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 appling 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:

http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/how-do-i-apply/family/unmarried-partner

Please note, the above 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:

1. Signed letter from the Sponsor (partner) confirming if applicant/’s accompanying or joining;
2. Documented history and proof of relationship i.e. joint tenancy agreements, assets, accounts, utilities, wills etc.
3. Evidence any previous marriage/relationship has permanently broken down;
4. Proof of employment in the UK, if arranged i.e. signed letter from employer stating salary, duties, length of employment etc., and employment contract;
5. Proof of funds i.e. last three months of full bank statements, investments etc.
6. 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.