Early this year, a Rochdale couple finally won a two-year battle to prove that their marriage was not a ‘sham’. Initially choosing to forgo the help of immigration solicitors in Manchester, Jeff Rose was then given incorrect advice from a Home Office helpline that left him and his wife Julie Rose locked in a nightmare situation. Mr. Rose hadinitially entered the UK on an ancestry visa, as he had a paternal grandfather who was born in Derbyshire. The conflicting advice from the Home Office led them to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Spousal Route once the ancestry visa had expired, but accusations that their marriage was a sham left them in a difficult situation.
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What Is This Ancestry Visa?
If you are from a Commonwealth country and one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or in the Republic of Ireland before 31st March 1922 then you may be eligible to apply for a UK ancestry visa. If you have a grandparent that was born in the UK before the 31st March 1922 then this could also help you to apply for an ancestry visa. It is worth noting that only Commonwealth citizens can apply for a UK ancestry visa.
What Would It Allow Me To Do?
This type of family visa would allow you to study, live and work in the UK for up to five years. That means that you can apply for a UK job after you have arrived without any need for a work visa or for sponsorship. There are not that many restrictions on ancestry visa holders, but as an ancestry visa holder you will not have access to public funds
Applying For Your Ancestry Visa Uk
When you are applying for your UK ancestry visa, you must be able to prove your ancestry by providing evidence that one of your grandparents was born in the UK before 31st March 1922. It is sometimes quite a difficult task to try and obtain this information, so it is sometimes worth contacting legal specialists to find out what the best documentation to use is.
How Long Can I Stay On A Uk Ancestry Visa?
A UK ancestry visa initially gives you five years to live and work in the UK. After that five years is up, you can apply for permanent residence, as long as you meet the necessary requirements. It’s good to know that, whilst you are on an ancestry visa, you can take up full time employment in the UK. Most people who apply for this visa intend to stay in the UK permanently and are looking to apply for permanent residence after their ancestry visa expires.
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What Are The Requirements?
As well as being able to prove that you have a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or in the Republic of Ireland before 31st March 1922, in order to get your ancestry visa, you also need to be able to prove that you are:
- 17 or over
- Have enough money to support yourself and any dependants whilst you are here
- You are able to work in the UK and that you intend to do so
In the case of Jeff and Julie Rose, Mr. Rose’s ancestry visa was followed by a nightmare spouse visa refusal appeal process that ultimately led to the immigration minister Caroline Nokes having to issue a public apology. The couple had amassed thousands of pounds of legal fees and visa applications, in addition to Mr. Rose losing his job because of the Home Office’s restrictions. Whilst this was a horrible situation for all involved, seeking the right legal advice can always help you with a difficult application. Getting in touch with trained solicitors is the best idea for taking positive steps with your move to the UK.
