Dear Sir,

I am in UK as a work permit holder and I qualify for PR in July 2011. My 5 year old daughter is at th moment in Kerala. I wish to bring her to UK at the time of my PR application. I am told by a friend that my daughter will not get PR as she is away from UK for more than 6 months. Is it correct?
Ancy, London

Dear Ancy,
The dependants of a work permit holder will get PR if they are in UK at the time of application and they are still dependant on the main work permit holder. Therefore your child is eligible to apply for PR along with you if she is present with you in UK at the time of application. Children below 18 are normally not required to prove that they are dependent on the main work permit holder. Further it is for the work permit holder who needs to demonstrate that she is not absent from UK for more than 6 months during the past 5 years of stay in UK. The chid doesn’t need to prove that she was in UK continuously for the past 5 years.

Paul John