Ancestry Visa Questions

[Kolbase]

My girlfriend is eligible to apply for an Ancestry Visa.

I am a British and Australian National. Therefore i can reside in UK with no visa needed or restriction.

We both want to go to the UK together, to work, we may settle there but that is not definite.

My question is that should i be listed on the application or not?

I ask this as the form asks about if she is single or with an unmarried partner. We have been together 8 months but having read the guidance notes for UK Immigration it makes note of Ancestry Visa holders entering the UK with an unmarried partner and the need to be in a 2 year relationship or it seems like you are using a shortcut for her to get a UK Visa. So I am concerned that I am creating confusion and potential issue by being on it as they may question why we are moving to the UK (i.e they might think its to settle). If she was single and just there to work it would raise less questions.

So would it be easier to leave me off, put down she's single and when we get to the UK just state we are boyfriend/girlfriend but do not intend to settle?


The other question is, how long after a visa is issued do we have to leave for the UK?

[JAJ]

Too complicated for an online forum, try the "policy and law" section at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Have you considered the spouse/partner visa option? There are pros and cons vs. ancestry.

[Kitty]

I'm not sure what the problem is here. If your girlfriend is eligible for a UK Ancestry visa, then she should get it if she fulfils the criteria. I am not aware of any rule that says that a visa applicant who may be eligible under a number of different categories should choose the route that is least advantageous to them.

The only problems I can foresee have to do with completing those parts of the form that have to do with your gf's "intentions" in coming to the UK, and her description of her relationship with you (i.e. should she tick "single" or "unmarried partner"?).

For example, being in a long-term relationship with a returning Brit might cause an ECO to wonder whether she really intends to work in the UK (which is I think a requirement of the UK Ancestry visa), but I would have thought she could address this with evidence of research into the UK job market and her current work experience/qualifications etc. Indeed, these are specifically asked for on the form.

As to whether you're "single" or not, I would say after 8 months this is a question only you guys can answer! Bear in mind that a person who applies for a spouse visa must show that past marriages or partnerships akin to marriage have ended, but this does not apply to every single live-in relationship they have ever had. So from that perspective, you can be living together but still "single".

An intention to settle in the UK shouldn't be a problem, because the UK Ancestry visa is a category that leads to settlement in its own right.

I don't really see how the Ancestry visa could be considered a "short cut": it's a longer route to settlement in its own right after all.

This is only my opinion: I don't necessarily agree that your subject can't be helped by a discussion on the board, but you might find that opinion on declaring whether you're "single"/"unmarried partner" is split so as to be unhelpful to you!