UK Ancestry Visa... I got mine!

When you apply for a job it might be a good idea to bring your passport/visa so that they know they will not be employing you illegally.
Yes, you will need to apply for a NIN (like the social security number). When I came over I had a temporary one, but that was given to me through the agency that I came over here with to teach. So I am not sure what will happen in your case.

Has anyone been in the situation of being in the UK on a working holiday visa and then wanting to apply for ancestry?
I am not sure if I can do this (I have discovered that I am eligible)...but my working holiday expires in august of 2010, but I would like to go back to Canada and apply for my ancestry in the next few months. I have searched and asked questions but cannot determine if I can do this. And would I also need to renew my passport so that it would be valid for the entire 5 years of the ancestry visa or could I just carry around two passports? lol
Thanks

when your passport expires, you just have to carry around your old one with the visa, along with the new updated one.

you can pay a fee to have a new copy of the visa in your new passport but im not sure how much it costs and its seems like a lot of hassle when you can just keep the old one.

Ok thanks!
Do you (or anyone) know if I am able to apply for my ancestry visa while my working holiday is still active? Or should I wait until it expires?

Hello everyone,

For those of you asking about a National Insurance Number, you apply for one over the phone. They'll ask for your passport details then.

As for jobs, I didn't take my passport with me to job interviews. I have been hired now, and they never asked to see my visa. They asked about it, but because you have a NIN, you don't need to show your visa. NIN shows that you're legally allowed to work in the UK. The only times you'll need to show the visa is at Border Control (when you come off the plane) and to get your NIN number, but they'll just ask for the issuing number. Some jobs may request to see it, but I doubt it.

As for applying for the Ancestry visa before your working holiday one runs out, I wouldn't recommend doing it that way. Wait until the holiday one runs out, and then come back to Canada to apply for the Ancestry visa. They won't give you two visas, and your Ancestry one may be declined, and you'll lose the fees you paid.

Hope this helps!

Hey!

I'm a New Zealander living in Toronto at the moment, and I am planning on heading to the UK later this year on the UK Ancestry visa, but I have some of the same questions that are being asked in this forum... like...

Because I plan to be in the UK for an unknown length of time I'm not sure how to provide my flight itinerary. The application states that a "full itinerary" is necessary - seeming like a return flight needs to be booked. Is this true or can I have a one-way ticket to the UK as long as I have sufficient funds?

Are the original documents required to prove my ancestry, or are copies accepted?

I also don't have a job lined up whatsoever at the moment, is this going to effect my application?

I'm also planning to apply for the visa through the Visa4UK website, it says to have several things ready, including an address in the UK. I obviously don't have this information as I don't have an address in the UK.

I'm also wondering about whether or not I have to fill out the VAF2 - Employment form. And I if I do it asks about my current employment situation, which is non-existent, because I've been finding it quite difficult to find work over the summer in Toronto.

Ugh! Stress!

Thanks for any help!

Kimsheehan,

It sounds like you're on the right track. I'm pretty sure you need original (or certified) copies of your long-form birth certificates, so photocopies won't do. Visa4UK will return the documents to you, so don't worry.

You do not need flight details. In fact, you shouldn't book your flight until you have your visa & passport in your hands. You also don't need an address in the UK to apply (although the border guard might ask you where you're staying, I'm not quite at that point yet... one more week!). I didn't have either of these two details when I applied and they didn't give me any problems.

HOWEVER, I'm not sure how being a New Zealander applying from Canada to live in the UK is going to complicate things. They might scrutinize a little more. Let us know.

I hope that answers at least some of your questions.

hey everyone,

I got my UK Ancestry visa, so if anyone has any questions about the process, please ask.

Many, many big thanks to Tigerlea and cordobaman for all their help and support while I freaked out!

Caitlin

Hey sorry for replying so late but seeing you have the Visa i thought i'd drop you a question and that is about the Biometrics. Where do I go to get this done? can I just do it in my own city (Timmins ON) Thanks

Caleb,

Sorry to say that you'll have to make the trip to either Toronto or Ottawa. Just make sure you make the appointment first.

Jim
(now in Scotland)

I am new to the forum and hope some of you may be able to help with some advice.

I am a canadian citizen and am eligible for the ancestry visa. The reason I want one is because I was in Oz for 10months where I met my Uk boyfriend. We are now in Vancouver and have found out he cannot apply for a Canadian work permit until Dec-Feb. From traveling in Oz we are pretty broke.

I want to go to England for 5 months to work on a work holiday visa, and later down the road apply for my ancestry visa. Is this possible or is there any other options that people can suggest for our situation. In 2 months we will have lived together for 1 year(we met living together)can we apply as commonlaw for another type of visa? The other problem is I haven't worked for a few months but his parents have offered to fund everything.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Jen

Hi all,
Just thought I'd share the tale of our UK Ancestry application process, and restore a bit of faith in the UK - Canadian immigration systems.

I've been living in the UK for the past four years on an ancestry visa that expires at the end of the year. Having heard of the ridiculous processing times for UK Ancestry extensions (I fell into that gap of having been issued a 4-year Ancestry Visa, before the rules changed) and already having planned to visit family in Canada, I decided instead to simply apply for a new ancestry visa while back in Canada.

Thursday, October 8th:
My biometrics appointment - noon sharp, downtown Vancouver. I had made the appointment online only a couple of days earlier, and there were lots of places available. Quick and painless process, just a quick review of my application form, a photo and some fingerprints. Having already prepared my supporting documents, I couriered my application to Ontario that same afternoon.

Tuesday, October 13th:
I receive an email confirming that my documents were safely received in Ottawa. Also mentioned is the fact that I can expect processing to take up to 15 working days. Probably would've normally happened a day earlier, except Monday was a holiday.

Wednesday, October 14th:
I receive a second email confirming that my visa has been issued. ONE DAY after they received my documents. I'm given a postal tracking number to follow the package back.

Friday, October 16th:
My passport, complete with UK Ancestry visa, is in my hot little hands. I would never have believed it would have happened so quickly.

So - I just thought I should report the good news - it's far too often the doom & gloom that gets reported.

- Colin