Another visa question - Ancestry

A friend is in the process of getting her ancestry visa together. Apparently a certified copy of the grand parent's birth certificate isn't acceptable. What are you supposed to do if they are deceased? Order it off this site perhaps?

http://www.bmd-certificates.co.uk/birth.html

I think you're spot on there. It has to be an original, she'll also need marriage certificates to show any name changes that might have happened.

But the sample cert in the link says "certified copy" on it. So I guess that's not good enough either? Anyway actually been in this situation?

I ordered mine off internet (my grandma's) - all good, my ancestry visa was accepted with that. It took about 10 days to arrive and cost about $70

when they (british high commission) say "no certified copies" they mean no photocopies etc sign by a justice of the peace. ( i asked the commissioner himself that exact question at the OE: expo)

Nope you need complete originals of all certs

I had to to send the following to wellington by courier and they couriered them back

Grandfathers birth cert
Mum and dads marriage cert
Mum and dads divorce cert
Mum and my step dads marriage cert


All to prove that i am related and my grandfather, mum and I all have different last names!!

Yep, me too

Just in case anyone needs to order copies of their Grandparent's birth certificate (got a few friends rushing their extensions through now in case in gets scrapped)

The official site to get the cert is http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ It only costs £10

Just put my visa app on a courier.

Now I wait.





If they decline it I have no idea what I'll do (apart from probably not getting on my flight to the UK).

I think you should be okay. Ancestry isn't getting messed with like WHV/HSMP.

Well this evening I realised that I had sent in the wrong birth cert for my grandad- it was a 'short certificate' without my great grandparents names on it.

Cue several phone calls to various family members and panic, however I did manage to track down the original copy of the FULL certificate and its being sent tomorrow with my name and application number. I'm hoping that this wont fuck up the whole process too much seeing as they've got my passport, I'm flying to Hong Kong in just under 9 weeks so I kind of need everything sorted and back before then.

I would definitely call them tomorrow and make them aware of it

Yeah was planning on doing that, hopefully it'll be ok. :/

It is still under public consultation at the moment. So who knows how much longer it will be around for. At the rate anything gets done in this country you should be fine Ennajel
I am getting mine extended on Friday just to be sure.

Well I've emailed AND called about it so hopefully it should be sweet.

Good news

.....and now I've just gotten an email back saying that the 'short' certificate that I sent was fine.

The website says differently. Thanks guys.

Ancestry visa is safe from harm! http://stuff.co.nz/4619210a34.html
So pleased I spent £600 and a day at the home office (OMG grim as fuck)
on Friday extending it...

That's awesome news!

Grim as fuck eh? heh, catch you soon and you can tell me all about it.

3 weeks and counting....


HURRY UP DAMMIT!

Ring up the british high commission and pester them every few days. Worked for me

O RLY?

Who should I ask to speak to? Just someone who deals with ancestry visas specifically?

Ring Wellington, not the 0900 line but the (04) number for the High Commission. Tell them you would like to speak to someone about your application. They'll tell you to ring the 0900 line and you should say that you have and that no on there can help you with your query as it relates specifically to your application. If you get the right receptionist on the right day they'll put you through to someone who is dealing with your application.

Alternatively email them on the visamail address.

Having the High Commission round the corner form work made this process so much easier.

I called and the receptionist said that it wouldn't take less than 20 working days. :/

I've now started the harrassment via email.

keep harassing enna

once it gets past 20 working days and if you still haven't received it, up the ante on harassment.

i bet it did. why they don't have an auckland branch that deals with visas is beyond me

19 days!

Huzzah!