Hi all
I am moving to London on a UK Ancestral Visa. I'm on a South African passport.
I'd like to know the best way to go about travelling in and out of Europe during my stay. (Weekend trips, week holidays etc)
I'd like to have the freedom to go in and out of the UK but I'm not sure the best way to do it.
(Last time I got a Schengen visa for a holiday to Amsterdam, but that was only valid for 1 month)
Any advice would be really appreciated :)
I would have thought that when the visa was granted the conditions would have been made clear to you. No?
I suggest consulting the British Consulate-General in Cape Town, or an immigration lawyer who would know far better than we do.
To add to Nigel's comments, contact one of the consulates of one of the Schengen group as to their requirement.
Generally leave to settle in the UK gives visa waiver rights to move around the EU as an EU resident and vice versa, but generally is not always.
You would need to contact the UK authorities about what the visa gives you in the United Kingdom and then a Schengen group country's authorities about how it would cover you.
Visa questions aside, the fastest route from London to either Paris or Brussels is by Eurostar train in 2.5 hours; book well ahead (preferably weeks or months ahead) for the best prices. To and from any other destination on the Continent, flying is likely to be both faster and cheaper, but also with the best fares usually booked in advance; see www.skyscanner.com. For train ticket discounts within Britain, see tips at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/britain-rail-passes#ticket-tips.
As I understand it a UK Ancestry Visa on its own does not change the requirement to obtain a Schengen visa if your nationality requires one. What it does enable you to do is apply from the UK.
After you have been in the UK for 5 years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Confirm with someone expert in the field though.
