Over 3 years ago I posted about how to apply for a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa (previously called the working holiday visa) as an Australian. I’d struggled with finding the correct information so thought to share my experience with the world in the hopes it would help somebody else. The response to my posts has been nothing short of amazing since then so to all of you who’ve joined the discussing by leaving a comment and providing more information as the process has changed I can’t thank you enough.
With so many comments full of great information I’ve decided to pull the best bits out and bring them together into one easy to read Ultimate Reference Guide on the Youth Mobility Visa. If you have a question that’s not answered by the below please leave a comment and I’ll get it answered.
To get this underway lets run over the application process as a few things have changed and I want you all to understand whats required to apply for the Tier 5 UK Visa or working holiday as it was once called.
Youth Mobility Visa – Working Holiday Visa Guide
Eligibility Requirements
- Available to anyone from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Monaco, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Republic of Korea. (link)
- Must be over the age of 18 and under 31 years of age at the time of application. (link)
- Have £1,890 Pounds (Approx $3490 AUD as of 18th April 2016) in available funds at the time of applying. (link)
- You must apply for the visa outside of the UK or from a country where you have citizenship or a valid visa that allows you to live/work there (link)
Costs
- The Application cost for the Youth Mobility Visa is £230 Pounds (Approx $ 221 AUD as of 18th April 2016) (link)
- If applying from Brisbane, Canberra or Perth there will also be an application fee to pay of $105 AUD at the time of your biometric appointment
- To have your passport couriered back to you once it’s approved you can pay $24 AUD otherwise it needs to be collected from the office where you had your biometrics taken
Application Documents Required
- Complete application form online
or download and complete with a pen(offline applications are no longer accepted you must apply online) - Passport sized recent color photo (link)
- Original proof of funds document. This is recommended to be an official bank statement but a letter from your bank printed on their letterhead and stamped will also be ok. It must included your name, account number, date, balance in excess of £1890 pounds and logo from your bank. (link and link)
Completed Appendix 7 Form (link)– Seems to have been made redundant with the new online application process- Valid Passport for the duration of your visa period with a free page for the visa to be stuck on
- Completed IHS Healthcare form and paid the fee of up to £300 for 2 years in the UK. (link).
All the above needs to be original documents meaning no photocopies, eftpos receipts or falsified paperwork.
Application Process
The whole process starts with filling out the online application form. Most of this is fairly straight forward asking for details about you. As part of the application process you’ll get to pick the start date for when your visa will begin. Keeping in mind that this date must be within 3 months of when you are completing your application. So if you intend to arrive in the UK on the 1st September you’ll need to be applying for the visa no earlier than the 1st June of the same year.
Once completed you’ll be given the option to pick a time to attend your biometric appointment. This appointment is required for them to collect a copy of your finger prints which will be used when arriving in the UK on your visa. You’ll be asked to give (usually one finger) them when being processed by customs. The entire appointment takes all of about 30-45 minutes ( be there 15 minutes early) and you will need to bring with you the following documents:
- Completed and printed online application form
- bank statement and other supporting documents required for the application
- Passport photo meeting above mentioned specifications
- Appointment booking confirmation letter
- Passport
- IHS Reference Number
- A second valid form of ID like a drivers licence
Before you attend your biometric appointment you’ll need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS). This is referenced as an IHS form. The first step is to run through this checklist to see if you need to pay a fee or not IHS healthcare checklist. If you are from Australia or New Zealand as of the 6th April 2016 you now need to pay a fee if you intend to live in the UK for longer than 6 months. The total fee is £300 to cover 2 years living in the UK.
To get your IHS reference number you need to go to this application page and click start now at the bottom. Follow the prompts and upon completion you will be emailed an IHS reference number that you should write down on your printed visa application. I’d also advise you to print off the email and take it to your biometric appointment as well due to how new this option is, it may save you some stress that way.
The biometric appointment process changed in late March 2014 and is now handled by a 3rd party visa processing company called VFS Global (except for in Adelaide which uses the old system). On attending one of their centers you’ll collect a token and wait for your turn to be called.
When called you will have your paperwork checked, pay your booking fee if applying in Brisbane, Canberra or Perth and then given a receipt which you need to keep for pickup of your passport if collecting it. At this time you can also pay to have your passport couriered back to you instead of returning to the processing office to collect it.
The second step is to have your fingerprints taken and have a digital photo of yourself taken, before they take all of your documents send if off on your behalf for processing. There is no need to provide your own envelopes for processing as the visa office is responsible for sending off and getting your passport back.
If applying in Adelaide then please follow the steps below, all others are to abide by the above.
You’ll leave the biometric appointment with a stamped application form and documentation on where to post your completed application and supporting documents off to. At last check you have 14 days from your biometric appointment to get your documents in the post to be processed.
It is advised to post your documents off in a platinum express post envelope and to included a second one for posting back to you. Take note of the tracking numbers on the envelopes for your own reference.
The above is a general overview for the entire application process. There have been major changes to the process this year (2014) with a revamped UK visa website and new processing options for applying. While I do my best to provide the most accurate information it is not always possible. If you notice a mistake or have details that can help others please leave a comment and I’ll update my records.
The Youth Mobility Visa FAQ
To make life easier I’ve also hand-picked a selection of questions and problems others have experienced and outlined them all below to save you trawling through over 500 comments.
Is the online application process confusing you?
