Immigrating to the UK

[Spizz]

So we are looking at all set be leaving last weekend of November. Went to Sandton last Friday to apply for wife's spousal visa, and we are looking to get it by end of the month. Then we will buy the plane tickets and sort out the dogs travel arrangements.

Seven Seas collect stuff that is being shipped over about 1 1/2 weeks ago, so that should be on its way soon.

Also, finishing work end of October, gonna have a month of holiday on the African sun ie: the Vale

Let us know how you go with the dogs. I’m keen to know who you use and how much etc.

 

[AdrianH]

Let us know how you go with the dogs. I’m keen to know who you use and how much etc.

I can do, will ask wife.

Your dogs do need up to date vaccinations records from vet, be sterilised and chipped. The also have to have titre tests done, and then wait 6 months, sort of like a quarantine period before they can fly over.

 

[Spizz]

I can do, will ask wife.

Your dogs do need up to date vaccinations records from vet, be sterilised and chipped. The also have to have titre tests done, and then wait 6 months, sort of like a quarantine period before they can fly over.

Fair enough. Seems a straight forward enough process. I’d appreciate knowing the costs, pretty difficult to get an idea from googling.

 

[The Voice]

Can you use your own router/modem? Some ISPs allow it in SA, there merely give you the login credentials and you are all set.

You can, yes. Virgin's modem isn't half bad, so never had to go to those lengths (and it only ever dropped out once in 2 years). With Vodafone the connection just wouldn't settle, and had random drop outs. Hardly had any issues since installing my own router. They can be a bit funny about giving them to you apparently, but the guy on live chat was like "yeah sure" - I think because he'd run out of ideas, too.

 

[AdrianH]

You can, yes. Virgin's modem isn't half bad, so never had to go to those lengths (and it only ever dropped out once in 2 years). With Vodafone the connection just wouldn't settle, and had random drop outs. Hardly had any issues since installing my own router. They can be a bit funny about giving them to you apparently, but the guy on live chat was like "yeah sure" - I think because he'd run out of ideas, too.

Cool, thanks

I just like to use my Asus router.

 

[millennia]

You can, yes. Virgin's modem isn't half bad, so never had to go to those lengths (and it only ever dropped out once in 2 years). With Vodafone the connection just wouldn't settle, and had random drop outs. Hardly had any issues since installing my own router. They can be a bit funny about giving them to you apparently, but the guy on live chat was like "yeah sure" - I think because he'd run out of ideas, too.

The biggest issue i had with the Virgin router is that you couldn't set time restrictions according to MAC address. It was everything or nothing, which is retarded.

 

[AchmatK]

Nearly a year since I started this thread.

Wife has settled into her own place last month. Work is going well but she's really missing us. She's visiting next week as we have a court appearance to renew the Foster care order for our son.

Also finally have an interview with Home Affairs on Monday for the late registration of birth for our Foster daughter. She's turning 6 in December and a late registration of birth was done more than 18 months ago. The Home Affairs interview is the final step in order for them to issue a birth certificate for her.

When that is done, they will start the process for a single adoption for both of them. File has been prepared and just needs to be submitted to the court when we get the birth certificate issued.

When the adoption is finalised I will apply for British passports for both of them and start my spousal visa application. Hopefully it should not be longer than another 6 months.

 

[gregmcc]

Can you use your own router/modem? Some ISPs allow it in SA, there merely give you the login credentials and you are all set.

I've been with BT/Virgin/Sky and have used my own router with all of them. Using a Mikrotik now, previously used a HG612 and had no issues. Took a bit of messing around to get it working but its doable.

 

[AdrianH]

I've been with BT/Virgin/Sky and have used my own router with all of them. Using a Mikrotik now, previously used a HG612 and had no issues. Took a bit of messing around to get it working but its doable.

Cool, looking forward to getting my UK broadband soon

Do you get bundled deals like mobile voice, mobile data, home fibre all as one deal. Is it advisable?

