Sher wrote:As per your reply, I understand that, under HSMP, there is no discrimination between the first and second (read, spouse) applicants' respective 'set of dependents'
Nope, I am only saying that there is no secondary applicant in an HSMP and therefore is no concept of secondary applicant's dependents. It is up to you to prove that your spouse's parents are dependent on you. If you are asking my personal opinion then I would say the chances of them getting a dependent visa based on your HSMP approval would be extremly remote for the following reasons (which are also mentioned in the link you have given)
I qoute from the same
You must currently live and be settled in the United Kingdom legally with no time limit on your stay
Unfortunatly the HSMP will come with a one year time limit with no gaureentee to be extended for a further three years (which in any case is a time limit)
you have enough money to support and accommodate them without help from public funds.
You will be coming to this country on HSMP and will just be starting a new life here i.e getting job, accomodating yourself. From the HO point of view, this would increase the chances of you being a burden on public funds.
You will have a better chance if you come to this country, get your HSMP extension, have a stable long term job, a great bank balance. Then be able to prove their are your financial dependents with no other close relatives to look after them. On compasionate grounds you might be able to achieve this but no sooner. That ofcourse is just my opinion.
After ILR, the "secondary applicant" line of thinking will not be neccessary. As your dependent once your spouse is granted ILR she will be able to get her parents (65+) as the ILR holder herself.
It seems to me that your thinking is focused towards secondary applicant because they are not your parents but the parents of your spouse. I agree it further complicates the matter that they are your spouse's parents. But hypothetically if your spouse was the one to apply for HSMP, you would still face the same problem as they would not be regarded as being ordinarily the dependents of the "first" applicant.
Sher wrote:In other words, on having fulfilled all required conditions, when one applies for one's parents, an immigration official cannot say : " Not granted 'cos you were not the first applicant to the HSMP programme ...... and a dependent yrself."
One gets the same sense with this home office rule :
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en ... tives.html?
Am I right ?
Nope, the immigration official will say no such thing. He would however tell you that your parents or your spouse's parents are not your dependents.
Then you would say - ofcourse they are. They are financially dependent on me and I look after them in their old age and there is no other close relative to tend to their needs.
Then the immigration official would say ok i will have to speak to the HO about this. Give me as much documentation as you can to prove what you are saying and we will consider you case on compassionate grounds.