In the last few weeks of 2013 the UKBA office rolled out a beta version of the new online application process. This has been met with quite a bit of confusion as sections of the application process have changed or aren’t being accepted correctly, which can be confusing if you’ve been researching the process online.
The problems I’m currently aware of are:
You receive an error when clicking Book Appointment – This error seems to have no solution other than to try and lodge your application again with a different email address.
UK Phone number being listed where your Australian one should be – This seems common and an obvious bug in the system, you can either leave it as is or hand write in the correct number. I imagine this will be fixed soon.
Your biometric appointment time is booked for say 2pm but it shows at 1pm on your letter – A fix seems to go back in and pick it again otherwise just turn up early so you don’t miss it.
I don’t have a UK Address or Phone Number
The new application form now ask for a UK phone number and address of you when applying. As you are yet to arrive in the UK I think this is beyond stupid to ask for but there you go. My advice is to put down the address and phone number of the place you intend to stay on arrival in the UK. This address will also form part of the where you will collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) from so be careful putting down just any address.
Not sure what a question is asking?
The Youth Mobility Visa form can be confusing so be sure to read the Guidance Notes provided by the UKBA office for help in deciphering exactly what they are asking for. This document lists notes for all questions asked on the forms to help you complete them.
How many points did you score for Attributes, English, and Maintenance?
On the application form you are asked for the number of points for Attributes, English and Maintenance. The English section does not need to be completed as it does not apply to this visa type. To calculate the numbers for the other box’s use the points calculator on the UKBA website or refer to your Appendix 7 form and get the numbers from that.
Can I fast track or get priority processing of my visa?
With the new changes to the visa process you can now apply to fast track your visa application. Costs to get priority visa processing are £100 for non-settlement applications and £300 for settlement ones. I believe this visa falls under the non-settlement category but can not confirm this.
To order priority processing of your visa you need to purchase it before attending your biometric appointment. To order the service you need to do so on this page. Then take the receipt of payment along to your biometric appointment for processing.
They aim to process all non-settlement applications within 5 days and settlement applications within 10. Again I believe this visa falls under the non-settlement category but can not confirm.
This service is not available to people attending an appointment in Adelaide.
Is there a biometric appointment office near me?
Processing offices for the biometric appointment are as below. Of note that all but Adelaide are run by VFS Global.
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Canberra
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Adelaide
The address’ for these offices can be found here. If you don’t live near one of these offices then you’ll need to make the trip by land, sea or air to have your visa processed.
Do I post my application form off before the biometric appointment?
No you do not, even though the application form seems to suggest you should. You no longer post your application at all unless applying from Adelaide. All other applications are left with the visa office after your biometric appointment.
Where do I post my completed application to?
You only post your application if applying from Adelaide, all other applications are given to the VFS Global staff. The address to send your application to is:
UK Border Agency
GPO Box 2718
Sydney NSW 2001
It will then be forwarded to the processing hub in Manilla.
How long does the visa take to process?
Given my experience and feedback from others it takes anywhere between 1 – 4 weeks (usually within 2 though) from the time you post it. The processing times do vary depending on the time of year as well so recommend you check with the UKBA website here for a detailed listing of processing times.
However it seems with the new visa processing procedure a 2-3 weeks estimate seems correct at the moment.
I’ve not received any confirmation from the processing center, I’ve received one email, I’ve received nothing from the processing center?
The visa processing center has a history of not updating you on the process of your visa. Some people have reported getting emails to say their application was received, processed and shipped back while others have received nothing at all. You need not fear, there has never been a case of someones application form getting lost that I am aware of and most find their passport arrives the day after they freak out. All I can suggest is a little patience.
I have a question about the visa process who can I call or email?
You can contact the visa authority on 1300UKVISA ( 1300 858 472) but keep in mind this is a charged call of $3.50/minute and only payable via credit card. There is also an email address at [email protected] that advises you’ll receive a response within 10 days. Full details on calling for help can be found here.
Can I cancel my visa application?
If you’ve applied for your visa early or simply don’t want to go ahead with it you can cancel under certain circumstances. Refunds only seem possible if you’ve not attended your biometrics appointment yet. To cancel your visa go to the refund request page on the UKBA website and complete the form. You then wait 14 days to find out if you were successful.
Can I apply outside of Australia?
This seems to be possible but appears to be something new as previous documentation I’d read suggested you couldn’t. By visiting this section of the UKBA website you can select different countries around the world that accept visa processing. From what I can tell it will allow you to apply for a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa wherever there is a processing center providing you have a valid working visa with at least 6 months validity on it to be in that country.
When does the visa start?
You can pick the start date for your visa yourself during your application online but keep in mind it must be within 3 months of your application date. If you intend to travel around Europe before the start of your visa then you will be applying for your visa closer to the time in which you intended to fly out of Australia or allowing it to start before you get there meaning you miss some of the 2 years it is valid for.
When should the bank statement or letter be dated?
Your bank statement needs to be dated within 30 days of applying for the visa. So if you were to apply for the visa on the 1st of June your bank statement or letter must be dated after the 1st of May. The statement or letter must also show you have the total amount of funds required to meet the application requirements for the youth mobility visa.
The application form asks for my previous passports but I’ve lost it?
If you’ve had a children’s passport or an adult one and can no longer find it just state that on the form. If you have the passports great otherwise noting its lost seems to be perfectly acceptable.
Is this the same as the working holiday visa?
