Ancestry Visa Advice

Micaila
New Member



Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: St. Neots/Cambs

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 1:15 pm

 

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Hi everyone,

I am new to the forums and have been reading through all the posts about applying for an Ancestry Visa for the UK.

I do qualify to make the application and I am just awaiting for certified copies of the birth certificates that they require.

My question has to do with should I apply directly for the visa with the High Commission in Ottawa or hire a company that would do this on my behalf? I have looked at migrationexpert com/uk and the fees are rather high and they charge in GBP in addition to the cost of the visa. I am not sure that it will help the application process or not.

I am going to be moving in with my fiancee and he will be sending me a letter confirming the address of where I will be living rent free while I look for a job. In the visa application they ask what the relationship is to the person I will be staying with, would stating that it is my fiancee work for or against me? Should I just list him as a friend on my visa application and as a flat mate?

Also, on the Ancestry Visa, will I be able to get married outside of the uk and return on my Ancestry Visa? We are planning to be married in the Carribbean so we can honeymoon at the same time and then return the the UK. Will I have to then apply for a different kind of Visa? Or am I not allowed to leave the UK at all for the 5 year period?

Any help and advice would be appreciated as I am getting a little discouraged and worried that we may have to go the route of the fiancee visa, but we both don't want to be forced to marry so quickly.

Thanks!

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barb14
New Member



Joined: 16 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Location: London

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:56 am

 

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You definetly do NOT need to hire anyone to do this for you.

Not only is it an unnecessary complete waste of money, but you are guaranteed to do a better job than any 'agent' that claims they will work for you.

This is a scam for anyone who is a native English speaker. You do not need this help. If your IQ is high enough to fill in a tax form or apply for your Cdn passport, then you are more than qualified to do this visa on your own.

If you can prove you have a grandparent and that they are related to you, you do qualify.

What they are looking for you to show is:
1) that you have enough money to support yourself and will not go on welfare
2) that you are likely to find employment in the UK
3) you are not a terrorist, pedophile or other with liklihood to disrupt the peace

To prove this, you can:
1) send all of the following that you have:
* original bank statements and/or stocks/assets (to show you have enough money to survive the first few months there during a potential job search/ cover set up costs),
* your last year's tax return (the confirmation from the gov, not the form you yourself filled in),
* 3 to 6 months payslips (from the most recent dates you have)
* and a statement from your employer of your yearly salary/earnings (a nice extra)

2) a written job offer

3) you can't do anything to prove you're not a terrorist. They will do checks if they think there is any liklihood.

If you do NOT have a job offer already (as was my case), then do the following:
i) write a signed statement of intent to look for a job in a letter 'To Whom It May Concern'. ('I, (name), write to confirm that I am in the process of relocating to the UK in order to seek employment.; I am looking for xyz type job; my qualifications are.)
ii) copies (not originals) of any degrees or other educational qualifications
iii) start a job search before you apply/arrive and include in your application copies of all email/letter corresponence to/from potential employers
iv) if at all possible get an email or letter that confirms any interviews you have or will have with potential UK employers (in person or by telephone)
v) copy of your resume

As well, you should of course, read and follow all the directions on the application form (fill it in, sign it, add photos.).

You MUST INCLUDE ORIGINAL birth certificates of yourself, parent and grandparent. (If you are adopted, you may have to add other documents, like marriage or adoption certificates I think - check the UK gov website to be exact.)

Read the UK gov website about where to apply!

FOR THIS VISA YOU MUST APPLY BEFORE YOU REACH THE UK!

You should send the application to the UK embassy/consulate in the country that you are resident in currently (check the website for the local embassy or consulate that you think you should send it to - not all embassies/consules in each country handle this application. Some UK reps in some countries will only process visa apps at one designated embassy or consule in the country. Check.).

Include the fee. Send a copy of any proof of payment and clip it to the front of the package that you send. Make sure it is the correct amount and that your payment proof is prominent. Your app will not be processed at all without this.

The above is what I did. You could probably get by with doing less. But the onus is on you to prove 1) and 2) to their satisfaction. My impression is that the are more picky with HSMP visas.

Good luck. It is not hard. Just tedious.

--B

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barb14
New Member



Joined: 16 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Location: London

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:09 am

 

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Listing your fiance as your fiance doesn't make much difference if you can support yourself. If you have him make a statement that he will support you financially then being your finace is probably a good thing / more credible than a flatmate saying they will support you.

After you have the UK ancestry visa in your passport you can come and go as you like. Marriage can happen whenever/wherever you like.

BUT you must apply for the UK Ancestry visa bef you get to the UK (new recent rule).

NOTE, if you later want to apply for UK citizenship, then there are limits on how many days you can be out of the country - not too onerous though. If you apply as the wife of a Brit, you can apply after 3 yrs (assuming the marriage in intact then). If you apply on your UK Ancestry visa, then effectively you will need to wait 6 yrs.

If you are already in the UK, then you should look into applying under the fiance visa program. Bunch of different rules.

MAKE SURE ANY WEBSITE YOU LOOK AT ENDS IN .gov.uk

There are an awful lot of scammer/unnecessary websites that come up ahead of the UK official government websites when you google. Don't be fooled by an offical 'sounding' website name. Look at the tag at the end.

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Micaila
New Member



Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: St. Neots/Cambs

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:43 pm

 

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Thanks so much for the quick response! I really appreciate all of the information you have given me. I shall post what the outcome is with my application.

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Micaila
New Member



Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Posts: 5
Location: St. Neots/Cambs

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:44 pm

 

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Just a quick note to everyone who gave me such great advice. I submitted my Ancestry Visa Application on Thursday November 2nd and had all of my documents delivered to Ottawa the following day.I received an email from them on Monday saying that they had received my application and were reviewing same and that they would have an answer in respect to my application within 5 working days, I just received a further email today advising me that my visa was approved and issued! I'm off to the UK in the new year!

Thanks again everyone!

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LittleMapes
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 27 Sep 2007
Posts: 61
Location: Ontario

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:12 am

 

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Yikes, it really happened that quickly? That is great. Good for you. =)

Here is hoping that the unmarried partner is just as quick and easy.

I sent off papers to become a Canadian Citizen over a month ago, and I've had no follow up.

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cpcgirl
New Member



Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Toronto

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:35 am

 

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Congratulations Micaila! I hope my student visa application will be as quick as your ancestory visa app!

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