SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

FORM N-8A

NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION

FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8 (A) OF THE

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

The undersigned investment company hereby notifies the Securities and Exchange Commission that it registers under and pursuant to the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and in connection with such notification of registration submits the following information:

A.     Name:	Separate Account VA U
B.     Address of Principal Business Office (Number and Street, City, State, Zip Code):
	4333 Edgewood Road N.E.
	Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
C.     Telephone Number (including area code):
	(319) 297-8468
D.     Name and address of agent for service of process:
	Frank A. Camp, Esquire
	4333 Edgewood Road N.E.
	Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52499-0001
E.     Copy to:
	Frederick R. Bellamy, Esquire
	Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan
	1275 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
	Washington, D.C. 20004-2404
F.      Check Appropriate Box:

Registrant is filing a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 8(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 concurrently with the filing of Form N-8A:

Yes  x    No  ¨

Pursuant to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the sponsor of the Registrant has caused this notification of registration to be duly signed on behalf of the

Registrant in the City of Cedar Rapids, and State of Iowa this 5th day of September, 2003.

(SEAL)	Separate Account VA U
	(Name of Registrant)
	By:	Western Reserve Life
		Assurance Co. of Ohio
	(Name of Depositor)
	By:	/s/ Jerome C. Vahl
		Jerome C. Vahl
	Title:	President

ATTEST:

By:	/s/ Frank A. Camp
	Frank A. Camp Vice President Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio