Help!

Our Thai niece, age 18, would like to immigrate to the UK and live with her married older sister who is married to a UK citizen. She would like to be able to work while she is there and would stay for at least a few years. Is this doable??

Any help would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, as things stand she won't qualify for a settlement visa as she is now 18 and, even if she were still a minor, it would not be straightforward for her to join a sister in the U.K.

If her brother-in-law is a dual British/EEA national, he may choose to present himself as being the EEA nationality for the purposes of his siste-in-law's application, and she may apply for a free family permit as an extended family member. However, for this to be successful, she would have to, as a bare minimum, demonstrate that she is financially dependent upon the brother-in-law.

She may still apply for a student visa, but she will have to persuade the visa officer that she is a genuine student, rather than using this as a means of getting in to the U.K.

Scouse.

As she is 18 she must qualify to enter UK in her own right (except for maybe through Scouse's European back door). If she is able to apply for a student visa, the course fees will have to be pre paid at International students rates, she must attend the course and will only be able to work up to 20 hours a week during term time.