 

[AdrianH]

Nearly a year since I started this thread.

Wife has settled into her own place last month. Work is going well but she's really missing us. She's visiting next week as we have a court appearance to renew the Foster care order for our son.

Also finally have an interview with Home Affairs on Monday for the late registration of birth for our Foster daughter. She's turning 6 in December and a late registration of birth was done more than 18 months ago. The Home Affairs interview is the final step in order for them to issue a birth certificate for her.

When that is done, they will start the process for a single adoption for both of them. File has been prepared and just needs to be submitted to the court when we get the birth certificate issued.

When the adoption is finalised I will apply for British passports for both of them and start my spousal visa application. Hopefully it should not be longer than another 6 months.

Good news man, happy for you and your wife.

For us, just the entire process of packing up for a permanent move has now taken 14 months from when we originally made the decision to move, and actively began the process. Pretty much most things are done, UK passports renewed, property sold, cars sold, furniture and other stuff sold or given away, belongings will likely be on ship next week, certain services cancelled, currently in a short term lease. Waiting for wife's visa now, should hopefully come in the next 2 weeks. I finish work end of October and wife end of November. And then we are on our way. So if everything goes to plan, 16 months from start to finish.

I suppose it could have been shortened, but we had to wait for the proceeds of the property sale to be in my account before we could apply for wide's spousal visa as I am going over without a job (gonna look after kid). Wife will be working though.

 

[The Voice]

Cool, looking forward to getting my UK broadband soon

Do you get bundled deals like mobile voice, mobile data, home fibre all as one deal. Is it advisable?

You can, but it all depends on what you need, really. I always go for straight broadband because, like DSTV, unless you're into live sport, there's a lot of generic recycled crap on offer with Sky and BT. I haven't bothered with television for over a decade now - I can do anything I need to on the internet.

If you're fresh off the boat, then I'd say go for a bundle if it's available. Also note for mobile, you only really pay for the device and data: voice and texts are free to UK numbers for almost all providers I think. Sky's mobile data also rolls over, so if you find yourself not eating through your monthly allowance, they may be worth a look.

 

[MachoPants]

I can do, will ask wife.

Your dogs do need up to date vaccinations records from vet, be sterilised and chipped. The also have to have titre tests done, and then wait 6 months, sort of like a quarantine period before they can fly over.

If you have pet passport, micro chip, vaccines done, tape worm inoculations, SA state blood tests taken, Those docs get sent to the UK animal imports, once approved on the UK side you can have the dogs released the same day that arrive from SA No quarantine required. Remember to complete the declaration that you are not selling the dogs, if you dine have that = no pet .

 

[millennia]

Cool, looking forward to getting my UK broadband soon

Do you get bundled deals like mobile voice, mobile data, home fibre all as one deal. Is it advisable?

Remember that they all tie you to a contract, some 12, some 18 months. The cool thing about them though is that if you move then your service follows you if they supply in the area.

Unfortunately, Virgin didn't supply where i moved to so had to pay a cancellation fee because i had a few months left on the contract.

 

[gregmcc]

Cool, looking forward to getting my UK broadband soon

Do you get bundled deals like mobile voice, mobile data, home fibre all as one deal. Is it advisable?

Virgin and BT do some bundled deals but I found it better to have these separate as you can find cheaper prices.
Have a look through:
https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/compare/
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/

If you get like a sim only package for the mobile it works out stupid cheap.

 

[AchmatK]

And after spending an hour at the barrack Street home affairs, we walked out with a birth certificate for our Foster daughter.

There was an endorsement noted on the birth certificate with the social worker number and name. No birth mother or birth father was stated as this could not be confirmed.

We have a court appointment on Wednesday to extend the Foster care order for her brother until he turns 18.

Next up is the 6 month process to finalise their adoption.

Finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[The_Mowgs]

And after spending an hour at the barrack Street home affairs, we walked out with a birth certificate for our Foster daughter.

