UK Ancestry Visa - wait time

Just curious - how long does it take to get an ancestry visa after submitting an application? Thanks

Mine was REALLY fast. Went in to get my biometrics done in Toronto on the Friday, got an email Monday from the Ottawa office acknowledging receipt of my details, got another email Tuesday letting me know I'd been approved, and had the visa in my hands that Friday. Whole thing took 1 week!

Smiley-

Wow, that's good to know it went that fast. We're applying next weekend, and then down to Toronto on the Wednesday (30th) for the biometrics. Where do you go in the Eaton Centre?

When you submitted your documents, did you submit a marriage certificate for your parents or grandparents out of curiosity? My wife has the long form births of her, her dad and her gran, and then the marriage cert for the two of us (I'm applying as a dependant); we just want to make sure we have enough documentation.

Looks like they are still processing incredibly fast.

I did my online application July 8th, went for biometrics this last Tuesday the 22nd in Toronto, got email my documents were received in Ottawa yesterday and just got an email this morning saying my entrance clearance has been issued. So, just over two weeks and only because I had to wait for my biometrics appointment. So excited!

Just so you know I did not submit marriage certificates of my grandparents, nor parents.

Thanks for the reply. We actually couldn't get into Toronto until August 11th- we didn't want to wait so we changed to Ottawa for next Thursday instead. We did the $3/minute call to make sure it was OK to change VAC locations as the e-mail I received kind of implied we had to go to Toronto only.

hi I am in the process of applying for my ancestry visa. I keep reading different things. i see some people didn't supply their parents or grandparents marriage certificates, but did you all supply the long form birth certificates? i have an entry of birth general reg. house out of England for my grandfather. I'm just trying to see if i can save myself 2 months and $80 to get him the long version when I have this other one?

also, what is the minimum they want to see in your bank account for the financial support? and how do they know if you have been applying for jobs already? I have been applying to lots but they were all online?

this is a very confusing process. HELP!

Robbie,

Don't worry; it's pretty easy.

My wife had long form birth certs for her, her dad and her grandmother. Don't fret about a UK birth record; only £10 from the General Office and postage was only 2 weeks. The provincial ones aren't too bad either. We also had a long form marriage cert for my wife and I only to illustrate (1) her name change and (2) so I could get a visa as well. We didn't show proof of marriage or her parents or grandparents.

As far as funds go, we have more than 10K plus the sale of our home, so that was definitely not an issue. Just a young single person? I'd still have at least $3000 to play it safe- every situation is different so that's why no amount is ever specified. If you have friends or family in the UK, see if oyu can use their address or get a letter stating thay can help you out- we were lucky as I've been previously on a WHM visa and still have an NI number and connections there.

Do your research, take your time, use the forums and you'll be fine mate!

Peter

Hello. I am currently in the UK, having spent the summer here (spent last summer too), and plan on starting the application process for my Ancestry Visa when I return to Canada 9th September.

I am curious, when you say the 'long form birth certificate' what do you mean? I obtained birth records for my maternal grandfather and grandmother, and they arrived a photocopy of a page from the record book, and it is a long strip of the book. Is that what you are referring to? Do I need to prove my grandparents were married? I have my mother's birth certificate, so will that be sufficient to prove ancestry?

Also, from what I have read, I must send my actual passport? That worries me. Anyone have any problems in that regard? I don't trust the government not to lose things.

I have my grandparents birth records, my mother's birth certificate, my birth certificate and passport, money in the bank and money invested, a friend's address in the UK. is there anything else I need besides filling out the application form, paying the fees, and getting this biometrics thingy done?

Also, I've heard talk of the UK doing away with the ancestry visa. My brother wants to get his visa but might not be moving to the UK right away. Should we get one for him as well, so at least he has it, if they do decide to scrap the ancestry visa?

Thanks for letting me ramble on here, and I look forward to hearing your comments.

Tallie

tallie,

The long form birth certificates for your grandparent, your parent and you must be an original or notaried copy of an original; a regular photocopy won't do. Don't owrry about the marriage certs unless you're married yourself.

I hate to break it to you, but you must send your passport to the UK Embassy in order to have your visa put in it. You must also do your application and pay online, and book your biometrics as soon as you're done. Be advised you may have to wait a few weeks depending on which one you go to.

There was talk earlier this year about abolishing the Ancestry visa, however they recently decided not to.

Oh dear. where do you obtain the long form birth certificates? I contacted the UK registry last year and the photo copies of the registry book entries was the only thing they sent me, and I paid good money for it. Also, my birth certificate and my mother's birth certificates don't show parents names on them. Is there another certificate that I should get, that shows the parents names?