The working holiday visa was renamed to the youth mobility visa. During that change they also adjusted the conditions of the visa allowing you to live and work for the full 2 years of the visa where as before you could only work for 1 year.
What does family name mean?
The application will refer to your mother/fathers family name, this is asking about their maiden name.
Do I need a UK address or itinerary to apply?
Previously you did not need an UK address but on the new application form you are required to give one. You do not however need an itinerary when applying for the youth mobility visa. You will need to give a UK address to the customs officials upon entry into the UK. It is a requirement for all people entering the UK when completing the landing card.
Do I need to buy a return ticket?
There is no need to buy a return ticket when entering the UK on the Tier 5 youth mobility visa. With this visa you are essentially considered a citizen of the UK for the duration of the visa.
Will this visa let me stay in Europe for longer than 3 months?
The visa is only valid within the UK which encompasses England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island. When travelling to Europe and in particular the countries that form the schengen zone you are only permitted to visit them for a period of 90 days within a 180 day period.
Will this visa let me work in Europe?
You will not be able to work for any company outside of the UK on this visa.
Can I enter the UK before my visa starts?
Yes but you will be entering on a tourist visa and as such are restricted to its limitations such as not being able to work. After your visa start date you should look to leave the country and re-enter on your youth mobility visa.
What if I have a DUI or criminal conviction?
During the application process you will be asked if you have any criminal convictions, this does not included fixed fines such as speeding or parking tickets unless you were required to attend court. If you have had a drink driving conviction or similar it is advised you included all paperwork when sending off your documents.
The visa office does perform criminal record checks so failing to document your record could be a reason for denying you a visa or them deferring your application until you offer more documentation to the entry clearance officer. To save potential problems it is recommended to get a print out of your court documents/extract, police reports and other supporting evidence including proof you’ve paid any fines associated with the incidents.
You are only provided a short time to provide this information if they request it so its better to have it all before you apply to save on missing out.
What is the BRP (biometric residence permit) and how do I get it?
From the 31st of May 2015 the visa office changed the visa permit process and introduced a biometric residence permit you collect once you’ve arrived in the UK. Full details on the BRP can be viewed on the UK website here
The short(ish) version of what this means is you now must enter the UK within 30 days of your noted start date for the visa. This is instead of being issued a sticker in your passport valid for the full 2 years. Now you now get issued a 30 day vignette which allows entry to the UK under your visa for a period of 30 days to collect your BRP card. If you arrive after that initial 30 day period you need to apply for another 30 day vignette (unsure of any fees or process to do this at the current point in time).
Once your visa is granted you’ll be provided with a decision letter stating at which post office and when you can collect your biometric residence permit card from. This is likely to be the closest post office to your noted address you used on the application. Please note the UK website states that you may get a penalty or your leave can be cancelled if you don’t pick up your BRP within 10 days of your arrival in the UK.
If you have queries about your BRP card or misplace documents needed to collect it you can refer to the following site for details https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/need-brp.
At this point in time I’m yet to speak to anybody who has obtained their visa and collected a BRP card so am unable to verify any of the details above and provide it as reference only. There has been some great discussions in the comments below so if you have been issued a visa under the new process I’d love for you to leave a comment below to help others out that are looking to apply.
UPDATE 06/07/2015
An amazing follower named Mirabai has done some digging on the BRP process and found out what you do if you are unable to claim the permit within the 30 day window and received the following details from the United Kingdom Visas and Immigrations International Enquiry Service.
If the applicant has been granted a 30 day vignette and fails to enter theUK within the 30 day validity period, they must make an application for a replacement 30 day vignette by applying for a Transfer of Conditions, not as a new application for leave to enter. Application can be completed online on Visa4UK and it costs £122 to transfer your visa.
On Visa4UK website at: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk, you need to select the Visa Type accordingly:
Reason for Visit: Other
Visa Type: Others
Visa Sub Type: Vignette TransferFurther information regarding biometric residence permit can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-residence-permits-overseas-applicant-and-sponsor-information.
So it seems if you don’t enter within that 30 day window your visa can become quite the bit more expensive. A real issue for those of you applying to get in before the age limit or those unable to travel over as planned.
Do you have a question not already answered above? Then leave a comment below and I’ll try and find the answer for you as soon as possible.
Thank you for putting in the time and effort to produce this update. I’m planning on heading to the UK on a Youth Mobility Visa in October and this could not come at a better time! The last version was a little confusing but this is really great. Thanks so much! 🙂
Hi MJ, yes the last version had evolved over time and the high comment count had begun to make it difficult for people to follow. Hopefully this new update lays everything out and makes it all easy to understand. If you have any problems be sure to leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help.
Hi Aussie Nomad
I had an ancestry visa in my passport which was recently stolen I am having trouble trying to find out how I can get it back. I am travelling through Europe now and plan to go back to the UK, I have tried emailing the UKborder agency with no luck all they seem to do is refer me to a different part of their website which I am having trouble understanding what form I need to fill out. Is there a simple way at all? all I need is another copy of my visa in my new passpot.
Hi Dan, with thanks to CC who commented further down I think I have an answer for you.
You will need to contact the UK visa office and apply for the TOC application (Transfer Of Conditions). That’s what CC did as his passport had been stolen with their YMV in it, imaging its the same thing you need as well. The number for the UK office is: 0870 606 7766.
Hope that helps.
