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Working holiday visas change back to 2 years under Tier 5 scheme July 08 |
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Up until now the Two Year Working Holiday Visa has restricted nannies to working a maximum of 12 months on their two year visa. However this is set to change soon as the government impliments the new Tier Visa System.
Under the new system the Working Holiday Visa is to be replaced with the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa, which allows candidates to work the full two years of their visa. The new system will be in place in August/ September 08.
For candidates who are still based in Oz/ NZ it may be worth waiting to apply for your visa until the changes have come into place, as you will not be able to switch from a Working Holiday Visa to a Tier 5 Visa.
Eligibility: You must be aged between 18 and 30, and you must not have previously held a UK working holiday visa.
Other requirements:
This is a points–based visa. To be eligible you must accrue 50 points. 30 points will be awarded for a sponsorship certificate from your home country (Australians and New Zealanders are likely to be made exempt from this); 10 points will be awarded for being aged between 18 and 30; and 10 points will be awarded for having £1600 in savings (which you will have to show proof of in the form of bank statements etc).
Existing working holiday makers (or those who have previously held a UK working holiday visa) cannot switch to, or apply for, the UK Youth Mobility Visa.
Restrictions: You can work in any lawful job for two years, but cannot work as a professional sportsperson, a doctor in training, or set yourself up in business. You must leave the UK at the end of your two year visa, and if you would like to apply for a Tier 1 (highly skilled) or Tier 2 (sponsorship) visa, you will have to do so from your home country.
Cost: There has been no information released yet as to how much the UK Youth Mobility Visa will cost.
Important note for South Africans: The British government will only let young people from countries with similar working holiday agreements to come to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme. Unfortunately, South Africa does not have a working holiday scheme for young British people in place, so it is unlikely South Africans will be eligible for the Youth Mobility Visa unless a scheme is introduced.
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