Dave
Honorary Master
Your grandpa is in J Bay, isn't he?
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Immigrating to the UK
- Thread starter AchmatK
- Start date
Your grandpa is in J Bay, isn't he?
Tman*
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Long story short, My SO came to the UK on a skilled visa (due to missing docs & her job start date) and NOT as a spouse on my ancestral visa.
Need some input on this as we are considering to switch her visa type. Has anyone done it, how long does it take? Do we need to repay NHS fees?
I realize this will reset the remain to stay period and have already confirmed that there will be no claw back for visa fees from her employer. Considering this from a risk point of view as company future seems uncertain.
Need some input on this as we are considering to switch her visa type. Has anyone done it, how long does it take? Do we need to repay NHS fees?
I realize this will reset the remain to stay period and have already confirmed that there will be no claw back for visa fees from her employer. Considering this from a risk point of view as company future seems uncertain.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but can't she just get a different job on the SWV she's on?
No. The new employer would need to sponsor and provide a CoS. SWV is tied to the company.
You’d need to repay the NHS fees I suspect. It’s as if you’d be doing a completely fresh application and her having a SWV will count for nothing.
True, but I would think it's easier to convince employers if you're already in the UK and working, but again not everyone can issue sponsorships so it's not easy peasy
There is mention on switching to ancestral visa on the gov website. Seems like you might have to email and find out the details.
UK Ancestry visa
Apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK - eligibility, fees, documents, how to apply, how long it takes and how to settle
"Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)"
Yes, easier if you’re already in the UK. But as you say, not every company is in a position to sponsor.
Having said that; if it were me I would just go the spouse route - then you have none of the headache again.
There is mention on switching to ancestral visa on the gov website. Seems like you might have to email and find out the details.
UK Ancestry visa
Apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK - eligibility, fees, documents, how to apply, how long it takes and how to settlewww.gov.uk
"Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)"
As I understand it @Tman* is already on the ancestral visa. Their partner would have to been on a spouse visa.
Yeah, it not 100% clear if this would apply in this case.
I agree. Even though it was **** expensive, the ancestral visa is absolutely golden.
Tman*
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Want to avoid sponsorship limitations....
Aeropets as well. My dog flew JHB to LHR about a month ago
Yeah then it’s a fresh application for a spouse visa. I believe the fees are slightly cheaper; applying within the UK.
gregmcc
Honorary Master
Spouse route is the way to go. With SWV you are tied to the company which can be good and bad. Good if the company looks after you and is going to be around for a while.
Bad if you don't like the company you are screwed and they know you are under their thumb.
It's also very difficult to get another company to sponsor you. There are so many hurdles to jump through most won't bother and would rather hire someone who already passed all the checks.
Bad if you don't like the company you are screwed and they know you are under their thumb.
It's also very difficult to get another company to sponsor you. There are so many hurdles to jump through most won't bother and would rather hire someone who already passed all the checks.
Just responding to (the now deleted post) from @prod -
Some backstory before I answer.
I grew up in SA and moved to UK when I was around 11. I met my now wife then - we never dated - but stayed in contact when I left the UK at age 16 to return to SA.
We eventually got together in 2015 and she moved out here later that year. We got married since then in Santorini.
Back to the question;
If you’d asked me this in 2017 - my response would have been “No plans”
If you’d asked me in 2018:
We ended up abandoning those plans as my wife really enjoyed it in SA and being two young adults with no kids - good well paying jobs and great friends; we decided to stay and enjoy the African sun.
If you’d asked me in 2019 - my response:
We again gave up on this idea because NZ ultimately seemed boring and we knew no one there. But it was the initial consideration as I didn’t want to be in SA and the wife didn’t want to go back to UK (much like @bwana ’s missus)
Since then; after we got back from our honeymoon in US - we bought a place in SA and “settled” - we figured Cyril was to fix things. So no reason to worry…
Things changed however when our son was born last year. We’ve realized that we really want him to grow up around all of his family.
Literally all of our family is in the UK - which is why we visit once a year and they will be meeting him for the first time next weekend when we go over again.
Flying out once a year is not sustainable and not enough to be honest for our son to be around family. FaceTime calls are okay but not the real thing of course and then there is the support system of family we don’t have out here. It’s literally just myself, my wife and our son out here.
The family always hints and asks us when we moving back - seeing how much love they have for our son already and how excited they are to meet him - just reaffirms our decision.
So, we’ve made the decision to emigrate and move back to the UK. We can’t do anything this year - so starting the process next year and hoping by November 2024 we will be in the UK.
Our family in the UK don’t know we moving back - telling them next weekend over lunch; cannot wait to see their reactions.
In preparation for this move; I resigned from my job and took an offer from Luno who approached me - for a developer role.