Hi Aussie nomad,
I had my passport stolen in Italy with my yms visa in it. The number listed below for uk visa services is no longer working. I am keen to start looking for work but think recruiters /employers won’t speak with me until they sight my visa. Do you think it would be possible to apply for my visa to be put into my emergency passport that I got from the aus embassy in Rome or do you think they would need a proper passport just I am in the he process of applying for?
Hi Christian, thanks for letting me know about the phone number. The visa processes have changed a lot in the last little while so keeping everything updated is difficult.
You won’t be able to get the visa stamp in your temporary passport so I’d wait till you have a new one. To then get the visa stamped into your passport you’d need to contact the UK immigration folks over there to see about getting one issued for you. To contact someone try this website and see how you get on:
https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/
hi there.
This is URGENT. as are most requests on here.
i turn 31 in 7 days. and i’ve just seen my Nz passport has expired just last month, i’m now in a juggle between having my new passport number sent to me once it is processed to then complete my Tier 5 application online, to then get a biometrics appointment before i turn 31. In 7 days.
it is in-fact true that my age is taken into account as of the moment it is stamped at my biometrics appointment and in no way before? like the time i started working/saving my application online?
is there anyway i can submit my application without a valid passport and generate a biometrics appointment (i live in Melbourne) with the promise i will have my new passport for them in time to bring along?
how long generally is the biometrics appointment set from the time of completing the application online.
Hi Gregg, apologies for not getting to this sooner for you. You need to have applied and sent off your paperwork (including passport) as far as I know to make it before you birthday and have the visa granted but I don’t know that for sure. The other theory going around is the visa needs to be started before you turn 31. All I can say is if you do get approved for the visa I’d love to know to help others like you.
Nothing is official until you’ve paid your fee so the date you started your application won’t count I’m afraid, that I do know. The biometric appointments can normally be taken quite soon after but have seen some people had to wait a few days, if you pay for priority I believe you can jump the line.
Hi Gregg
Speaking from my experience (and what I have posted on here previously), I think that as long as your biometric appointment is before you turn 31, then it doesn’t matter if you are 31 by the time the Visa actually starts. I had my biometrics appointment close to my 31st birthday and they still let me forward date my Visa by the maximum three months (Biometrics appointment on 12 April, turned 31 on 27 May and Visa start date was 12 July). I am in the UK now so I didn’t have any problems getting in!
I’m not sure about the passport issue that you have, though. I guess that’s the unknown. But if you’ll definitely have it before your biometric appointment then it might be fine? Not sure.
Another data point on whether you can forward date past your 31st birthday. I had my biometrics appointment a week before my 31st birthday and received my youth mobility visa just after I turned 31 with a visa forward dated by 3 months. Thanks to the Aussie nomad for running this site!
Hi Mike, thanks for the details on getting the visa so close to your 31st bday. Thats really helpful and seems you just need to have applied for the visa before your birthday to be safe.
Hi Aussie Nomad – same experience for me. I turn 31 at the start of August and have just received my visa and forward dated it to October 2015. I would recommend you update the item about turning 31 within the body of this page. It completely freaked me out when I read it at first! I would hate for someone else to have that same reaction. Thank you for creating this site – it has proved very useful in planning.
Hi Amelia, I’ve reworded the text slightly. Up until recently I could not confirm that applying and having your visa start date after your 31st birthday was possible hence the conservative wording.
Hi there,
I used the youth mobility visa in 2012 and am wondering can I reapply for it in a few years?
Hi Liv, I’m afraid you can only use the visa once so you can’t reapply.
Hello! If you are to get sponsored by a company to continue working post the two years, Are you able to stay in the UK?
-S
Hi Sandra, if you get sponsored you are able to stay but you will have to return to Australia to apply for the sponsored visa.
Is there any minimum time between completing a YMV stay and applying for a teir 2 (inter-company) visa?
Thanks for the great information!
Hi Steve, I’m afraid I’ve no idea on that one. I’d imagine however you could apply for another visa straight after your YMV visa expires as I don’t know why there would be a waiting period.
Hey!!
Thanks so much for all the info, I’ve just moved to london yesterday! but Im having trouble trying to figure out if i need to register with the police or not?
I have an aussie passport and just have the youth mobility visa, do you know anything about registering with the police? there are no numbers where there are real people who can help you!!
Thanks!
Sharla
Hi Sharla, I’ve never seen anybody register with the police once abroad so I wouldn’t worry too much. Maybe register with the OZ embassy so they know you are in that part of the world but otherwise you should be all good.
Please Help!
I’m currently stressing out. I filled out my visa application a month ago and i have my appointment tomorrow. I didn’t have the correct funds in the bank on the date of application but i have the correct amount now for the date of my appointment. Should i cancel and start over again or just explain my mistake when i get to my appointment.
Thankyou
Hi Mel, as long as you have proof the funds are in your account and in your name all should be ok. Do you have a bank statement or a letter from the bank stating you have the money?
Thank you so much for the reply.
Yes i have 1800 pounds in my account right now and a bank statement showing this, all in my name.
I’m just concerned because i didn’t have 1800 pound in my account on the day i submitted my application online (8th March) but i have the 1800 pound in my account now to show at my interview tomorrow.
So stressful
I’m sure they won’t be to worried as you have the money there and I know others have applied without the funds in their account at time of application.
Mel did your bank statement get accepted when you went for your biometric appointment? I am in the same boat as you and just want to check.
