Dear Cgraze,
First of all, your address for enquiriesin Costa Rica is:
Consular Section
Monday?Friday
8:00am-12:00pm
Contact:
Sheila Pacheco Vice Consul
Ericka Phillips Consular Assist.
Tel: +(506) 258-2025
Fax: +(506) 233-9938
Address:
Paseo Colon, 38-40 streets
CentroColonBuilding, 11th floor
<http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1044011313572<
Unfortunately, having British grandparents alone does not guarantee a
British Citizenship:
"
UK Born Grandparent
It is not generally possible to claim citizenship through an UK born grandparent.
All British citizens are designated as "by descent" or "otherwise than
by descent" and only the latter can pass on their status to children
born overseas.
Therefore, if you and your parent(s) were born outside the UK and your
grandparents born in the UK, your parent(s) will normally be British
by descent and unable to pass on their status to you as the second
generation born overseas. The following exceptions apply:
* a person born overseas to a parent born in the UK is a citizen
by descent. However, if they have lived in the UK for a continuous
period of three years they can apply to the Home Office to register
their children born overseas as British citizens while the child is
under one year old. See British Citizenshipfor forms and fees.
* a person born overseas before 01 Jan 1983 to a father who was in
Crown Service at the time of their birth may have become a citizen
otherwise than by descent on 01 Jan 1983 with the introduction of the
British Nationality Act 1981. The father must have been recruited in
the UK to serve the British government overseas. In these
circumstances, citizenship can be passed on automatically to their
children born overseas after 01 Jan 1983.
* A child born overseas after 01 Jan1983 to a parent in Crown
Service will be a citizen otherwise than by descent and able to pass
on their status."
(SOURCE: "Who is eligible for a UK passport ",
<http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1109171564665>
)
However, you might be entitled to apply for an ancestry visa, which
excempts you from a work permit:
"You will qualify if you can show that:
* you are a Commonwealth citizen
* you are aged 17 or over
* you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, the Channel
Islands or the Isle of Man (see note below)
* you have a grandparent who was born in what is now the Republic
of Ireland before 31 March 1922 (see note below)
* you are able to work and intend to do so in the UK, and
* you can support yourself and any dependants, and live without
needing any help from public funds. "
(SOURCE: Guidance - UK Ancestry (INF 9),
<http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1109170249687>).
"After five years, you will be able to apply for permanent residence as long as:
* you continue to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules
for United Kingdom Ancestry, and
* you have spent five years in employment in the UK in this way,
without a break. "
(SOURCE: ibid).
So, how do you apply for ancestry visa?
- You need this form:
Application form VAF1 - non-settlement (PDF, 175K)
<http://uk.sitestat.com/fcoweb/brithighcomm/s?postcauk.kfile.nav_home.ser_services.ser_visa.serv_visaappldocreq.servisainfoleaflets.visainfoukancestry.VAF1_-_FEB_2006_revised3_0_pdf&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/VAF1%20-%20FEB%202006_revised3,0.pdf]>
You will need:
* Your passport or travel document.
* A recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), colour photograph of
yourself. This should be:
o taken against a light coloured background
o clear and of good quality, and not framed or backed
o printed on normal photographic paper, and
o full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head
covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons.
* The visa fee. This cannot be refunded, and you must normally pay
it in the local currency of the country where you are applying.
* Supporting documents relevant to your application:
[...]
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify
for entry to the UK through UK Ancestry. If you do not, we may refuse
your application.
As a guide, you should include:
* your full birth certificate
* your marriage certificate, if you are married, and
* the full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent
through whose ancestry you are making your application.
You will also need the marriage certificates of your parents and
grandparents, and legal adoption papers if you or your parents are
adopted.
(SOURCE: ibid).
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on this answer before you rate it. My search terms:
[british citizenship grandparents] |
