Unpaid internship - WHM VISA?

HI,

I entered the UK on a WHM in Feb 2007. I worked for a year and in June 2008 came back to Canada while my employers applied for a work permit. Unfortunately the work permit was declined. They might appeal because I was honestly the most qualified person to do the job. However, I want to make sure I have other options as I live in London with my British boyfriend and do not want to move back just yet.

We have not been living together for 2 years yet (that will be in Feb 09) so for now I can not apply as an unmarried partner VISA. In the meantime, would I be able to take on an unpaid internship until Feb 09 or does that count as "work" under the WHM? As I have already used up my one year of work, I do not want to take on a role which would get me into trouble.

Any advice would be much appreciated - I am really upset at the work permit not coming through but need to think of alternatives now

Hi ellis_mo,

I'm sorry that I can't offer you advice on your visa, but I am personally applying for the WHM visa and will be leaving in Jan/Feb and am wondering how your experience was, finding a job, a place to live, settling in, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Sorry about the work permit-- I'm sure there's another way that you can stay!

-heather

hi heather
I'd be glad to share my experience with you, I'm not sure how helpful it is though!
I had already been to the UK on a semester abroad while I was at uni. I met by boyfriend in London during this time. I came back to Montreal to finish my degree and then went back in Feb 07. Since i had my bf, I moved in with him in a town called Swindon. Swindon is not particularly nice so we moved to Reading, which is about 30 min from london. It was pretty easy to find our flat, rent was about 700 a month.
Finding a job though was really tough. It depends what you're looking for. I graduated in Marketing, with the highest GPA in my business school, good work experience, lots of extracurricals, etc. Still, because work is limited to 1 year, no one wanted to hire me. Eventually though, 3 mths later, I found a job in London.

I moved to London a few months after with my bf. again finding a flat was no problem, rent is a lot, but so is commuting if you're not working in hte same place you're living! The company i was working for was really keen to get me a work permit. Unfortunately as i said, it didnt work out. It's just one of those things.

In terms of settling in, I fond it much easier to adapt to life in London than to the other towns I was in, Swindon and Reading. i find london is just full of people who might be new to the city, have diverse interests etc.It was much harder to meet people in the other places.

i hope this helps!