Morgan and Mel,
I know this post is old but how did you guys go? Did you get accepted. I did the same thing
Hi, I have got my visa stamped & it starts from April this year but I want to delay entry by few months from starting date. Within how many months from start date, I have to enter UK?
Hi AD. Your visa will start on the date stamped on it in your passport no matter when you get to the UK. You can come and go as much as you like during the visa time period so there is no requirement to enter the UK by a certain date. The only thing you’ll miss out on is spending the full 2 years in the UK.
Hey there again you guys must be sick of my posts all the time. So I sent the application last week and all seemed good but like an asshole I put my arrival date for the 17 apr when I meant to put it for 30 may so I could spent a bit of time with my fam in brissy before I head off. I didnt wanna cancel the app and re do it cos im turning 31 soon. Ive got the biometric appt in a few days time. Can I stil arrive in the uk on the 30 may or would it have to be earlier cos I know u gotta collect that brp card but im confused whether its within 10 or 30 days
Hi I’m a little worries I buggered my application up – I have done a lot of travelling when younger but genuinely could not remember all the countries and dates travelled so have missed a fair chunk of places visited. Are you aware of this being a major issue?!? Thanks so much for this too – huge help!
Hi Cat, the listing of countries is a new addition to the application process so its hard to say how strict they are. But from what I’ve seen as long as you can list as much as you know all should be fine.
Hi Cat I can’t believe I finally found someone asking the question I’ve been trying to find an answer for! Can you please tell me how you went with your application? I would need to guess some dates as there are not stamps in my passport for everything…there are entry stamps into countries but not always exit stamps. Please any help much appreciated!
Hey Aussie nomad I have a question about my visa. Originally I was supposed to fly to the UK on the 18th June 2014 but due to a family member putting my passport through the wash yesterday it seems as though this won’t happen. I have to ask you if you know anything about my current visa still being valid on the new passport I plan to get or will I have to go through a big headache again?? Will they be able to look it up on file? If you could give me any advice I would really appreciate it your blog has helped me a lot so far too thanks
Hi James, thats terrible luck about your passport. You can get a rush on a new passport but I think I’m a bit late to be telling you that. For the visa I’d carry your washed passport with you as proof of the visa in your passport otherwise you’ll have to get the stamp replaced and that can be difficult and very expensive. See here for details on transferring your stamp https://www.gov.uk/transfer-visa. So hopefully your old passport stamp is still readable.
Hey! Just wondering my boyfriend is on a tier 5 working visa. He is working for a uk company and they want him to work in Holland. Is this possible since he will still be working and getting paid from a UK company? Thanks 🙂
Hi Gemma, the visa only allows him to work in the UK it doesn’t provide any coverage for outside of the country even if he’s still getting paid by a UK company.
Hey Gemma,
I’m in the same position that your boyfriend is in. A UK owned company wants me to work at their France based chalet. Did your partner have to get a separate Visa?
I’m so confused!
Thanks for any help. 🙂
Hi Aussie Nomad – I just wanted to reiterate MJ’s point… This is the best resource I’ve found on the UK Youth Mobility Visa and it’s been a relief and very helpful! Thanks for your careful and thorough overview.
Thanks JW, appreciate the kind words. It’s hard keeping up with everybodies comments at times but hopefully its helpful to anybody looking to apply.
Hi, Just wondering if you need to be 18 to apply or just be turning 18 before your travel date? Thanks
Hi Cecilia, you do need to be 18 to apply for the visa yes.
Hi,
I am wondering if it is possible to change the start date of the visa once we’ve applied for it and also its ready to be collected at the application centre. I haven’t used the visa yet nor picked it up. I want to change the start date to a later date, because i now find i cant travel and will lost alot of months off the 2 years. Thank you
Hi Nina, if the visa has been granted and your passport has been sent away then I’m afraid you are unable to change the date. If you are yet to pay the fee and submit your application then you can still change it.
Hi there, just a quick one about the youth mobility visa are there any restrictions on how many hours or months you can work while in the uk?
Hi Sarah, nope no restrictions. It used to be you could only work for 12 months of the 24 month period but that’s now been removed.
hi am from canada can you please tell me how to apply where to send the application
Hi,
I changed my Biometric appointment and it didn’t show on the application which I didn’t noticed then missed my Biometric. Does this mean I have to pay for a new application?
I just can’t see anywhere to get a new date.
Hi Jess, I’d login to the online application again and see if you can book another appointment from there. If you are applying from Perth, Brisbane or Canberra you could be charged again but I really don’t know.
If you can’t re-book from there you’ll need to contact the visa offices on the details I’ve provided above.
Hello,
I am flying into paris on 23rd december and a few days later getting a train into london before starting a contiki on the 28th. contiki finishes mid jan which is when i plan on starting to look for work/accom
Can i put my start date for whence contiki finishes or would i have to put it starting those few days before contiki when i actually head to london for the first time?
thanks
Hi James, your start date can be up to 3 months out from when you apply for the visa so you can put your start date for when you finally head to London to look for work just be sure to apply say mid November so that the timeline matches up for you.
my sister lives in london. could i go visit her and apply in london while i am visiting? i am a canadian citizen but traveling south east asia currently. thanks
Hi Cole, you have to apply from a country in which you have permission to live and work. You also cannot apply for the visa within the UK I’m afraid.
