Immigrating to the UK

Hatefulsandwich said:
I was initially looking at going with a sponsored visa with my work, but I wasn't happy with the salary offer. I also did not like the idea that my ability to be in the UK would be tied to a single employer unless I could easily find other work who would also want to sponsor me. Skilled visas are probably going to become much less appealing with the increased fees. I've also read many people having the experience of losing their jobs - sometimes literally within days of starting - and having to scramble to find something else or leave.

I personally plan to get ILR so having a guaranteed 5 year method of staying in the UK to be able to do that instead of a couple of years here and there based on whether my employer feels I'm worth the additional paperwork is preferred.

Also I don't think you're required to do any additional English tests and things until you want to apply for ILR. And I'm not sure businesses can get away with paying you up to 20% less than local workers if they're not sponsoring you.

Businesses tend to offer things like covering relocation and stuff like that, but not always. I just ultimately landed up valuing my freedom over the money. I can always save more money again, especially if I actually get paid a salary in line with the locals in the same field.

You might want to consider paying one of those places that can source your vault copies quickly. You do pay quite a lot extra, but I think it is worth it over having to deal with home affairs and potentially wait months to years.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I have the option to go the SWV route through my company. However like you, I choose not to be tied to an employer like that. I instead am going the spousal visa route. It might be more costly upfront, but unless my partner and I suddenly split up in the next 5 years, my path to ILR (and then Citizenship) is a straight forward (but costly) 5 year journey.
 
I've got an arb question.

I'm British by descent (father is English).
My child cannot be British (born in SA), as there's no double descent.

Do I still need to inform the British embassy / government I've had a kid? (considering the lack of her citizenship).

I'm thinking thinking worst case here, like evacuation assistance for Brits and their family's if anything happens in SA or traveling internationally etc.
 
shadow_man said:
I've got an arb question.

I'm British by descent (father is English).
My child cannot be British (born in SA), as there's no double descent.

Do I still need to inform the British embassy / government I've had a kid? (considering the lack of her citizenship).

I'm thinking thinking worst case here, like evacuation assistance for Brits and their family if anything happens in SA or traveling internationally etc.
Click to expand...

Nope. Even for citizens you don't "inform them.

My son was born last year; he is British as my wife was born in the UK - we did not inform the Home Office as there is no process for that. You're either British or you're not - and you just need to prove it to the government when you want entry clearance at the border.

In your hypothetical situation; your child would need a dependant visa of sorts.
 
Priapus said:
Nope. Even for citizens you don't "inform them.

My son was born last year; he is British as my wife was born in the UK - we did not inform the Home Office as there is no process for that. You're either British or you're not - and you just need to prove it to the government when you want entry clearance at the border.

In your hypothetical situation; your child would need a dependant visa of sorts.
Click to expand...

I think you're miss reading or misunderstanding my question.

I'l taking hypothetically I'm on holiday in the likes of say Kabul with my wife and daughter (both non UK citizens) (for exagerrated purposes). The ye old Taliban take over.

SA isn't going to do **** to expatriate Saffers, but the UK would have evacuation flights for UK citizens and their families. My point is in that moment, how do you prove this is your family.
 
Sinbad said:
How true is that?

I have both a british and south african birth certificate ...
Click to expand...

As I mentioned; my son is British - we did not inform the government of this. We applied for the Certificate of Right to Abode, which meant we just have to prove he was British. Using his SA birth certificate and my wife's British birth certificate. That was it. He was allowed to entry the UK last month.
 
shadow_man said:
I think you're miss reading or misunderstanding my question.

I'l taking hypothetically I'm on holiday in the likes of say Kabul with my wife and daughter (both non UK citizens) (for exagerrated purposes). The ye old Taliban take over.

SA isn't going to do **** to expatriate Saffers, but the UK would have evacuation flights for UK citizens and their families. My point is in that moment, how do you prove this is your family.
Click to expand...

You prove they'er your family by:

- Marriage certificate for the wife
- Birth certificate for the child - with parent details on it.

There is no "registry" for all citizen of the UK - not like you can turn up at the border (or plane) and ask them to check the list. Even in your situation it would not work like that.

I also guess in that situation, the Home Office would have to suspend some immigration laws to allow you to enter the country as the current laws require a visa for entry clearance at the border.
 
Can confirm, no language test with ancestral application.

@potter123 - reach out to "Doc Assist" regarding your birth cert. I paid them R1500 to expedite and got it in a month flat.
 
Tman* said:
Can confirm, no language test with ancestral application.

@potter123 - reach out to "Doc Assist" regarding your birth cert. I paid them R1500 to expedite and got it in a month flat.
Click to expand...
I used "Ceritifcate Assist SA" since they rent office space from my mother and gave her a discount rate. Timeously vault copies for everything 0 my birth certificate, my father's, my parents marriage certificate and my grandparents' marriage certificate. I don't think that's even all required but I didn't want there to be any argument about my lineage to my grandmother - her Welsh birth certificate was a lot easier and cheaper in comparison but oh well. These are some of the smaller expenses in the whole scheme of the the application, especially if it can save from having to pay the surcharges after being forced to wait so long.

Now I just need to go get my TB scan on Friday, fingers I don't get caught up in taxi violence. And another R2500 for that IIRC. We certainly seem to be the fattened foreign cows for these places to milk.
 
Tman* said:
Can confirm, no language test with ancestral application.

@potter123 - reach out to "Doc Assist" regarding your birth cert. I paid them R1500 to expedite and got it in a month flat.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I've requested a quote.

These companies, do they essentially bribe someone to bump your application up the queue or how does this work?
 
potter123 said:
Thanks, I've requested a quote.

These companies, do they essentially bribe someone to bump your application up the queue or how does this work?
Click to expand...
Not sure TBH, at the very least they have runners that follow up on the ground & have relationships with key staff internally.

I can comment on the process:

1. You apply in person at DOHA
2. Call the call centre to confirm your application has been captured
3. Inform 3rd party company, who then do what ever they do to expedite.

I didnt have the luxury of time and was happy to pay.
 
Hatefulsandwich said:
I used "Ceritifcate Assist SA" since they rent office space from my mother and gave her a discount rate. Timeously vault copies for everything 0 my birth certificate, my father's, my parents marriage certificate and my grandparents' marriage certificate. I don't think that's even all required but I didn't want there to be any argument about my lineage to my grandmother - her Welsh birth certificate was a lot easier and cheaper in comparison but oh well. These are some of the smaller expenses in the whole scheme of the the application, especially if it can save from having to pay the surcharges after being forced to wait so long.

Now I just need to go get my TB scan on Friday, fingers I don't get caught up in taxi violence. And another R2500 for that IIRC. We certainly seem to be the fattened foreign cows for these places to milk.
Click to expand...

Good to know the price of the TB test. Adding that to my list of expenses next year.
 
bwana said:
So basically... as long as you don't sound South African they like your South African accent. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
I've had women comment that I don't sound South African enough for their liking. But this is up in the North so there's no accounting for taste.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X