Working Holiday Visa

Hey Guys... I need some advice, I am presently in Canada but thinking of moving to the UK in the spring... I was obviously thinking of using the W-H maker route in order to get my foot into the door. Are there possibilities of getting permanent residency while on working holiday or changing status? If so, what are the procedures... and even more importantly, what are the odds of it being possible.. (difficult or relatively simple?) thanks for any advice people! Thanks!

Joey

Joey - you need to apply in Canada to make a permanent residency in the UK. Same goes for the other way - anyone wanting to come to Canada has to go through the Cdn High Commission. I suggest you go to the British High Commission website or to their offices in Ottawa for guidance. If you have a jobskill they are searching for, then you can immigrate. If you have a grandparent who is/was british and you can prove it (long birth certificate), then you can get a visa which will allow you to reside in the UK.

If you are over here on a working holiday and your visa only states so, and you overstay your welcome, then the authorities have the right to deport you. If you want to stay in their goodbooks, and I assume you do and want to pay taxes etc, then go to the Home Office in Croydon to apply - though they may not be happy about it. Again, check the Home Office website for further info.

the above is my understanding, but immigration rules change - so keep up with the latest on the website and don't be afraid to ask them questions.

Jeggoes- Thanks for the info!

I checked out a few websites, and apparently rules for W-H visas have changed in 2003... it states that after 12months in the UK, "you may change your status to working visa holder"... which more or less what I'm looking for... residency will come with time. But my question is more... "what are the chances?" Sometimes they say one thing and truly mean another. Is changing status something that is relatively straight forward or will I perhaps need representation by an attorney? Thanks again for any input.

Well that is interesting, I was not aware that you could apply for a working visa after being in the UK for a year on a WH. Could you let me know where you saw that???

www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/working_in_th ... maker.html

check it out!