want to clarify something re: ancestral visa

[PaulM]

Hi,

I am sorry to keep bugging you guys regards this but its nearing the date of departure for my trip and I just want to have all my facts straight. On my visa it talks about it being a 5 year working visa, but:

I just read something, that I've never read anywhere else before;

A Practical Guide: Living and Working in The UK p83 (published 2006)

"If you arrive with a UK ancestry visa, you have permission to stay for an initial period of two years. After two years, you will be able to apply for an extention for a further three years to allow you to complete the required five-year period before applying for permanent residence (Collins, M. & Barclay, N. 2006: 83).

[PaulM]

And this info is repeated on the publishers site:

http://www.howtobooks.co.uk/abroad/uk/ancestry-visa.asp

[vinny]

On my visa it talks about it being a 5 year working visa, but:

If you have already received the 5 year ancestry working visa, then the other information, concerning a two year initial leave followed by a three year further leave, is clearly out of date.

See also 18.14 - United Kingdom ancestry:

Entry clearance endorsement
Applicants in this category should be given entry clearance endorsed ‘D: UK ANCESTRY EMPLOYMENT’. CODE 1. 5 YEARS.
Leave to enter should begin on the date the applicant is due to arrive in the UK.

See also 8.3 - Visas and Leave to Enter.

Note: Ideally, your date of arrival should be the same as your visa's "effective" date.

Reason: You may apply for ILR before your leave expires and not more that 28 days (4 weeks) prior the 5th anniversary of your arrival date. So, make sure that you arrive not more than 28 days (4 weeks) after the visa's "effective" date.

[PaulM]

Unfortunately for me my visa started on the 4/10 and I can only get to London on 22/11. So I guess later down the line I will need to apply for an extension. Thanks Vinny for your help.

[vinny]

What arrival date did you put down on your visa's application form?

[PaulM]

20 December. So I think they must have not even looked at that part when they processed my application.

[vinny]

If you have given them written notice of your arrival date (on the visa's application form), then you should ask them to correct your visa's effective and expiry dates, in line with their policy instructions:

Leave to enter should begin on the date the applicant is due to arrive in the UK.