UK Ancestry Visa - 4 (hopefully) simple questions

[ajackett]

Hi all,

I've had a bit of a dig around and couldn't really find an answer to my queries. My background is I'm from Australia, and I'm applying for a UK Ancestry Visa. I am travelling to London in July 2011, but then immediately travelling through Europe until the end of September then returning to London.

I am aware that I must apply for the visa in Australia before I depart. I just have a couple of queries regarding the timing of my application, which hopefully someone can help me with. If I can't find any answers, I may just use an agent for my application but I would rather not have to do that. At the moment I have temporarily filled out the online application.

1. I do not live in a capital city where there is a British Consulate Office for my Biometric Interview, so I will need to travel. How much flexibility is there booking your interview date? I am travelling to Melbourne May 21-23 so hoping to be able to book an appointment on that date. And can you personally choose when to have the interview or is this pre-determined?

2. At what point in the application do you need to provide the documents? If I apply on say May 1 and my interview is May 23rd, when do the documents need to be sent?

3. How can I choose my Visa starting date, or the "valid from date"? I have heard you can forward-date it a maximum of 3 months, but going through the application process I cannot find any section that lets you choose this apart from the date you are ariving in the UK. I would like to delay the start of the Visa start date as long as possible, due to me initially travelling around Europe - don't want this to count too much to my 90 days out of the UK.

4. I suppose just a final query is if my start date for my visa is August 15, but I enter the UK on July 21 do I then have to leave and re-enter after August 15 for my visa to be valid?

Actually, just a final one while I'm here... bank statements - I have to pay $15/monthly statement to get an original copy. I don't mind this for 3 months, but would this be sufficient? I can print e-copies for the 3 preceeding months, but would they be accepted?

I appreciate any assistance anybody can offer me.

Andrew

[Greenie]

1. Yes you get to choose the date.
2. Have you read the information here http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visi ... o-i-apply/ this explains the application process which varies in different countries but as the process for Australia as with many others is to submit the documents along with the printed application when you give your biometrics.
3. They should start the visa from your date of intended travel unless it is more than three months away. Put a note in the additional information section at the end of the form to make this clear.
4. If you tried to enter the UK as a visitor before the start date of the visa you could be refused entry. If permitted entry yes have to leave and come back to validate the ancestry visa..
5. What does the form and guidance notes say about what documents are required?

[ajackett]

1. Yes you get to choose the date.
2. Have you read the information here http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visi ... o-i-apply/ this explains the application process which varies in different countries but as the process for Australia as with many others is to submit the documents along with the printed application when you give your biometrics.
3. They should start the visa from your date of intended travel unless it is more than three months away. Put a note in the additional information section at the end of the form to make this clear.
4. If you tried to enter the UK as a visitor before the start date of the visa you could be refused entry. If permitted entry yes have to leave and come back to validate the ancestry visa..
5. What does the form and guidance notes say about what documents are required?

Greenie,

Thanks very much for your post, and the link. I hadn't come across that page previously, and that gave me a lot of good advice. Much appreciated.

1. OK with that, will organise.
2. Yep, all good, will post my docs after my biometrics interview.
5. I may just pay the fees and get the 6 month worth of bank statements to save any hassle.

My only concern are points 3 and 4. I will be entering UK on 21 July 2011, but then onto Europe for 2 months travel. I could start my visa on 21 July 2011, but then the travel will cut into my "90 days" outside the UK for the year. Is it worth worrying about this, as at some point I would like to be eligible for the ILR and don't want this to affect it too much. Then again your point 4 of potential refusal of entry to the UK before my "ancestry visa" starts concerns me too. Is that likely to happen, even though I thought I could enter as a tourist?

Cheers!