85 years old, multiple health conditions — granted a BN(O) visa to join his family in the UK

The problem

Our client's elderly father — 85 years old and suffering from a heart condition and high blood pressure — required long-term personal care. As his daughter prepared to settle permanently in the UK, the family faced a difficult question: could the father come with her, or would he be left without adequate care in Hong Kong?

Why refusal was likely

Adult dependent relative applications are notoriously difficult. The applicant must show that the care they need is not available — and cannot reasonably be provided — in their home country. For Hong Kong, a city with a developed healthcare system, demonstrating that adequate care is genuinely unavailable sets a high bar. The Home Office scrutinises these applications closely.

Our strategy

We built a detailed, evidence-based picture of the father's care needs and why they could only be met in the UK. We gathered comprehensive medical evidence documenting his conditions and the level of daily care he required. Crucially, we demonstrated that while care services exist in Hong Kong in the abstract, they were not available to this particular applicant in a realistic way — accounting for the nature and extent of care required, the living arrangements, and the practical and financial realities of his situation. We also set out clearly the proposed living arrangements in the UK, where the father and daughter would continue to live together.

Outcome

BN(O) adult dependent relative visa granted.

Get in touch

Adult dependent relative applications require careful preparation and detailed evidence. If you are a BN(O) status holder looking to bring an elderly parent or other relative to the UK, we can advise you on the requirements and help you build the strongest possible case.