How to Apply for a UK Ancestry Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Are you a South African with a grandparent born in the UK? If so, you may be eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa. This visa allows you to live and work in the UK and be reunited with your family.
The application process for the UK Ancestry Visa can seem overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it can be a breeze. That’s why we’re here to help. Our team of experts has years of experience in UK government dealings and can provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to complete your application successfully.
When you choose to work with us, you’ll receive a dedicated caseworker who will guide you through the technicalities of your case. We’ll provide you with a personalized checklist of required documents and double-check everything before submitting it to ensure your application is flawless.
The first step in the process is to conduct an eligibility assessment. We’ll assess your current circumstances and draw conclusions based on the theory of your case. This assessment will give you peace of mind, knowing upfront if your case is possible and if you’re on the right track.
Next, we’ll conduct a feasibility assessment. This assessment involves reviewing the documents you have on hand to make sure everything is in order. This will help us identify any potential roadblocks and avoid any unnecessary delays in the future.
If your case is deemed eligible and feasible, we’ll offer representation and assist you in the application process. Our representation comes with a standard guarantee – if you don’t get your visa with our help, you don’t pay.
Ready to get started? Apply now and discover the easy way to join your family in the UK with a UK Ancestry Visa.
To qualify for the Ancestry visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- Your grandparent must have been born in the UK.
- You must be of legal independent age (over 18).
- You must show intent to be productive in the UK.
- You must provide proof of supporting funds.
- You must have accommodation and travel arrangements in place.
At Move Up, we have extensive experience helping people navigate the UK visa process. Our team of specialists will work with you to understand your specific circumstances and guide you through the process.
With Move Up, you’ll receive a dedicated caseworker to help with the technicalities of your case, a personalized checklist of required documents, and assistance in double-checking and uploading your documents. We are committed to ensuring a successful outcome for your visa application.
At Move Up, our goal is to bring South Africans abroad together and provide support throughout their international experiences. We believe that living abroad can broaden your mind, sharpen your skills, and facilitate better international trade.
To get started, we offer two free assessments to determine your eligibility and feasibility for the UK Ancestry visa. Our eligibility assessment will determine if your case is possible, while our feasibility assessment will ensure that all necessary documents and requirements are in order.
We believe in our process and offer a standard guarantee. If you don’t receive your visa with our assistance, you don’t have to pay.
Ready to learn more? Contact us today.
free eligiblity assessmentAlternatively, please try our free birth certificate assessment below if you are looking to claim UK birthrights.
Free Birth Certificate AssessmentThis page caters for South African applicants that have a UK born grandparent. Either through direct biological descent or through registered adoption. Unfortunately, birth rights cannot be claimed through step family.
When you compare this UK ancestry visa to all the other UK visas that the British government have made available, one can conclude that this is the best UK visa on the market.
This visa is issued for an initial 5 year period. Most employment visas only offer a standard 3 year period. Therefore, the initial duration of validity is great.
The cost of the visa, compared to other employment visas, is cheaper. You can take a look at our UK visa fee page to confirm this.
This means that this visa is issued for longer than most employment categories, and costs less than other employment visas.
This visa is such a winner in our books.
BIRTH RIGHTS EXPLAINED
Granting birth right entitlement works as followed:
– Being born in the UK (by British parents) automatically grants British nationalization.
– Having a British born Parent entitles the child to claim “British citizenship through decent”.
– Having a British born Grandparent entitles the grandchild to claim “Ancestral visa rights“.
OTHER BENEFITS
In case you were wondering, this 5 year UK ancestry visa, allows for the main applicant to bring dependents (married like partner and minors) with them. The main applicants family dependents are granted the same settlement visa rights (the right to freely live, work and study in the UK).
There are two more benefits I wish to add. The first relates to the minimum qualifying criteria. Often applicants worry about minimum education level or minimum entry-level position in order to qualify for this visa. This UK ancestry work visa does not have any discrimination in terms of education or proposed work.
The second relates to the ability to earn British nationality. Applicants with the UK ancestry visa (main applicant or their family dependents) can earn British nationality (and get British passports). To do so, applicants have to live continuously in the UK for 6 years.
FURTHER EXPLANATION
There is no cut off age for the Ancestral visa although the UK’s expected retirement age is 65. Where applicants are over the age of 65, they will need to demonstrate their ability to be productively active.
If an applicant is below 18 years of age, they are still defined as “minors” and therefore qualify to apply as child dependents on their parents’ nationality (assuming their parents have claimed British nationality through descent) and/or visas.
Birthrights cannot be claimed by Great Grandparents. Birthrights are only passed down a maximum of two generations.
The UK (United Kingdom) includes Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Birthrights from other countries (including former British colonies) are not applicable in the UK Ancestral visa.
FUTURE CHANGES TO ANCESTRY VISA
Folks, we get this question often and therefore want to address this publically. There are companies out there that claim “imminent changes to this visa category” can take place. These companies clearly use fear as a means to scare the applicant into taking action. In our opinion, they are not acting in the applicants best interest, rather their own.
The truth is that this visa category has been proposed to close in 2005 and again in 2008. Both times, the feedback on the proposal has been turned down. After the 2008/2009 recession, when the British government implemented a points-based visa system (and completely changed their visa system), this visa category was placed outside of that scope (and was left unchanged). Therefore, the truth of the matter is that this visa is not going anywhere any time soon.
Further to this, our travel ethos, when it comes to applicants considering their visa option, is that it is not our role to threaten or scare prospective clients into making life-changing decisions. Rather, allow the prospective client to make a choice to follow this route on their own accord, at their preferred time, when they are ready. Only once they have decided to take up the opportunity, we can gladly help.
Contact Move Up now to confirm your eligibility and find out how to sign up.
free assessmentPlease note: Move Up offer a full refund guarantee on their case fee, which in the unlikely event of not being awarded your visa first time around our case fee will be refunded in full.
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