New restrictions on working-holidaymaker visa program

[Blue and White Army]

Wow, anyone notice the recent changes to the working-holidaymaker visa program?

What was once a completely unrestricted two years has now been changed to only being able to work for 12 of the 24 months.

Glad I got mine last year!

[maudelynn]

Yeah, this has really screwed me over. How am I supposed to support myself for the other 12 months? I will only be able to stay for a year, now. This is awful.

Why did they change it?

[Brenda]

I can only guess it might because the EU expanded last year and the government could be trying to restrict immigration in areas where it still exercises sole jurisdiction.... those areas outside the EU.

[CanuckAbroad]

Is it possible to renew after that 12 months though?

[Blue and White Army]

Nope, this visa cannot be renewed. You're only allowed to use it once in your life.

It had recently been (and still is?) possible to "switch" to a work permit from a working-holidaymaker visa after being present in the UK for one year, as long as you had a semi-decent job... but this was being abused, so I think this feature will be restricted/removed soon as well. There were a few minor restrictions added to "switching" in 2004, and I have a feeling it may be stopped altogether later this year.

If the Tories win the May 5 election, expect "switching" to be a thing of the past, and the working-holidaymaker visa may even go back to the old rules of people not being able to work in their area of expertise (aka the "you're only allowed to be a secretary or pull pints for your colonial masters" visa).

[Brenda]

Here's some information I found on this subject.

Note: On 7th February 2005, the British Home Office announced important changes to this working holiday visa.

The old system: under the old working holiday scheme, visa holders could work in the UK for the entire 2 years of their stay.

What's new: working holiday makers can only be employed in the UK for a total of 12 of the 24 months duration of their visa. You can work for twelve months straight and travel for 12 months, or you can work for several different periods of time in the UK as long as the total does not exceed 12 months.

Note on Type of Work: it does not appear that the changes have restricted the type of work that a working holiday visa holder can undertake. While you must take work that is only ‘incidental to your holiday’ there is nothing in the changes to say that this work cannot be in your profession (as per the pre-June 2003 rules stated).

These changes came into effect on 8th February 2005. If you held an approved working holiday visa before 8th February 2005 but had not entered the UK yet, you will enter the UK under the old rules (i.e. you can work for the entire duration of your visa, there is no restriction in that regard). If you have submitted an application but have not yet received approval, you will be subject to the new restrictions and be able to work only for one year in total.


http://www.workgateways.com/working-uk-visas.html

And some additional information:


Extension of the upper age limit on the Working Holiday Visa from 27 years inclusive to 30 years inclusive.

Removal of restrictions on type and duration of work undertaken in the UK.

Holders of a UK Working Holiday Visa now have an option of switching to work permit employment after 12 months, upon meeting certain criteria.

http://www.workgateways.com/working-visa-faqs.html

Although, unhelpfully "certain criteria" is not defined.

[Susie D]

The "certain criteria" for switching to a work permit are quite extensive. I'm switching right now, and it's a headache. My employer has to apply on my behalf - I can't do it for them. They have to prove that they've advertised the position to the public (largely a formality), and that you're not taking a job off a British national. So they have to be able to prove that you're not only qualified for your position, but that you're UNIQUELY qualified. I have to provide a copy of my BA, any other certificates I have, including my specialist software certificate. They also have to fill out extensive forms explaining my past experience (3 years minimum), and any special skills I have. Also, I have to try to get my hands on some reference letters from past employers for the past 3 years proving that I have that 3 years' related experience.

After all of that, I have to be out of the country when they apply, and come back in with my work permit, which they have to mail to an address outside the UK. Since I'm only applying for a 6-month work permit, I can be anywhere outside the country (sunny Italy in my case) for 2 weeks. But if you're applying for a longer work permit, you have to go back home and get an entry clearance back in Canada and enter the UK with both your entry clearance and your work permit.

*catches breath* So it seems like a great idea, to come over here and "just switch" to a work permit, but it's harder than it sounds. Still possible, but a headache.

[Brenda]

I recently met a fellow canuck whose work permit had been filled out incompletely by his UK employer. Upon his arrival to Heathrow, he was put in immigration detention for five hours and then sent straight back to Canada. He had to deal with the Canadian government and get all the necessary paperwork again. He was back in the UK the following week. Crazy!