VAF4 Spouse visa and travel outside UK

[curiousaussie]

Hi,

I'm an Australian and my wife (of more than 4 years) has just received confirmation of her British Citizenship, and will receive her registration after her ceremony.

We are hoping to move to the UK for work, but were also hoping to fit in some travel.

I am looking at applying for the VAF4-Settlement visa as her spouse (once she is a confirmed BC), but can't seem to find any information on what is required of me in terms of how long I must spend in the UK before applying to remain as a permanent resident (after 24 months?).

We would travel first, but I have to apply for the visa from Australia so was hoping to do that soon, arrive in the UK and be flexible from there.

Any suggestions on an answer or where I should look?

Thanks

[vinny]

You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately

See also Time allowed out of the UK on a Spouse Visa?

[curiousaussie]

Great, thanks for that.

I am actually eligible for an Ancestry Visa through my father's UK parents, but the main issue there is that his parents were travelling through Zimbabwe (then-Rhodesia) when he was born, and he has since lost his birth certificate.

Trying to get a birth certificate out of Zimbabwe now is proving impossible - Is there any possibility that my application for Ancestry could include a Stat Dec from him saying he has tried to get the birth certificate?

Given my parent’s official marriage certificate has his parent’s name and location details on it, and I can get my grandmother’s birth certificate proving her UK birth, is it possible that would show the lineage clearly enough in the circumstances?

One other scenario with the fewest headaches is the ‘Youth Mobility Visa’ as I am still aged 30 until May.

Is there any way of staying on after those 2 years if I am living for that time with my UK citizen wife (eg apply for Spouse or Ancestry visa during that time or at end of time, or earn some form of entitlement to remain)?

Or would I have to return to Australia and start from scratch?

[vinny]

It's probably quicker to get settlement via a spouse visa.