Sponsoring family members

[potterbond007]

Hi.

I have never done this before and I am trying to help a friend and I have to be extra careful. So this is the situation,
My friend is a British Citizen and my he would like to bring his parents over for a short trip in a couple of months to the UK. He is ready to apply through a solicitor with a fee but I am trying to save him some money being the friend that I am.. So my question is, what are the forms that need to be filled and what are the documents necessary for the application. I have a vague idea about some of the stuff required.

1) He has already got a letter from the council stating that there is enough space in his house for his mom and his dad.
2) he has got his payslips for 3 months showing fulltime employment.
3) He has got enough money in his bank (how much would that be actually for 2 people?).
4) Does his parents need to show any bank balance.
5) His parents has a refusal in their immigration history when they were refused for lack of enough funds the last time they tried applying from India for coming to britain on a visitor's visa in 2008.

[batleykhan]

Its not so much what he presents as evidence in support of his parents application, it is a case of what evidence his parents can provide that they will return back home. That is more important in my opinion

[potterbond007]

I know but that bit of advice just puts me right back at where i started.. please be a bit more elaborate as to what documents need to be presented.. My friend has also got hold of the property deeds in his parents names (in India) and bank statements of his father in India with substantial savings for proof that he would go back.. Would that suffice for both mom and dad or does his mom have to show similar documents too?

[batleykhan]

Give details of any family his parents have in India like brother, sisters , grand kids etc. This is a good reason to return.

Any business that parents might have. Details of medical treatment they may be undergoing back him etc.

If nothing else, then just be honest and say so.

He does not have to do same for mother. Just put "Refer to (husbands name) applications for original docs on mothers application form

[potterbond007]

will sort that out.. so documents required are:
1) council letter stating that there is enough space for paretns to stay = done
2) pay slips showing fulltime work = done
3) what are the funds needed to be shown in the bank?
4) documents giving reasons for parents to return = done
5) VAF1B = done

anthing else?

[potterbond007]

anybody nobody somebody kabbadi???

[potterbond007]

Any advice guys?? please help!!

[krazydude]

From your friend's side, it seems he has done all he can do here in the UK. With regards to the funds, if he has a regular salary going in every month and some sort of savings then that should be okay. 3 month bank statements are needed along with payslips.

A colleague of mine (British Citizen) invited his parents for a week (successfully) and showed £1,200 balance in his account (£600 per person/week). It can used as a rough thumb-rule.

If your friends parents can show a healthy bank balance, decent banking history (3-6 months) property documents, business documents, fixed deposit, land documents, that would help. Also if they are employed, then employment letters with the mention that they will return back from holiday to re-join their work. If his parents (individually) can show the above-mentioned documents (if available), then they stand a good chance.