SaffasintheUK

We have asked a few Saffas living in the UK, or just moving over to share their stories with us.  We'll share these every Monday for encouragement to those still making the decision or in the middle of their leap. Our first friendly voice is Julie Hall, who tells us a bit about herself and her new life: 1.        Tell us who you are and where you are from originally Julie Hall ... born in the UK emigrated to SA, aged 5 with my parents. 2.        Where are you settled now? I chose Overton in North Wales, as I had support with accommodation moving here. I am from the North of England originally and I have family not too far away although they weren't my support to start off with. 3.        What is the route you took to the UK (ie, British passport, ancestral visa, tier 2) I have a British passport 4.        How long have you been in the UK? I’ve been here 7 months now, I arrived in November 2016. 5.        What made you choose this particular spot to

Travelling alone with the kids is exceptionally stressful, but added to this is the sometimes bizarre requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.  In order to cross the border without both parents present, a specific set of documents needs to carried along with the passport and visa. These requirements can be found at this useful link .   For those that are concerned about the "permission" required and the format of this, here is an excellent template for you to use.  This document is referred to as a PCA or Parent Consent Affidavit.  The template is written for a single parent to emigrate but can be tweaked to suit your personal circumstances. The affidavit can be stamped and signed at your local SAPS, or any commissioner of oaths or notary. IMPORTANT: Always make sure that this affidavit (or any other format you choose to use), as well as the copies of the other parent's ID/passport are certified on the same day by the same person. CONSENT

There will be days when you miss home, and the treats we all know and love.  So here's a quick "cheat's" recipe for milk tart which can be made in the microwave.  Enjoy! MILK TART:   1 tin condensed milk 3 tins milk (use condensed milk tin) 4 tsp margarine 6 table spoons cornstarch (about 100ml) 1 egg beaten 1 packet tennis biscuits (or similar, digestives work well) Cinnamon a little extra milk 1.  Mix the condensed milk, milk and margarine together and microwave on high for 8 minutes, stirring after 4 minutes. (Times depend on the power of your microwave but have been averaged). 2.  Place a layer of biscuits at the bottom of a large dish. 3.  Mix the cornstarch with a little milk and add the beaten egg. Mix well. 4.  Add this to the hot mixture and microwave on high for at least 4 minutes, stirring after each minute. The mixture must be quite thick. 5.  Pour the mixture over the back of a spoon onto the biscuit base. 6. 

**Disclaimer**  I am not a professional, and the immigration laws change frequently.  The blog below is what I did for my own application in 2016...you can read this for information purposes but you need to check with a professional before embarking on your own application. Ok, so you've established that you qualify for an Ancestral visa and you've decided to take the leap and do it.  If you are not sure if this visa is right for you, check out the blog post explaining what the Ancestral visa is. So where do you even start to get all your documents ready??? Here is a comprehensive list for your application.  The best advice I got was to start a flipfile, and label each pocket with an item on this list, dropping it in as and when you complete each step.  It's strangely satisfying to see the file fill up, but also a great way of keeping track of what you still need to collect.  Remember, some documents take time, such as official certificates and others can't be da

You've had a great flight, you've landed safely and you are ready to start your new life.  Now what?  Where to from here? The first thing you will need to arrange is a place to day (which hopefully you did before departure) and a SIM card to get connected.  Pre-paid SIM cards are available everywhere, for free, so pick one up and load some credit to get yourself connected. That done...what are the first things you need to do on arrival? Here'es a simple check list of the very important tasks that absolutely have to be done within the first few weeks of arrival.  This post relates to the statutory tasks you need to complete, not the life decisions to be made around work, accommodation, schools etc.  In between all of that, make sure you get this list completed in the fastest possible time to ensure you are officially on your way to a new life. Let's get started: On arrival, your very first stop, even on the day of arrival is collecting your BRP.  Read about coll

The new Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) has been introduced and replaced the old-school sticker-style visa.  The BRP does not affect holders of the British Passport who will not need a BRP to live and work in the UK. You are automatically issued with a BRP (even children under 18), when you are issued with a visa to live in the UK.  Your appointment at the visa processing centre will entail collecting digital fingerprints and a photo which is stored on the database but also encoded on your BRP card.  Your BRP can only be collected in the UK and you will be asked to provide your address on application so that the nearest Post Office can be determined.  This is where your BRP will be sent for collection on your arrival in the country. You will receive a vignette sticker in your passport, granting you a window of 30 days to enter the UK.  Once this has an entry stamp on it, you can proceed to the Post Office with your passport to collect your BRP.  You will also receive an official l

