Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse will replace existing provisions for Victims ofDomestic Abuse and their dependent children in Part 8, Appendix FM and Appendix Armed Forces of the Immigration Rules. The key changes to previous provisions in the Immigration Rules are:
Entry Clearance for Victims Abandoned Overseas: Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse will allow victims of domestic abuse and their dependents to apply for entry clearance from outside the UK. This is particularly crucial for individuals who have been abandoned overseas as part of the domestic abuse they have endured.
Fee Waiver for Settlement Applications: For both overseas and in-country settlement applications as a Victim of Domestic Abuse, a fee waiver will be available based on destitution.
Expanded Eligibility for Settlement: Individuals who were last granted permission as a partner under Appendix FM, Part 11, or Appendix Family Reunion (Protection) of a person with permission as a refugee will now be eligible to apply for settlement as a Victim of Domestic Abuse.
Inclusion of Dependent Children: Provisions for dependent children of victims of domestic abuse will be incorporated within Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse.
Application of General Grounds for Refusal: The general grounds for refusal outlined in Part 9 of the rules will be applied to the Victim of Domestic Abuse route.
These changes will take effect on 31 January 2024.
