Three UK Ancestry Visa questions--Please help!

Tigerlea
Senior Member



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Posts: 81
Location: Calgary, Alberta

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:42 am

 

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Alright. I am virtually finished EVERYTHING I possibly have to do to move to the UK. I've done research for the past year and a half (yes, a long time, but I had to keep putting things off and requirements change).

My three questions are quite simple:

1. Do I need my own and my dads ORIGINAL birth/marriage certificates, or will a notarized copy do?

2. What in the WORLD is this "biometric testing" I just read about for the first time today on these forums?

3. I don't actually have a job. I've heard you can get over there without a job, but to do the online application form you have to put in 'potential job information'. Can someone please tell me either a) how to get around that bit or b) which form to print out and fill in by hand along with a "letter of intent" and proof of correspondence between myself and potential employers? And no, I have no interviews set up as of yet, either.


PS ~ I also plan on bringing my cat with me. If anyone can give me any advice on this (I'm pretty sure I'm doing it all right >.>) I'd also really appreciate that. Thank you.

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riverfox
Senior Member


Meow meow meow

Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 116
Location: Brighton

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:19 am

 

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To answer your questions as best I can :

1.) According to all the information I have you can submit either the original or a notorized copy. I have been told the authorities look more favorably upon original documentation but they will accept the notorized copy.

2.) Biometric testing isn't as scary as it sounds, basically they simply take your fingerprints and a picture or something and create a file on you that can be referenced by the british authorities. I'm not exactly 100% sure what if anything else goes on, but I've got my appointment on tuesday and can let you know after that.

3.) If you are applying for an ancestry visa evidence of a job is helpful but unnecessary. I did my application online and was not prompted to supply any info with respect to prospective jobs. I intend to write a letter expressing my intent to search for a job in a specific field once I reach the uk. It is incredibly difficult to obtain employment before going over if you don't already have a visa unless you are highly skilled in a profession that is in demand at the moment.

When filling out the online form did you select 'exempt/other' then 'UK/ancestry' as your criteria? This is what I did and was not prompted for the job information.

If you are planning on taking your cat over with you I hope you are planning on an extended stay. As i understand it there is a 6 month quarantine for any animals entering the UK. I can describe the conditions in which they are kept which is much like any animal kennel you might find, however I couldn't begin to give you any idea on the protocol or what you'd need to do, not having wanted to transport an animal myself.

I am not certain whether you would be required to pay for your pets upkeep during the quarantine or not. Don't quote me on the info about the pets though, most of it comes from watching a documentary on a diplomat whom just happened to be bringing their cat back to england.

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mari-mac
Senior Member



Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 94
Location: U.K.

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:42 am

 

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You can get a pet passport (at least you can for dogs, I assume for cats too) - this involves getting certain vaccinations prior to coming to the UK and having a lot of paperwork. As long as this is done properly, you can get your pet immediately without quarantine. I don't know anything more than this though! Sorry.
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SW1392
Junior Member



Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 13

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:10 am

 

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Mari-mac is right you can get a pet passport. I brought my two cats with me when I moved to the UK 4 years ago. I can't remember all of the details but it involved getting vaccinations and microchip tagging on the Canadian side, which can all be done by your cat's vet. Paperwork has to be completed for the by the vet, and authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture (I think). The cats must of course fly on the same flight as you do, and only certain airlines are authorized to bring animals in by the pet passport method(Air Canada). You will want to start as quickly as possible because it will take at least a few months to get it sorted out.

The positive side is that the cat can be with you a couple of hours after you land with no further costs on the UK side.

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mari-mac
Senior Member



Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 94
Location: U.K.

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:57 am

 

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Here's some more info on bringing pets:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm

http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/pets.html
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We've got rocks and trees, and trees and rocks, and rocks and trees and trees and rocks and.water!

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Tigerlea
Senior Member



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Posts: 81
Location: Calgary, Alberta

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:16 pm

 

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Thanks for all your help.

The defra site is the site I have been using for the past few months to try and get my cat ready for the UK, I was just wondering if anyone had any more information. I know I will once I get Vaun over there!

And also, thanks for answering my questions. Really appreciate it. Of course I have to go to Edmonton to get the biometrics done. s'all good.

Thanks again

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