National Insurance (NI) is a system of taxes used to fund public benefits.  Anyone that earns over £157 per week will need to contribute and the correct contribution is calculated by your employer.  You will see NI as a deduction on your payslip as well as PAYE. Your NI number is similar to the ID number we know so well or the US Social Security number, you need it for everything so registering for one is one of your first tasks on arrival. Anyone can work while waiting for an NI, provided you can prove that you have the right to work and live in the UK.  This is quite simple if you are on a visa, your Biometric Residence Permit is sufficient proof as it will clearly state whether you have the right to work. To start, if you are on a Tier 2 visa, you may already have an NI number as your employer will apply for one for you.  To check this, look on the back of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and you will see if an NI number has been issued.  If it has, no further action nee

The UK is a vibrant democracy and anyone who is resident in the country can register to vote.  Apart from the daunting responsibility of figuring your way through the minefield of British politics, it's a crucial step in building your credit history. Registering to vote, gives you a traceable history and confirms your commitment to the UK economy.  Yes, it actually does improve your credit score, so don't overlook this crucial exercise. Registration is very quick and simple, and can be done online.  Follow this link to get yourself on the electoral register ...you will need an NI number for this so it can only be done once that step has been completed. You will receive confirmation by email and post that you have been accepted, and remember that you are likely to be fined for not being registered! On that note, spend some time researching the UK political landscape to familiarise yourself with the different parties and their individual manifestos.

The UK is one of the few countries where a South African license is accepted thanks to an exchange agreement between the two countries.  Migrating to a country such as Australia will mean rewriting both your learners test as well as retaking the drivers test...so don't waste time having your SA license swapped to a  UK version! You are entitled to drive in the UK for up to 12 months after becoming resident, using your SA license (make sure it's valid BEFORE you leave SA!).  You may wish to purchase a car but as many dealerships and insurance companies aren't quite certain of how to issue a Saffa license, you'll either be faced with a refusal to assist or a very steep quote.  Having the UK version eliminates any mistrust and immediately gives you credibility which can be traced. The recommendation for exchanging your license is only after you have been in the country for 185 days, however they do exchange license earlier than that if you just apply. What you will n

The almighty NHS...to us Saffas it seems as if the NHS is just fantastic, yet it is heavily criticised by most Brits.  It has it's flaws and it's strong points, like any government org. For the non-EEA applicants who are required to pay the hefty surcharge, you are contributing to the cost of services provided by the NHS.  For a break down in what you are entitled to follow this link to read up on the NHS entitlements . Registering with the NHS is very simple actually, summed up as follows: Source your local clinic where you will be settling.  Even if you are settling here in the short-term, they will get you registered on the system, which can be transferred later if you move. Registration may require proof of identification, as well as proof of residence (within the area) Complete the form and wait up to 7 days for a letter int eh post confirming your registration t the clinic, with a separate letter from the NHS confirming your number  These letter can actually b

One of the first things you will need on arrival is a bank account.  This can't be done from South Africa so the first opportunity you will have is when you arrive, fresh off the plane. This is where it gets tricky, because as a migrant you will have a chicken-and-egg situation.  You can't get paid an income without a bank account, you can't rent accommodation and of course you need proof of residence before you can open your account.  It's frustrating at best but this can be remedied with some planning. Follow this link to learn what the banking laws stipulate is acceptable for proof of identification and residence  for individuals to open a bank account.  Some branches will be a bit more flexible but to save yourself the trauma of multiple visits to the bank, I would recommend following this list to the letter. The easiest route is to ask your bank in South Africa to update your address to your UK address, and print and certify those statements for use in the UK

Horrific news headlines. Corrupt government. State capture.  Weak currency. High cost of living. Many of us find ourselves in a state of doom and gloom and at some point....we start to ask....should we leave?  If you are considering making the break from South Africa to the UK, your first exercise is to consider which visa options are available.  Sadly, because of previous Saffas breaking a few laws, and tighter migration laws in the the UK, we no longer have access to the "working holiday" visa, and taking a transfer with your company is not that simple anymore. You can do a simple test online to check if you will be needing a visa and which one is best for you by following UK.gov visa check . So what is available to us, and where do we start? Please note: this is a discussion on various visa options available to South African passport holders and not emigration advice.  We always recommend speaking to a professional to assist you with your decision.  This post only

Many people, when they learn of their potential eligibility for a passport via the UKM route, immediately make the decision to go this route. But, all is not as it seems an every option MUST be thoroughly researched yourself, before deciding what does and doesn't suit your circumstances. The UKM is the form used to apply to register as a British citizen if you were born before 1983 to a British mother. You can only apply if you would automatically have become a British citizen on 1 January 1983 if women were able to pass citizenship on to their children at the time of your birth. Before you even consider this route, click this link to find the UKM Guide December 2015 , the official guide from UK.gov to ensure that you meet the criteria. Once you've established your eligibility, it would be safe to consider the Ancestral visa route as an option, assuming that your British mother had parents also born in the UK. Follow this link to read about the Ancestral visa option.