR civil partner OR unmarried partner ] under Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules I am a national of [ insert nationality ] and the [ spouse OR civil partner OR unmarried partner ] of [ insert name of sponsoring partner ]. My birth date is [ insert date of birth ] and my age is currently [ insert age ]. I confirm that I am not related to [ insert name of sponsoring partner ] in any manner that is barred for [ marriage OR civil partnership ] in the UK...

A. Documents for main applicant Evidence of the sponsor parent(s)' income and funds: Examples of suitable evidence are set out below. While a six-month span is not mandated by the Immigration Rules, it is recommended as a reasonable timeframe for demonstrating income and savings. Payslips for the previous six months (for employed persons). And/or proof of business or self-employment income for at least the last six months, such as: (a) Letter from a registered accountant for the business confirming the sponsor parent(s)’ income during that period. (b) Invoices. (c) Business accounts. Personal bank or building society statements or passbooks covering the past six months. Any accountant providing a supporting letter must be registered with an appropriate professional regulatory body. Bank or building society statements should show what has been paid in and out of the accounts for the past six months...

[ Insert your full residential address ] [ Insert Home Office address where application is being posted ] [ Insert date ] Dear [ insert organisation name ] Letter of support of leave to remain application of [ insert name of child(ren), nationalit(ies) and date(s) of birth ] I am [ insert the applicant parent’s nationality ] by nationality, and serve as the [ state the child(ren)’s relationship ] to [ insert name(s) of child(ren) ] named above here. I am presently living in the UK and am seeking leave to remain as the partner of [ insert name of sponsoring partner ] concurrently with [ insert name(s) of child(ren) ] in this application now...

Long residence and private life resources—overview The ten-year long residence route set out in the Immigration Rules, Part 7, does not allow dependants to submit applications alongside the principal applicant. This means joint filing is not available under this route. Dependants may, however, apply independently where they satisfy the criteria of the relevant rule. By way of illustration, if a husband and wife have each been lawfully present in the UK for ten continuous years, they must each file their own separate applications under the long residence provisions. See Immigration Rules, Part 7, para 276B–276C. When a Tier 2 (General) migrant secures indefinite leave to remain (ILR) through the long residence rules, their spouse may have scope to seek leave to remain as the spouse of a settled person under Immigration Rules, Appendix FM (see Practice Note: Partners applying for limited leave to remain under Appendix FM: eligibility tables)...