There was an endorsement noted on the birth certificate with the social worker number and name. No birth mother or birth father was stated as this could not be confirmed.

We have a court appointment on Wednesday to extend the Foster care order for her brother until he turns 18.

Next up is the 6 month process to finalise their adoption.

Finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

Awesome news!

 

[AchmatK]

Court went well. Order only granted for two years though but we should have the adoption finalised before then.

This really is an emotionally draining experience. The application for adoption was submitted a few months ago already but the file will only be handed in hopefully later this month.

Process for adoption in our case:

1. Social worker submitted application for adoption to the local children's court. This was completed a few months ago.

2. Social worker then prepare the file detailing the children's current situation, a report on the biological and adoptive parents and what attempts were made to contact the biological parents. It will also include their recommendation. The file is already complete and should be ready by the end of next week.

3. This gets submitted to the Western Cape Government Department of Social Development. There they will review the file and basically endorse/approve the request. This process will likely take a month.

4. The file will then be returned to the social worker who will then submit the file to the clerk of the court.

5. Depending on how busy the magistrate of the children's court is, it should be on his desk within a week of submission and he's decision will be made a week later. There are no verbal representation allowed and the entire case is heard through the written submission. If he has any queries he will request this in writing and we are allowed to make written submission stating our reasons as well as character witness reference letters.

6. The clerk of the court will inform us directly of the outcome. If its approved, the order is sent to Pretoria.

7. The Pretoria registrar will send us the official adoption order that we can then take to home affairs to get new birth certificates issued with our surname. I have no idea how long Pretoria takes to complete the process and send us the adoption order. We probably looking at about 2 to 3 months for this step.

I will apply for my UK spousal visa after the adoption is granted while waiting on the official confirmation from Pretoria as that process would also take about 3 months.

When we receive the documents from Pretoria we can then also register the adoption in the UK as a foreign adoption. South Africa is a signatory to Geneva convention on adoptions. As my wife is a UK citizen and a UK resident at the time of the adoption being granted, the children can be issued with British birth certificates.

We will then have SA and UK birth certificates for both of them and we can then apply for SA and UK passports for them.

Hoping to stick to the 6 month timeline.

Good thing is that my wife will probably be on Emirates gold frequent flyer level by the time we leave . She moved up to silver on her flight last week to Cape Town.

 

[AdrianH]

When we receive the documents from Pretoria we can then also register the adoption in the UK as a foreign adoption. South Africa is a signatory to Geneva convention on adoptions. As my wife is a UK citizen and a UK resident at the time of the adoption being granted, the children can be issued with British birth certificates.

Can all British citizens get UK birth certificates issued for their South African born children?

Also, why do you want to UK birth certificates? Wouldn't the kids get citizenship by descendancy from your wife once adoption is complete, and then they can apply for passports?

 

[AchmatK]

Can all British citizens get UK birth certificates issued for their South African born children?

Also, why do you want to UK birth certificates? Wouldn't the kids get citizenship by descendancy from your wife once adoption is complete, and then they can apply for passports?

I'm not sure.

This is for births outside the UK.

Register a birth abroad

Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK.

www.gov.uk

We would need to register the adoption with the GRO either way. We can then order a full UK adoption birth certificate.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/832595/3_ACR53_1_Nov_17.pdf

We could just apply with the mom being a British citizen but the less they need to deal with home affairs should they need a birth certificate later in life, the better. They will then have a choice to either get it from home affairs or the GRO if we ever loose the copies we currently have.

Ordering anything on the GRO website is easy and quick and the full birth certificate is delivered in a week. Try getting an unabridged birth certificate from home affairs in under a month. I ordered my wife's UK birth certificate and received it from the GRO just over a week later.

 

[AdrianH]

I'm not sure.

This is for births outside the UK.

Register a birth abroad

Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK.

www.gov.uk

Cool, this is great. Got the kids British passports with SA birth certificates, but getting UK birth certificates will be a bonus