Just wanting to close off this thread and give some feedback on our experience and success in obtaining my wife's Dependant Visa on my Ancestry Visa.
I would recommend that anyone using the FLR(IR) application form to apply as a Dependant Joiner as the spouse of an Ancestry Visa holder, and applying using the Premium Service Centre option, that you first obtain an IHS number by registering and paying at
https://www.immigration-health-surcharg ... ment/start.
This avoids the website re-direct that happens during the online application for the Visa / Premium Service Centre appointment, where you are re-directed from the Home Office's Immigration application process to the IHS payment process. It seems that these two databases are not linked correctly and you may be over- or under-charged for your IHS. So rather apply for your IHS number independently of the Visa / Premium Service Centre application.
Other than that, completing the FLR(IR) for my wife did feel a little strange, treating her as the Applicant and not actually mentioning my Ancestry Visa details anywhere in the application form. But that is clearly the correct process.
In Section 3 on Page 13, tick the box "Dependant joiners who are applying separately from the main applicant". On Page 14 I wrote a few lines to explain that I am the Ancestry Visa holder to whom my wife is married and on whom she was applying as a Dependant.
In Section 5 we included Finances of both of us, although we treated my wife as the Applicant and so her details were always first and she was treated as the "you" referred to in the application form.
We supplied all of the requested Documented Evidence in Section 9A and 9G for my wife and all of the Documented Evidence in Section 9C for myself (as the Ancestry Visa holder).
We had our appointment in Solihull at the Premium Service Centre. What an absolute pleasure. They're efficient, organised and friendly. Not to mention super, super helpful.
The interview was at 12pm. We were finished with the interview by 1pm and were told to wait around nearby until the decision had been made.
We enjoyed wandering the High Street and Touchwood Mall where we had lunch. We had a couple of phone calls during the afternoon from the Case Worker.
One to clarify some Financial details (evidence of sufficient income between the two of us).
Another to confirm that we had under-paid on the IHS fee and that they had sent us an email with an IHS Top-Up link. We received the email immediately, clicked the link using our mobile phone, and made the Top-Up payment. Within minutes we received another call from the Case Worker to confirm that the payment had been received.
Around 4pm we received a call from the Premium Service Centre to say that a decision had been made (though they wouldn't give the outcome over the phone). We immediately went back to the Premium Service Centre and my wife collected all the original Documented Evidence and the letter that confirmed the application had been successful!
The appointment was on a Friday. My wife's new BRP was received by secure Courier on the following Wednesday. Obviously her old BRP was retained by the Premium Service Centre at the appointment.
Very happy news all round! Her new Dependant BRP is valid for the exact same dates as my Ancestry BRP.
Thank you to CR001 for all her help on this Board.
