LINCOLN MAJOGO

As economic pressures continue to exert their full might on Zimbabweans, many are emigrating to Europe, the United Kingdom(UK) being a common destination to scout for better employment opportunities. Due to these developments, there is an increase in court cases dealing with applications for custody and guardianship, which are mostly meant to allow those emigrating to travel with their minor children for an indefinite stay. Even with documents of sole custody, many visa applications have been rejected by the UK Home Office. One major reason for rejection is that the parent making the application (Applicant parent) has failed to prove that they have sole responsibility over the minor's upbringing. In this article, we briefly assess what sole responsibility entails in the context of immigration law in the United Kingdom.   Where a parent is already a resident in the UK and intends to bring their minor child along for an indefinite stay, they can do so under 3 broad circumstances.