Luno has a HQ in London and I have told them I am moving next year - they’re onboard and say they’ll just change my contract to a UK one when the time comes.
I’m going to see them in person next month too at the London office.
So a none issue. They also offer SWV - however I am going to go the spouse visa route instead so there are no work restrictions.
Having joined Luno means at least I don’t need to find another job when we do move. It helps a lot.
There are some hurdles that we need to get over which I don’t know what we will do yet and need to figure out timelines etc.
Some of them are:
- Moving animals over - not worried about the cost too much. It’s finding a rental property that will take them. Hoping my father in law can help - he knows everyone in the town.
- Selling the house - and all contents. Need to get timing right and figure out when to list it on the market. Don’t want to be homeless whilst I wait for spouse visa.
- Both cars are fully paid for. So will have to sell one first and rely on a single car for a bit until we move. Again got to time it right.
Then of course there is my wife finding a job in the UK. Fortunately she earns enough now to meet the financial requirement to sponsor me. No need to sponsor our son as he is British. So, when she does find a job in the UK - that pays more than financial requirements - at least there is no 6 month waiting period.
So yeah lots to plan and figure out over the next 18 months or so.
All we know is this is the right move for the future of our son and for family. If we were both still childless - we wouldn’t be leaving SA just yet as my wife does enjoy it out here.
Personally I cannot wait to leave SA behind.
@Priapus When are you moving to the UK
Some backstory before I answer.
I grew up in SA and moved to UK when I was around 11. I met my now wife then - we never dated - but stayed in contact when I left the UK at age 16 to return to SA.
We eventually got together in 2015 and she moved out here later that year. We got married since then in Santorini.
Back to the question;
If you’d asked me this in 2017 - my response would have been “No plans”
If you’d asked me in 2018:
We ended up abandoning those plans as my wife really enjoyed it in SA and being two young adults with no kids - good well paying jobs and great friends; we decided to stay and enjoy the African sun.
If you’d asked me in 2019 - my response:
We again gave up on this idea because NZ ultimately seemed boring and we knew no one there. But it was the initial consideration as I didn’t want to be in SA and the wife didn’t want to go back to UK (much like @bwana ’s missus)
Since then; after we got back from our honeymoon in US - we bought a place in SA and “settled” - we figured Cyril was to fix things. So no reason to worry…
Things changed however when our son was born last year. We’ve realized that we really want him to grow up around all of his family.
Literally all of our family is in the UK - which is why we visit once a year and they will be meeting him for the first time next weekend when we go over again.
Flying out once a year is not sustainable and not enough to be honest for our son to be around family. FaceTime calls are okay but not the real thing of course and then there is the support system of family we don’t have out here. It’s literally just myself, my wife and our son out here.
The family always hints and asks us when we moving back - seeing how much love they have for our son already and how excited they are to meet him - just reaffirms our decision.
So, we’ve made the decision to emigrate and move back to the UK. We can’t do anything this year - so starting the process next year and hoping by November 2024 we will be in the UK.
Our family in the UK don’t know we moving back - telling them next weekend over lunch; cannot wait to see their reactions.
In preparation for this move; I resigned from my job and took an offer from Luno who approached me - for a developer role.
Luno has a HQ in London and I have told them I am moving next year - they’re onboard and say they’ll just change my contract to a UK one when the time comes.
I’m going to see them in person next month too at the London office.
So a none issue. They also offer SWV - however I am going to go the spouse visa route instead so there are no work restrictions.
Having joined Luno means at least I don’t need to find another job when we do move. It helps a lot.
There are some hurdles that we need to get over which I don’t know what we will do yet and need to figure out timelines etc.
Some of them are:
- Moving animals over - not worried about the cost too much. It’s finding a rental property that will take them. Hoping my father in law can help - he knows everyone in the town.
- Selling the house - and all contents. Need to get timing right and figure out when to list it on the market. Don’t want to be homeless whilst I wait for spouse visa.
- Both cars are fully paid for. So will have to sell one first and rely on a single car for a bit until we move. Again got to time it right.
Then of course there is my wife finding a job in the UK. Fortunately she earns enough now to meet the financial requirement to sponsor me. No need to sponsor our son as he is British. So, when she does find a job in the UK - that pays more than financial requirements - at least there is no 6 month waiting period.
So yeah lots to plan and figure out over the next 18 months or so.
All we know is this is the right move for the future of our son and for family. If we were both still childless - we wouldn’t be leaving SA just yet as my wife does enjoy it out here.
Personally I cannot wait to leave SA behind.
Yea sorry, I deleted it because I thought it might be too personal as I've remembered you mentioned in in the past. But good post
Yea sorry, I deleted it because I thought it might be too personal as I've remembered you mentioned in in the past. But good post
All good mate.