Hi,
I was wandering if granted and everything goes well and you have 2 years in the UK, are you able to leave the country for example (come back home to visit australia) then re-enter the UK obviously still during the 2 year visa? Also what is the maximum time you can leave for?
Regards,
Tony.
Hi Tony, you can come and go as much as you like within the 2 year period.
Very helpful!
I’m very worried about this process and was considering signing up with Britbound, a program who helps you with your visa application and sorting out money transfers, opening up a UK bank etc. Do you have any advise about opening up a UK bank account and money transfers?
Also I note you said that all documentation has to be original….does that count if I download a bank statement online and print it out or must it be mailed by the bank?
Jen
Hi Jen, I honestly think you’d be better off saving your money and going through the process yourself. Applying for the visa is extremely easy and I hope with what I’ve written above it now makes the process even easier.
For the documents, no you can’t simply print something off online. It needs to be an original statement send from the bank. Its to save from people trying to forge their documents and prove they have more money than they really do.
For the bank account etc I’ve also written content up about moving to london which should answer most of your other questions I hope.
Hope that helps.
You can print the bank statement off from your computer but you must then take it inot the bank and the bank then
must stamp with their original bank stamp and initial of the teller
Good tips. I came to the UK on a tier 5 visa 4 years ago (now on an ancestry visa). I have an Aussie passport but did my application in NZ as i moved there – very fast, easy and i had no problems (so, yes, you can apply outside of Aus, as long as there’s a visa processing centre). Also as i think the volume of people applying is less than in Oz, my biometric appointment could be booked very soon after. All up they told me a wait of 5-12 weeks – i got everything back in 4. Funnily enough my ancestry visa took 5 days to approve!
Hi Bek, thanks for confirming about being able to apply for the visa outside of Australia. For the longest time I always thought you could only apply from OZ but seems I’d had that wrong.
And so jealous of your ancestry visa, I’m jumping all over the place to avoid visa issues in Europe these days.
Hi
just wanted to clarify a couple points. do I need to attach any documents to my online application. If I put down the 9th of April as the esstimated date of arrival do I have to be in the uk before this date or can I enter after this date?
Hi Ilona, you don’t upload anything when applying but you do need to provide additional documents as mentioned above when you post off the application.
As for the arrival date you need to arrive on or after that day, if you come in before you’ll need to leave and re-enter to activate your stay on your visa.
Hi
I am looking at getting this visa for a two year trip next year. While I am in the UK I wanted to take a week here and there to go see some of Europe. Am I able to do this or will it affect my visa? I have looked everywhere for this answer and no one seems to be able to answer it. Thanks
Hi Tasha, you are free to come and go from the UK to explore Europe or the rest of the world as much as you like. There are no restrictions on how much you can come and go.
So you need the requested documents such as passport, passport photo, bank statement etc. when you go to the biometrics screening and then you send it off separately after the biometric screening? It’s confusing.
Also, on a separate note, I am under 31 and can apply for a YMS visa but my partner is over 31 and has already had the YMS visa. Is there any way me being on the YMS visa will help him, even if it’s just allowing him to extend a holiday visa in the UK?
Any help on this would be fantastic. I know he’ll most probably have to find sponsorship, but I’m feeling less than confident that finding sponsorship will be simple. I think even applying for jobs will be difficult for him if he does’t have a working visa.
Hi Stephanie, you no longer send off the paperwork yourself unless applying from Adelaide which still functions that way. All other applications require you to bring it all to your biometric appointment and they send it off on your behalf.
You having the visa will in no way benefit your partner I’m afraid. The best they can do is come over on the tourist visa or get a sponsored job to allow him to stay longer. The sponsor visa all requires you to apply for it in Australia so finding a job when not in the UK is also difficult.
Hey Bek,
I am in the UK on a youth visa at the moment, my partner is on an ancestry visa – just wondering if your ancestry visa is your own or in fact attached to a partner – I am wanting to link onto his – de facto, which apparently can be done, just have to figure out how.
cheers
Hi Jill, apologies, only just saw this. No I’m the only one on my ancestry via. I think, at date of application, you may be able to request a partner on it, but I’m not sure. Definitely a UKBA question, i think.
Sorry i couldn’t be of more help.
Bek
Hi Bek
A friend of mine is going to come to the UK on a Tier 5 visa because she has a job to go straight into. But she is entitled to an ancestry visa too… did you apply for yours from inside the UK or outside?
Hi Josh
No, unfortunately i had to apply for my ancestry via outside of the UK. Odd as i had a job, then had to leave it in order to fly home and apply (when it’s preferable that you have a job to go to!) ! If you’re on your 2nd stint of an ancestry via though (ie after the first 5 year one expires) you can apply from inside UK. Hope this helps! 🙂
This blog is brilliant but Bek you answered the 1 question that I couldn’t find information on. I am an Australian citizen in New Zealand about to apply for the YMS with all sorts of doubts if I would have to go back to Oz to apply. THANK GOD I read all the question and answers!
I was pretty certain that I would be allowed to apply from NZ but was more or less shutting my eyes and hoping for the best lol. Thanks for posting your comment BEK and thanks for the brilliant blog Aussie nomad.
Just wondering when you say 3 months for application, does that mean sending it off, the online application or the biometric appointment?
Hi Hailey, I asume you mean for applying? in that case its 3 months from applying and paying them the money. Which can all be done online. You then have your biometric appointment and post your application form off.
