Do they do credit checks apon applying for an UK ancestral VISA before leaving South Africa?
Going on what you are saying you could run into trouble. One of the documents you have to provide is bank statements. If you are in a position of being unable to make ends meet at the moment, how can you still pay them off and work in another country unless of course you get a highly skilled job where you would be paid enough. If you came on a visitors visa you would not be allowed to transfer your status to an ancesty visa. (2nd link) What supporting documents should I include with my application? As a guide you should also include: ~Proof of funds (e.g. bank statements, covering a period of at least three months with name and account balance. You should also include an explanation of any large deposits into your account); ~Your full, original birth certificate; ~The full, original birth certificate of the relevant parent; ~The full, original birth certificate of the relevant UK born grandparent (paternal or maternal). Details for obtaining British birth, marriage and death certificat
