IMPORTANT UPDATE   15 October 2008

UK WORKING HOLIDAY VISA CHANGING TO YMS

Proposed Maintenance Requirement for Youth Mobility Scheme

In November 2008 the British Government will introduce Tier 5 of their points based immigration scheme. Tier 5 will see the introduction of a Youth Mobility Scheme which will replace categories of existing UK visa options including the current Working Holiday Maker (WHM) scheme.

Under the proposed visa applicants will need to meet 50 points with points awarded for age, being a national of a participating country (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan), and meeting the Maintenance Requirement.

*Proposed Maintenance Requirement:
Under the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, visas processed in November 2008, applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have held sufficient funds in savings to support themselves in the UK. To do so, they must provide specified documentation demonstrating that a sum of at least AUD$4, 500 has been held and maintained, as personal savings in a bank account over the three month period immediately preceding their application. The bank account must not have dropped below this figure at any time in the 3 months preceding an application.

Major proposed differences between YMS and the current WHM:
The main difference between the proposed YMS and the current WHM is that applicants will be able to undertake employment in the UK for as much of their stay as they wish. The current WHM only allows you to work for 50% of the time you spend in the UK on this visa.

Although these are only proposed changes and are subject to alteration any time prior to introduction in November 2008, it is recommended that you prepare yourself for the possibility of these changes. In preparation you should ensure that you hold sufficient funds in your account (AUD4,500) from now onwards (if you intend to apply for this visa late December 2008/early January 2009).

If you will not meet this requirement and you intend to travel to the UK prior to December then it is essential that we submit your application for a working holiday maker visa under the current legislation now!! To organise your working holiday visa please contact Visa First asap at 01 800 829 230