Hi Aussie Nomad
As I live in a regional area and have to organise a trip to a capital city for my biometric appointment, I would like to know how long of a wait there could be between applying and getting into an appointment. In other words, how long in advance should I apply and book the appointment? Would a week do, or should I give myself more of a buffer?
Thank you.
Hi Nat, when you complete your application online you’ll be asked to book the biometric appointment there and then so you can pick the time (within 28 days of that day) to have your fingerprints taken.
Thank you for that.
Is it pretty easy to get in? As in, could I apply and book just a couple days prior to wanting to go to the biometric appointment? Or is it better to book a couple of weeks in advance?
I hope this makes sense.
Thanks again.
It’s been awhile since I applied but pretty sure you can book dates right up to the following day from what I’ve heard.
Hi Nat, not sure if this helps but I applied on Tuesday 25th Feb and the next available date for my biometrics interview was the following Wednesday 5th March.
Also, in case it helps anyone reading this – you can now have the interview in Adelaide SA if you have paid for your application online.
That’s a great help, thank you Jo! And thank you Aussie Nomad, I’ll keep both comments in mind. Was your appointment in Adelaide, Jo?
So sorry Nat! Only just saw your reply! Yes my appointment was in Adelaide, which I was glad for as it only took 2 minutes 🙂
Thanks for the great post. I just posted off my application on Monday 1st July and was wanting to arrive early August. I did ask for my visa to start on the 1st August – will they choose a start date on my visa if they can’t approve and send my passport back in time?
Hi AP, your start date will be on the 1st of August if that’s what you have chosen. Most people get their passport back around the 2 week stage so don’t believe you’d have a problem at all as you still have a month to go.
Canberra aslo has a biometric office, it is in the British High Commission, I went there yesterday to do mine!
Hi Davo thats good to know thanks. Will update the post above to reflect that.
Hi all,
I’ve been working in the UK for 18 months on a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility visa, and going back to Australia just for a week.
Has anyone had any issues at immigration whether at any UK international Airport when they come back?
Will I get further questions regarding my work considering i’ve got 6 months left on my VISA?, do I have to state how much is in my bank account?
Hi Heather, you won’t have any problems at all since your visa is still valid for a reasonable amount of time still. I was coming and going right up till a month left on my visa and never had any problems. It will be business as normal for you. But damn thats a long flight home for just a week.
I put my mother’s current last name, not her maiden name. Is that likely to delay my application? I believe I’ve done everything else correctly!
I don’t think you’ll have any problems with your mothers name mix up. I’ve seen others have made the same mistake and not had any problems. If you are really worried give the visa office a call on the number I mentioned in the post.
Hi there, thanks for this information. Just wondering if there any issues with actually getting the visa if you have a dui. If the person was to submit all the correct forms then no problems to obtain a visa?
Ashlee I know of 2-3 others who’ve posted here that have had a DUI and still got their visa, you just need to be sure to provide as much details on the incident as you can when applying. There is of course no guarantee as it will depends on the circumstances and they review it on a case by case basis I believe.
hi there, love your blog has been so helpful for me through the whole process
however, last wednesday i had my appointment and sent off all the documents (im from sydney) and then this morning received an email saying ‘your visa has been despatched etc.’
when i first saw it i got so excited! however after reading through some blogs, apparently that doesn’t mean that your visa has been accepted?
i need to know asap to book my flights and accommodation as im going in a few weeks and prices are rising very quickly! i know that ill get it in three days like it said in the email but i really can’t delay the process any longer (i left it very last minute which is my fault)
anyway i was just wondering if you know if ukba just have the one generic email that they send to everyone (accepted or rejected) or if they have the generic email for accepted, and then another for refused
i know its a stupid question since it does say ‘your visa has been despatched’ but reading through all these blogs has made me stressed! is it accepted? or do i just have to wait it out until i open the envelop when it returns?
thanks!!
Hi Lucy, as I’d mentioned above the notification process the visa processing hub has is notoriously hopeless. You’ll have your visa for sure, if there were issues they’d have been in touch to discuss.
Hi, I’ve just become an Australian citizen this past June and now I’m looking to apply for a tier 5 visa to move to London early next year. Are there any restrictions or minimum amount of time you need to have held an Australian passport/citizenship before applying for a tier 5? thanks
I’m afraid that’s a question for the UK visa office. While I doubt there is any such requirement to have been an Australian for a certain amount of time its not something I’ve ever seen so you’ll need to call them.
Hi called visa office and just in case anyone else is wondering, there is no time requirement for being a citizen. You can apply as long as you have a passport from the eligible country.
Thanks for the update, should be useful for anybody else with the same query
Hello, i am looking to apply for the tier 5 holiday visa this year.
I have a question relating to timing that may seem simple or confusing, to you, but id appreciate clarification nonetheless..if you can help
my deal is as follows
I can not get to the uk till around june. (due to work commitments)
My problem is i cannot get time after mid-feb to fly to get my biometric reading done. (as i will be working 6 days a week 12hour days.
if i apply in the middle of feb, does that mean i have 3 months to get to the uk, is that right.
what if in my case, i cannot get to the uk till june.
does my visa simply begin once i have been granted a visa whether or not i am in the uk.
or do i have exactly 3 months to arrive in the uk, or my passport becomes expired?
Hi Adam, you don’t have to be in the UK by any particular time they just don’t allow you to apply for the visa until you are 3 months away from wanting it to start.
