De facto / Unmarried Partner Ancestry Visa
Note from the author:
Please note, this information was current when Theresa was applying for the visa in November 2009. Some of the information, websites and requirements may have changed since then. We will do our best to keep this information as current as possible and update when needed.
While in Australia I had to renew my working visa for the UK as I was only on a two year visa. With working visa’s you are only entitled to one and as mine was about to expire I had to find how I could get around this so I could go back to the UK with Dan, my partner. Dan is on a ancestry visa which entitles him to five years to live and work in the United Kingdom. We have been together for four years and living together for over two years, this made me eligible to join his ancestry visa as a de facto.
Now if you are in the process of applying for a de facto ancestry visa you can appreciate that the UK in Australia bureau are not any help at all unless you are willing to pay the ridiculous amount of money they want in order to answer a few questions.
Here is a step by step process I went through when applying for my visa, I hope that this can be of some help to any of the people who are in the same process and are finding it difficult to understand and find the answers to some very common questions.
Firstly you will have to fill out an online application form, from the following link:
Updated information: 01 December 2010
Please see the following link for current and up-to-date information regarding de facto visa’s: http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/visas/how-do-i-apply/family/spouses-dependants
Updated information: August 2010
Please note, the website information seems to have changed since November 2009. Please visit http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ for similar information to the link above.
The application form that you will have to fill out is the non-settlement Form VAF2. (Do not fill out the settlement form as it only applies if your partner is a resident of the United Kingdom).
then …
then …
Once you have opened up the application you will need to put in your email address and so fourth and then the questions start.
Now, the one question that really had me confused was the purpose of the application, this is one of the first questions asked. It is a drop down question and for me none of the options for this question suited me. So if you are wanting to join your partner on their UK ancestry visa as unmarried partner/de facto, the Employment (non Points-Based System) is the correct option (see below).
The next question is also a drop-down and depending on how long you are intending to stay in the UK with your partner — you will be a dependant for under 6 months or a dependant for more than 6 months. You will need to select the option which suits your situation. These are the main questions in which you must have correct because if you are applying to get on your partners Ancestry Visa and you select something other than the Employment (non Points-Based System), you will be declined straight away, which means losing that $500 you have just paid!
The questions from here on are personal questions which are pretty straight forward and only you can answer them.
For your application you will need a list of the following:
- Signed letter from the Sponsor (partner) confirming if applicant/’s accompanying or joining;
- Documented history and proof of relationship i.e. joint tenancy agreements, assets, accounts, utilities, wills etc.
- Evidence any previous marriage/relationship has permanently broken down;
- Proof of employment in the UK, if arranged i.e. signed letter from employer stating salary, duties, length of employment etc., and employment contract;
- Proof of funds i.e. last three months of full bank statements, investments etc.
- Proof of accommodation in the UK, if arranged i.e. tenancy agreement or title/mortgage papers, council tax bill and signed letter of invitation if staying with family.
We also found that supplying joint invitations such as weddings, birthdays and so forth as well as photos of us throughout our relationship also helped to prove we were a legitimate couple.
Having these documents will help your application go through without much delay (hopefully). I hope this information will help as I know I found it hard to know what application to fill out and found no one was willing to help without receiving payment first.
Hey Angela,
Sorry for my late reply. Things have been pretty hectic! I don’t believe you need to go through an agency. If you are on a tight deadline (ie. only a few weeks) then maybe an agency would be a good idea but if you have plenty of time then I would suggest saving the bucket load of cash and doing it your self.
Kate has supplied an updated link which would worth while checking out: http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/visas/how-do-i-apply/family/spouses-dependants
Best of luck!
Dan
Cheers for that Kate! I’ll update the post with your link =D
Best of luck with your boyfriends application!
Cheers,
Dan
Great site!!
I will be applying for the Married Dependant of my partners Ancestry Visa.
Can anyone tell me what is required in the proof of funds (is there a set amount to be maintained?) and will I need to prove the relationship with further documentation?
Thanks!!
Matt.
Hi Matt,
Regarding the proof of funds – both Theresa and I basically printed out bank statements (no later than 3 months old – try to only use the most recent ones you have). I can’t remember where we heard it, but I was under the impression that if you had at least $5,000+ in funds then you shouldn’t have much of a problem.
When it comes to proving your relationship, definitely supply as much information as you possibly can. This includes but is not limited to dual-invitations to major events such as weddings and photos together that are obviously taken at different times over your relationship (if you girlfriend has a different hair colour in the photos etc.).
Best of luck!
Dan
Hi Dan
This is a great website, very helpful thank you!
I am a Kiwi going for the same Visa, i.e. becoming a dependent on my partners ancestry visa.
We have been together nearly 4 years, and ‘lived together’ for 3 years (inverted commas because half this time was traveling, including some time apart- ironically to sort out Visa’s!).
Just a couple questions which I would be so grateful if you could help me with.
Wife/Husband/Dependent category:
This may seem like a stupid question but I’m just a little confused as to which category I come under. The link given above on your site is Wife/Husband/Dependent but none of the literature on this page refers to de-facto status, it seems to imply a dependent is a child and refers to the sponsor only as Wife/Husband in the entry requirements list. I’ve tried a dependents definition search but didn’t have any luck. This is however still the correct category to apply under?
