Ancestry Visa Timeline

Ilovelondon
New Member



Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 3

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:04 pm

 

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Hey,

I am planning on moving to London to live with my boyfriend in February or March - haven't booked a flight yet.
I am applying for an ancestry visa (my grandma was born in London). I live on Vancouver Island and it's such a hassle to take a vehicle over to the mainland that I was hoping to book my biometrics appointment around a trip I already have planned to Vancouver.
I'm just wondering if there's a certain time period you have to get your biometrics done in (obviously not too late after applying). How long before my intended travel to Vancouver should I send in my application.
I want to do it as late as possible, because all though I'm anxious to get to London, I also would like to have the three months last as long as I might need to be able to sort everything out before moving.and just in case anything comes up. Even though I'm planning on February or March, I'd like to have the option of waiting if need be.
If someone could help, I'd appreciate it.
Also, if someone knows, is it difficult to find the biometrics office in Vancouver? I lived there for a bit, but I still get lost pretty easily.

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cordobaman
Senior Member



Joined: 27 Apr 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Edinburgh Scotland; formerly North Bay ON

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:30 am

 

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You should wait a little yet- make sure you have your documentation ready though. You'll probably alreaady researched it, but you'll need:

Long form (not your wallet card) birth certificate of UK grandparent, corresponding parent and for yourself to show the lineage;

If you don't have them, you can go to:

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ for your grandparent

and

http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/births/certificate.html (totally assuming you were born in BC, as well as your parent)

You need a current passport- try to make sure it's valid for as close to 5 years as possible.

Passport photos (recent within 6 months of your app)

Evidence that you have funds to cover yourself (bank statements for a few months etc)

Evidence you intend to work- resume (CV), register with temp agencies etc

Evidence you have somewhere to go (lease agreement on a flat, B&B for a few days, youth hostel etc).

Once you have all your stuff together, you'll have to do your visa application ONLINE (no other method).

You do this at:

http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/Welcome.htm

You'll need to pay online ($431) plus the $15 courier fee; that way the Embassy can return direct to you, and not the VAC in Vancouver. Make sure you take the $15 then and there as you can't afterwards. Once your online app is done and you've paid, you must make an appointment and make your way to the VAC (sorry, no idea where it is in Vancouver). Once you do this, you have TWO WEEKS to get everything sent to the British Embassy in Ottawa. They are remarkably quick; turnaround for us was 48 hours. When your visa is issued, you generally have 90 days to make your way to the UK.

Hope this helps. I'm in Edinburgh right now, and just finished doing all this since February. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Peter

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Ilovelondon
New Member



Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 3

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:00 pm

 

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Cheers,
I have ordered long form birth certificates for me, my mom, and my grandma, the ones from BC (you were right in assuming) came within a couple days, just waiting on the one from the UK. My passport expires in a few years, do you know if it's possible to .renew.? it beforehand?
It all seems pretty straight forward from what you've said and what I have already researched, although, I have of course not actually started the application process yet.
Thanks a lot for your help, I don't doubt I will come across something else that I might need a bit of assistance with.hehe. Much appreciated.

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cordobaman
Senior Member



Joined: 27 Apr 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Edinburgh Scotland; formerly North Bay ON

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:22 am

 

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I am told by other readers on the forums that you can travel with a new passport and your visa still in your expired one; but the British Embassy may not like it if you had, say, 1 year left on it. I mean, your visa is good for the five years, and so is your passport, but the odds of them being renewed and having your visa put in on virtually the same day is kind of impossible!

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Ilovelondon
New Member



Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 3

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:21 pm

 

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Hey,
Can anyone let me know how long it takes for the UK birth certificates to arrive? I was able to provide them the index number (or whatever it's called) and ordered it a few weeks ago.
Still hasn't arrived yet.

Thanks a lot

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cordobaman
Senior Member



Joined: 27 Apr 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Edinburgh Scotland; formerly North Bay ON

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:50 pm

 

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Should take two to three weeks at most.

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iancanton
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 53
Location: kent

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:46 am

 

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if it's the same basic procedure as for a fiancée visa, then u need to ensure that all of ur supporting documentation arrives in ottawa within two weeks of ur application. the easiest way to do this is to take ur documents with u when u do ur biometrics (u will be able to choose ur appointment date immediately after u submit ur online visa application). the vac will then send them to ottawa for u. if u pay $15 extra, then the british high commission will return the documents to u by courier.

ian.

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