Apply for Extension of UK Ancestry Visa - Specialist UK Ancestry Visa Solicitors

You can apply for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa for 5 years if you are in the UK with a 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. An application for extension of a UK ancestry visa is made in accordance with the requirements as set out in Appendix UK Ancestry to the Immigration Rules. An application for an extension of a UK Ancestry visa is made using the FLR (IR) application form.

Free Immigration Advice for the UK Ancestry Visa

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide 5 minutes of free, one-off immigration advice regarding your UK Ancestry visa. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our UK Ancestry visa solicitors concerning your UK Ancestry visa.

Reasons for Extension of UK Ancestry Visa

This could be for a variety of reasons, including because the applicant:

• does not meet the knowledge of the 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
• simply does not wish to apply for settlement, or is unaware that they are eligible to do so

Requirements For Extension Of UK Ancestry Visa

An applicant applying for an extension of a UK Ancestry visa must meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. They must:

Valid application: The applicant must submit a valid ILR application as a UK Ancestry migrant.

UK Ancestry Visa: The application must have previously been granted permission on the UK Ancestry route as a person with UK Ancestry.;

Commonwealth Citizen: The applicant must be a Commonwealth citizen on the date of application.

Grandparent born in the UK or the Islands: The applicant must have a grandparent born in the UK or the Islands.

Work requirement: The applicant must be able to work and intend to seek and take employment in the UK.

Suitability requirements: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Financial Requirement: The decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant can and will adequately maintain and accommodate themselves, and any dependants in the UK, or applying for entry clearance, without recourse to public funds. Funds must be shown as specified in Appendix Finance.

Not in breach of immigration laws: If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not be:

• in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
• on immigration bail.

Employment or Self-employment at the Date of Application

The applicant must be employed or self-employed in the UK on the date of application for the extension of a UK Ancestry visa. A person with leave in the UK ancestry category is not required to be continuously employed while in the UK to qualify for an extension of stay.

Evidence of Employment

If the applicant is employed on the date of application, they should normally be able to submit both:

• a letter from their current employer which confirms how long they have been working for them and that they will continue in their current job with that employer, and
• one of the following (unless they are undertaking voluntary work):
  • their most recent payslip issued by the employer named in the letter
  • their most recent bank statement or building society passbook, if this clearly shows recent receipt of wages from the employer named in the letter

If the applicant has only recently started work for their employer and they have not yet been paid, the letter from the employer should confirm how much they will be paid.

Evidence of Self-Employment

If the applicant is self-employed on the date of application, they must provide recent documents to support this. Examples of acceptable evidence include, but are not limited to:

• their most recent tax self-assessment form (SA100) plus evidence of receipt by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• most recent statement of account (SA300) or tax calculations (SA302) issued by HMRC
• company tax return (CT600) for the last financial year and evidence of receipt by HMRC
• evidence of payment of National Insurance Contributions as a self-employed person
• Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) pay and deduction statements, if the applicant is a contractor or subcontractor in the construction industry
• copies of invoices and receipts of payment for recent work carried out
• most recent personal or business bank statement, if this clearly shows payments for work carried out as part of the applicant’s business
• audited accounts from the last financial year
• official letter from a registered accountant which confirms the applicant’s self-employment and earnings from the last financial year

This is not an exhaustive list.

Applicant Unemployed at the Date of Application

If the applicant is unemployed when they apply for an extension of stay, the Home Office UKVI will normally ask for evidence of their employment record throughout their previous 5 years and of any attempts they have made, and are making, to find work (if they have not provided this information with their application). If the applicant has been unemployed for the entire 5 years, the Home Office UKVI will ask them to explain the reasons for this if they have not done so on their application form.

In all cases where the applicant has had long periods of unemployment, the Home Office UKVI will give particularly careful consideration to how they have supported themselves without a regular income. The Home Office UKVI may grant the application if there is satisfactory evidence that the applicant is genuinely seeking work, able to work, and there are no other grounds for refusal. Remember that voluntary work can meet the employment requirement. If the Home Office, UKVI are not satisfied that the applicant is able to and intends to take or seek employment, they may refuse the application.

Financial Requirement

All applicants on the UK Ancestry route must meet the financial requirement. There is no set level of funds the applicant must hold, but they must show they can maintain themselves and any family members applying to join them in the UK without access to public funds. Evidence of finances must be as set out in Immigration Rules: Appendix Finance and be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application. Applicants can also rely on credible support from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.

Priority/Super Priority Service for UK Ancestry Visa Renewal

As specialist immigration solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority/Super Priority Service for an extension of a UK Ancestry visa whereby a decision on your UK Ancestry visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service or within 5 working days if you submit your application through Priority Service.

Our immigration solicitors can prepare and submit your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa more quickly and secure a decision more quickly through the Priority or Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your UK Ancestry visa application for months.

How Can We Help With a UK Ancestry Visa Extension?

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your UK Ancestry visa extension application on a fixed-fee basis. Our immigration solicitors can legally represent you in your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa and carry out all the work on your application until the decision by the Home Office UKVI on your UK Ancestry visa application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors about your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the requirements you must meet for your UK Ancestry visa extension application to be successful.

Documentary advice: Our immigration solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted with your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa.

Assessing documents: Our immigration solicitors will review your documents to ensure that all the documents you provide in support of your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa comply with the immigration rules' requirements.

Completing the application form: Our immigration solicitors will complete the relevant form for your UK Ancestry visa extension application.

Priority or Super Priority Service: If required, our immigration solicitors will submit your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa online through Priority Service for a decision within 5 working days, or through Super Priority Service for a decision within 24 hours.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for an extension of your UK Ancestry visa to explain all the relevant legal requirements for your application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload all supporting documents for your application to extend your UK Ancestry visa.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will handle all necessary follow-up until the UKVI Home Office decides on your UK Ancestry visa extension application.

Specialist UK Ancestry Visa Solicitors

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in UK Ancestry visa extension applications. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients successfully extend their UK Ancestry visas. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your UK Ancestry visa extension application. 

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of Immigration Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our immigration solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the UK Ancestry visa extension application process with professionalism and care. 

Our team comprises a diverse group of immigration solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.

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Schedule Your Consultation With Our UK Ancestry Visa Solicitors

Are you seeking expert immigration advice and consultation from our highly experienced and qualified team of immigration solicitors and lawyers in London? It's easy to secure an appointment with our dedicated UK Ancestry visa specialists. Our expert team of immigration solicitors and advisors can provide detailed immigration advice and consultation, face-to-face in our offices in London and Birmingham or virtually via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Phone. Book your appointment today using the appointment booking link provided below:

• Book An Appointment Online With Our Immigration Solicitors in London

Our immigration experts are ready to assist you with your UK Ancestry visa extension application. Book your appointment today for personalised guidance and support.

Our Fixed Fees for UK Ancestry Visa Extension

Our fixed fee for your application to extend your UK Ancestry visa ranges from £1,000 + VAT to £1,500 + VAT. Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application for an extension of UK Ancestry visa from inside the UK, including advising on documents, checking your documents, completing the application form and submitting the application online, booking an appointment for biometrics enrolment, preparing a cover letter in support of the application, uploading all supporting documents to be considered in support of the application, and carrying out all other follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application.

Our agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of your case and the volume of work involved in your application. You will make an initial payment of half our fee when we start working on your matter, and the remaining half is due once we have fully prepared the application and it is ready for submission.

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FAQs - Extension of a UK Ancestry Visa

The following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for an extension of a UK Ancestry visa: