Extension Of UK Ancestry Visa

You can apply for extension of your UK Ancestry visa for 5 years if you are in the UK with UK Ancestry visa and do not qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a UK Ancestry Migrant. Some applicants who have completed 5 years in the UK in the UK ancestry category may choose to apply for an extension of stay rather than indefinite leave. This could be for a variety of reasons, including because the applicant:

• does not meet the knowledge of English language and life in the UK requirement for settlement
• has broken their continuity of residence and so cannot meet the 5-year continuous residence requirement for settlement
• has unspent criminal conviction and application falls for refusal by virtue of paragraph 322(1C) of the Immigration Rules
• simply does not wish to apply for settlement, or is unaware that they are eligible to do so

Eligibility Requirements For Extension Of UK Ancestry Visa

To succeed in your application for UK Ancestry visa extension application, you must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• You must be in the UK with UK Ancestry visa;
• You must be a Commonwealth citizen
• You must be aged 17 or over
• You must provide proof that one of your grandparents was born in the UK and Islands and that the relevant grandparent is the applicant’s blood grandparent or grandparent by an adoption recognised by the laws of the UK
• You must be able to work and intend to take or seek employment (this includes self-employment and voluntary work) in the UK
• You must be able to maintain and accommodate yourselves and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds
• You must not be in the UK in breach of immigration laws, except that any current period of overstaying will be disregarded if any of the exceptions set out in paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules

Maintenance and Accommodation Requirement

Paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration Rules requires an applicant to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds. When an applicant applies for extension of UK Ancestry visa, they are required to give information on their application form about their finances and accommodation and to provide supporting evidence. Evidence can include, but is not limited to:

• payslips
• bank statements
• building society pass book
• P60s
• evidence of any other source of income – for example, income from rental property
• tenancy or mortgage agreement

The Immigration Rules do not specify the evidence that an applicant must submit so the Home Office UKVI will assess each case on its merits. As a guide, if the evidence shows that the applicant is in paid employment or self-employment at the date of application and is earning more than they would be entitled to if they were in receipt of Universal Credit, or if they have savings that exceed the Universal Credit level, they will meet the maintenance requirement.

Applicants are advised to submit evidence covering at least 3 months. However, the Home Office UKVI may not refuse an application solely because the evidence covers less than this. The Home Office UKVI may accept evidence covering a shorter period if they are nonetheless satisfied that the applicant will be able to maintain and accommodate themselves. The Home Office UKVI may request additional evidence (even if the applicant has submitted evidence covering a 3-month period) if they are not satisfied, based on the evidence provided, that the applicant meets the requirement. Third-party support (for example, financial help or accommodation from a relative or friend) is acceptable under the UK ancestry rules.

Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours) For UK Ancestry Extension

As the expert UK Ancestry visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours of the enrolment of biometrics at a designated service centre.

Our experienced UK Ancestry visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application to the Home Office, UKVI through Super Priority Service (SPS) and get decision on your UK Ancestry visa extension application within 24 hours. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your UK Ancestry extension application for months (sometimes years).

How Can We Help With Your UK Ancestry Visa Extension?

Our specialist team of UK Ancestry visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee legal services for your application for extension of UK Ancestry visa. As your appointed legal representatives for UK Ancestry visa renewal application, our work can include the following:

• assessing your eligibility for extension of your UK Ancestry visa by considering all the relevant eligibility requirements;
• advising on relevant documents to be submitted in support of the UK Ancestry visa extension application;
• assessing the documentary evidence to ensure that the documents are in line with the Home Office UKVI requirements for renewal of UK Ancestry visa;
• completing online application form for extension of UK Ancestry visa;
• preparing a detailed cover letter in support of your UK Ancestry extension application to explain in detail how all the relevant requirements for renewal of UK Ancestry visa have been satisfied by the applicant;
• submitting the UK Ancestry visa extension application online, paying the Home Office UKVI fees for UK Ancestry visa extension application and booking applicant’s appointment with the UKVCAS application centre;
• uploading all the supporting documents online in support of the UK Ancestry extension application;
• doing all the follow up work including responding to any queries raised by the Home Office UKVI until decision is reached on your UK Ancestry visa extension application.

Our Fixed Fees For Extension/Renewal Of UK Ancestry Visa

Our fixed fees for extension / renewal of UK Ancestry visa from inside the UK are as given in the fee table below:

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application for extension of UK Ancestry visa and the volume of casework involved in the application. In addition to our fixed fee for extension of UK Ancestry visa from inside the UK, the applicant also has to pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.