Proof of address:
A couple I know did pay exorbitant fees (which they regretted) for an agency to sort out their application last year. Their lawyer told them they needed, as proof of address, a minimum of 2 pieces of evidence per person, for each of the 24 months. Do you know if this is strictly necessary now? Or might it just be the lawyer ensuring a bomb proof application so as to cover his/her own ass? I know that you yourselves didn’t give evidence on a month by month basis and am hoping this is still the case!
It’s just that it seems excessive (I only have my bank statements= 1 form) and also difficult for me as I came to the UK in June 2009, 8 months before my partner, while he worked and sorted out his ancestry visa in NZ. We met in the US for 6 weeks during that time, which only leaves 5 months at separate addresses. We can prove that we lived at the same address 3 years ago (April 2008 before traveling together for a year) and we can prove we’ve lived together for the last 12 months in the UK with our tenancy agreement. What do you think?
I’ve booked to go back to NZ in April to sort it out.
I will leave it there for now, and hopefully wont have to bug you again!
Thanks so much. Its so good to hear other people’s stories, and it’s extremely kind of you to help us all out!
I look forward to your reply.
Anna
Hi, everyone, I am applying for a ancestry dependent visa for my wife and I have come to the screen that ask?
Are you applying as a Work Permit Dependant?
Yes No
Are you applying as a dependant of someone who has UK Ancestry?
Yes No
My main confusion is what do I put for the first questions?
Thanks Zachary =D
Wow, you guys are legends!! We have been trying to get our heads around this very issue and then we stumbled upon your very helpful website. Thanks heaps, you’ve no doubt saved us money and saved us from countless hours of stress. Thanks again
I was wondering if anyone could help with some advice about this problem: I was granted a UK ancestry visa today but the dependants’ visas I’d applied for for my children, who are 17 and 15 years old, were declined! The reason given was that since their father, my ex-husband, supports them financially, the authorities feel that only people who support their children more or less singlehandedly can take their children to the UK as dependants. They also mentioned that the children may suffer emotionally if they don’t see their father often. I have sole custody. I’m not sure if they imagine that by granting me a visa and not my children, the children would not suffer more emotional trauma by my leaving them behind. My ex agrees that our move is in the children’s best interests and supports us in this endeavour. We have been granted an appeal. Has anyone had any similar experiences or can anyone advise me about the appeal?
Hi there,
This is great information…it is amazing that there is nothing ‘official’ out there that explains the process. Thanks for the post!
Can anyone give an indication of application processing times? I plan to fly back to Australia to apply and need an idea of how long I am going to have to be there for!
Many Thanks
Georgie
Hi
Great info. Applying as a dependant on partners uk ancestry visa.
2 questions – if I have sufficient money in own account do I still need to submit partners account?
Do I have submit proof of partners employment etc. If I can show I’m employed…. Not actually dependant.
Thanks
Hi there,
Thanks for the helpful tips on applying for this visa. I am a New Zealander with grandparent ancestry, I have had the ancestry visa before but it is now expired. I want to apply again, and also my partner to get the defacto visa. Do I need to apply first, or can we apply at the same time? Can’t seem to find the info anywhere. Are defacto visas usually approved?
Any help much appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Georgie,
It is crazy that the Government doesn’t supply a step-by-step process but I guess they do this because they are constantly changing/updating what is required.
Regarding processing time, from memory, they said it could take up to two or three months. However, in saying that, Theresa’s application only took two weeks to process. I think we were extremely lucky and have only heard of a handful of other people whose application processed so quickly.
Best of luck,
Dan
Hi Dan,
This has been a fantastic help! My partner (applying for ancestry) and I were really struggling to understand the process for my de facto visa and this has made so many things clear!
We are a bit stuck on Part 7>Sponsor – Dave doesn’t have a job lined up yet so I have no details to fill into the “company where your sponsor is working/will work” fields and they are compulsory. We aren’t leaving until March ’12 and are traveling prior to arriving in the UK so weren’t looking to find something until closer to April. Not sure how to proceed…?
Thanks!
Gem & Dave
Hi
i hope you can help me.
i am trying to sort our my ancestral visa for the UK and would like my unmarried partner to accompany me.
do i need to have my visa approved before we can apply for hers?
or can both visa’s be done on one application?
or can we both apply at the same time? (if two applications are needed)
i look forward to your response
Many thanks
Andrew
Hey There,
Congratulations on a great informative website & thanks for being considerate enough to simplify this process for us all.
Can you advise (if you know)does having a health condition affect your ability to get a dependant ancestory visa (if it does NOT affect your working ability).
Thanks again
Hi, I am unsure if this site is still active, however, I am having a very hard time trying to find information on the above process. I am a NZer and currently in the UK on a 2 year working visa. My partner (who I have been with for 8 years) is on a 5 year Visa. I want to become a dependent on his ancestry visa, however, I am wanting to know:
1. Can this Visa be applied for from within the UK; and
2. If 1. is not applicable, and I am required to go back to NZ to apply for the Visa, can I do this 5 months prior to my current visa expiration date?? ie: will they still issue a new dependency Visa if my current visa is still active??
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks very much,
Abby