Does anyone know whether the child dependents of Ancestry Visa holders are bound by the same rules as the parent - the main visa holder?
My two children have visas based on their being my dependents, as they are both currently under 18. My elder child turns 18 in May 2012. She desperately wants to finish school, but the school which I have just enrolled her in here in England insists that she will have "observer" status until the end of June 2012 in the AS Level year. They have said she can then start properly in September. Their other suggestion is that she leaves straight away and finds a job until September. Therefore, when she finishes school here, she will be 20. The other child, at 15. has been accommodated with absolutely no problem into her age-relevant year and her teachers have gone out of their way to welcome and help her.
In South Africa, the 17 year old would be entering her final school year next month. She is seriously considering going back to SA to complete her education there, as this time next year she would be finished with school forever, at 18. She is strong academically. Since the children were granted dependents' visas on the strength of my own ancestry visa, I was wondering if anyone knows if dependents can stay out of the UK for longer than the 180 days the main ancestry visa holders are allowed in the 5 year period?
This would obviously solve the problem if it were possible, but we obviously don't want to ruin her chances of ILR after 5 years by her being out of the UK for longer than the stipulated period. I can't find any reference to this on the Home Office website.
Can anyone suggest anything at all? I would be most grateful for any input.
