Mazel Richa de Sousa v The Entry Clearance Officer

Facts

The appellant, Mazel Richa De Sousa, lives in India with her mother. Her father, the Sponsor, is a relevant EEA citizen living in the United Kingdom. On 3 October 2023 she applied for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit as a dependent child over the age of 21 of a relevant EEA citizen. Applications had been made together for her and her mother to join the Sponsor. Her mother was granted entry clearance but stayed in India with the appellant after the appellant's application was refused. The Entry Clearance Officer refused it on 17 January 2024 on two grounds: the claimed relationship with the Sponsor had not been sufficiently evidenced, and dependency on him had not been shown as Appendix EU (Family Permit) requires. In a review dated 23 July 2025, the respondent withdrew the relationship ground, because the appellant had since produced a birth certificate naming the Sponsor as her father. The respondent accepted that she met the definition of a family member of a relevant EEA citizen under Appendix EU. On dependency, the respondent maintained that money transfers had been shown but that there was insufficient evidence the funds met the appellant's essential living needs. The respondent also questioned utility bills that named another person. The appeal was heard at Hatton Cross on 9 September 2026. The respondent was not represented, and the Sponsor gave oral evidence.