When to apply for Ancestry Visa?

Hi Everyone!

I'm in the process of getting everything together for my visa.so far I have:

-Dad's Birth Certificate, my birth certificate, parents' Marriage Certificate
-Booked my flight
-Have Sponsorship form signed by boyfriend showing I will live there, and he'll support me if I can't get a company to hire me
-Bank Statements
-Will be writing a letter of intent to apply for work, plus resume and copy of university degree (also thinking of applying to some agencies and including copies of that to show I'm already on the job thing)

So I think I'm good to apply - just need to book Biometric after that (they do the pictures there, right?)

So, my poll question is for those who have their visas, how close did you apply to your date of departure?

Much thanks!

Hey Lynndyhop,

Looks like you're pretty well organized! One thing I wanted to mention is that the British consulate encourages people not to book their flights until their application has been approved, as processing times CAN vary. Also there is no guarantee that you will get your visa until the is actually processed. Waiting just avoids further problems if there are delays.

That being said processing times are very good right now, but this can always change.
You can apply up to three months in advance of your departure date although a little closer is better. Just make sure you include a writen request for your visa to be post dated in with your application.

I applied about a month and a half in advance of my departure.

Next point, they WILL NOT do any pictures for you other than scanning your face / taking a single digital picture. You MUST bring a passport photo you with you. This photo should be cut to the size of the box which is printed out with your application. They lent me sissors to do it at the office when I applied however I have heard from others that they refused to allow them to cut it there, so they had to leave find sissors and then return to the office.

Otherwise I think you are good to go. Good Luck!

Thanks riverfox!

Good to know about the photos.I would have shown up without them! Do you know if there is any timing with the pictures? Ie. If I'm going in July, can I have them taken now? I'll have to look into that.And thanks for the advice on the application timing.I think I will do that exactly 3 months before then to give maximum processing time! Actually, my boyfriend will be here at that time too, so I'll have a helper ;0)

Thanks again!

Riverfox. Where did you hear about the 3 months in advance thing? I have -never- read that or heard of that before just now. If you could please let me know, I'd really appreciate that, because I was planning on applying beginning of March but I'm not moving until July. Your 3 month this wouldn't allow me to apply until April. Could you please let me know where you found that, so that I can confirm from an outside source? Thanks so much. *worried*

Hi riverfox!

Follow up question - for the pictures - I am applying online. So would I need to trim my photos before sending them in? I'm guessing I can print out an application form to gauge what size they need to be.

Much thanks!

Even though I applied 'on-line' I still needed to attend in person and that's when I handed over the picture .

The problem with getting your visa too far in advance of using it is you are 'wasting' some of the time available on your visa . if you get the visa months before you go, those months are subtracted off your eligible period in the UK -- maybe not a concern, depending on your plans (i.e. apply for citizenship, return after three years, et cetera) but you should be aware that the visa dates from issue, not when you arrive in the UK.

GB

The problem with getting your visa too far in advance of using it is you are 'wasting' some of the time available on your visa .

I seem to remember reading someone else saying you can send a note with your application asking that they post-date your visa. If that's true, I don't really see why applying earlier is really much of an issue. I tried to e-mail the immigration peoples, but they haven't replied back as of yet. Hopefully they do and I can get this sorted.

So when you went in person, where did you go? I thought I would just send in all my documents to Ottawa via Registered Mail. Am I able to bring all the documents with me in person?

Thanks so much for helping me clear this up!

Sorry been away from my comp for a couple of days. You can have your pictures taken up to 6 months in advance of the time you need them I believe much like passports. They want a recent photo and for some reason 6 months is the magic number there.

Hey Tiger. I can't remember exactly where I read it, I can look into it some more for you if it will help, it had to do with specifically post dating your Visa. I'm sure you can apply further in advance of your application time, they just will only post date it for 3 months. So in otherwords you can apply in April but the latest your visa would start would be june/july depending on the date you apply. I'm really not sure why the number is 3 months. It really ought not make a difference but for some reason it does.

So RGBaker is right, you would be wasting some of the time on your visa, but you would still have it.

Lynndyhop, even though you are applying online you will need to print off your application, and bring all of your supporting documents with you to your biometrics appointment. They will then have a brief look at your application verify all the information is correct and seal it in an envelope. At this time they will also take a scan of your fingers and a picture of your face. You would then take the sealed envelope and mail it to ottawa. Unfortunately if the seal is broken on your envelope you application will be invalidated. You can still add information by including it in the package to be sent outside of the envelope. However the majority of your information should be sealed therein.

Once you've printed out your online application you will see that in the cornor of one of the first page there is a box. Your photo should be cut to the size of the box more or less.

At the beginning of the application process online you will be prompted to choose a location for your biometrics appointment, where this place is depends on where you are located. As I see you're in BC it will likely be in Vancouver. The office is located in a rather large building at 666 Burrard Street, Suite 600, You'll find that you need to go to the reception area on that floor give them your name and they'll direct you further. The ladies I talked to there were incredibly nice so don't worry about it too much.

Hope that helps.

This page explains the 3 months:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front ... 8721067684

What will happen when I make my application?
The Entry Clearance Officer will try to make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.

Please check your visa when you get it. You should make sure that:

* your personal details are correct
* it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
* it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately.)

As mentioned, it can also cause problems when you come to renew your visa. After 5 years of living in the UK, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or extension of the Ancestry Visa - but that is from your date of entry to the UK. You can only apply up to 4 weeks before that date. So it could be a problem if there is a gap between when your Visa expires and when you are allowed to apply for the next Visa.