Hi all

my wife(Thai) has been in the UK for about 4 1/2 years and has had ILR for 2 1/2. She has a 12 year old daughter in Thailand who has been staying with her ex husband for the 1st 3 years my wife has been here with me and then the kid stayed with her ex husbands mother because he didn't want to take care of her anymore. Now my wifes mother in-law can't take care of her as she is moving back to Germany. We want the kid to come and stay with us in the UK. My wife got divorced about 6 years ago and she says that the court did not issue sole responsibility of the kid to her ex husband or to her, is this possible?

Getting the husband to consent to the kid coming here shouldn't be a problem as he does not want to take her. Can anyone give me some idea on what the chances are of getting her kid over here and does this case seem complicated? any advice appreciated.

many thanks

See also How can I qualify to join my parents in the UK? and 14.3 - Children of parent(s) or a relative settled (or to be admitted for settlement) in the United Kingdom and how they qualify.

That your step-daughter has lived with her paternal family and no custody document appears to exist, is going to make it difficult for your wife to demonstrate the sole responsibility criterion. You may well have to seek to rely upon compassionate factors; i.e. that there is no-one left in Thailand to take care of her, but even that is not guaranteed to succeed.

Scouse.