Who is eligible for an Ancestry Visa

Dear Mr Bassie,

I would like for it to be clarified who is eligible for a UK Ancestry visa. I look forward to your response.

KV

Dear KV,

Please note persons who can apply for a UK Ancestry visa must be one of the following:

• A Commonwealth citizen

• A British overseas citizen

• A British overseas territories citizen

• A British national (overseas)

• A citizen of Zimbabwe

Those persons must also prove that one of their grandparents was born in the United Kingdom (UK), the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and meet the other eligibility requirements, which will be discussed further on.

Persons should be aware that the earliest they can apply is three months before scheduled travel and that they should get a decision on the visa within three weeks when applying from outside the UK. Please note that persons may be able to pay to get a faster decision. The costs associated with the application for a UK Ancestry visa is £682.

The successful applicant can stay in the UK for five years on this visa. Those persons who have lived in the UK for five years on this visa, may be able to either apply to extend their visa for a further five years; or apply to settle permanently in the UK (that is apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

With a UK Ancestry visa persons can work, study and/or take their partner or child. The work that they are eligible to do can be paid or voluntary; full-time or part-time; in self-employment or in a job where they are employed by someone else.

Please note those persons cannot change (‘switch’) into this visa if they went to the UK on a different visa; neither are they eligible to get public funds.

ELIGIBILITY

With respect eligibility persons must prove that they are 17 years old or over; have enough money without help from public funds to support and house themself and any dependents; and also can and plan to work over there.

APPLICANT’S ANCESTRY

Persons must show that they have a grandparent who was born in one of the following circumstances:

• In the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man;

• Before March 31, 1922 in what is now Ireland; or

• On a ship or aircraft that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government.

Just for completeness, it should be noted that persons can claim ancestry if they or their parent were adopted; or their parents or grandparents were not married. However, persons cannot claim UK ancestry through step-parents.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com