So you could have it start in March and not arrive till June and all will be fine you just miss out on a couple of months of the 2 years visa period. Hope that explains it a bit more for you.
Like everyone else, thank you this has been very helpful. Although I THINK you just answered this question I want to be 100% sure! I am Canadian, paid for my tier 5 visa online about 2 weeks ago, and had my biometric appointment a week ago.I was planning to come to the UK at the end of February, work for a couple months, go back home for a couple months and then come back in September for the year. Although I know I can re-enter as long as my Visa is valid for, if I do not end up coming in February (the teaching agency I’ve been talking to has suddenly stopped emailing me), if the first time I enter the UK is in September, but my VISA began in February is this a problem? Or have I just missed out on a couple months of being able to work in the UK?
Hi Jenny, you just miss out on time to work and be in the UK on your visa. The visa is valid from the start and end date as stamped in your passport. If you don’t use it then the UK don’t care.
Hi just wanting to elaborate on Adam’s question… I have just recieved my youth mobility visa…
At the appointment office the lady told me that I would have to fly into the uk within 3 months from application approval. But I am confused as when I received the visa there was no record of approval date, just the date that my visa is “valid from” which is the 16 july… now I am trying to book my flight at the latest possible date so I can save a little more but I cant tell if Its from the date I actually sent my application in? The date I received an email saying it was being posted out? or is it the date stamped “valid from” on my visa???
HELP!!!!
Hi Rachelle, as far as I’m aware there is no requirement to be in the UK within 3 months of your application approval. All that happens if you don’t arrive by the time your visa begins is that you miss out on some of the 2 years you are allowed to be in the UK.
yes. thank you very much for this! i had the same question.
Hi there – thanks for all this great information! I have a quick question – where you put evidence of travel, does this have to be exact? I couldn’t quite recall all the places I’d been on a cruise (for example, one day stop overs where your passport isn’t necessarily stamped) so put it generally. I’m hoping this will be OK and they have the passport as evidence anyway?
Hi Natalya, if you have a lot of places I’d recommend just putting down the major stops like you have. I’m sure its just to make sure you’ve not been to any suspect countries recently and nobody I know of has been pulled up for not listing all the countries.
Hi there Aussie Nomad
I’m just in the process of filling the application form online. I wondered about the question asking that we specify what overseas travel we have done in the past 10 years – do you have any idea as to how specific we have to be about this?
I’ve been to Europe a couple of times and am struggling to find the exact dates that I left one country and entered the next, as I was doing a lot of jumping around. Would it be sufficient to simply say “Europe, 13 June – 12 August 2010” for example, or is that not sufficient? Also I’ve done quite a lot of travel over the past 10 years so I don’t think I can fit all the info that I need to in the box provided…do you have any solutions to this?
Thanks so much.
Hi Tina, I’d list all the major stops you took and just outline them as best you can within the space available. So with Europe say France – June 2112, Germany – June 2012 etc etc. I really don’t think it needs to be exact, just an estimate of where you’ve been to rule out any potential suspect places.
hello thanks so much for posting this so helpful i used this blog for all of the information i needed on applying for my working visa. Do you know if I am able to use a transaction listing from my bank with a stamp the lady didn’t really seem to know what she was doing when i went in there. Thanks again!
Hi Maddie, for the bank details just need to show you have the required funds in your account and be either a standard bank statement or be something printed on bank letterhead and stamped by them as being printed from the bank. So as long as what you got is identifiable as coming from the bank I’m sure it would be ok.
Just wondering if a shared bank account is ok for demonstration of funds? Particularly if you both intend to use the same account in your tier 5 applications?
Thanks
Ryan
Hi Ryan, as long as it has your name on it all should be fine. Just be sure to apply individually and don’t mention the other on the application.
Hi Maddie,
Just wondering if you were successful in your visa application using the transaction listing? This is what we sent for my partner’s application as we did not have the time to wait for a proper statement. Really hoping it gets approved as we are on a tight schedule (my Aus visa is running out)! Would be good to know if they accepted this as then we will go ahead and book flights. Please put my mind at ease 🙂
For anyone wondering the same thing as i was. The black and white transaction statement print out from the bank is fine. We received the visa today… 15 days total. Super fast… so we are happy! thanks again Aussie Nomad for this guide!
Hi Tori, was your black and white statement printed from the bank on their letterhead or stamped by them at all?
Yes it was printed by the bank with their logo etc at the top and yes it was stamped. However, I was worried as it said “this is not a statement” at the bottom (i believe it is called a “transaction summary”).
So anyone who is concerned about not being able to get a letter (our bank told us they couldn’t do it for legal reasons), a stamp will suffice 🙂
Hi tori, so glad to read your comment about the transaction history! My appointment is next week and I don’t have time to order a statement, my black and white copy has been stamped and signed by the bank so really hoping it will be enough! Freaking out haha
Hey mate,
I just got my passport back from processing for the youth mobility visa, being a kiwi and applying in aussie (which was no worries to do). I am wondering though could i travel to greese first to travel through europe without needing a return ticket. Or will i need to get stamped first in the U.K before travelling through europe?
Hi Simmy congrats on the visa. As for travelling to Greece first you should be fine as that’s what I did. I flew into Paris and spent 2 months exploring Europe before heading to the UK on my youth mobility visa.
Hey, just wondering when you say, can only stay in Europe for 90 days in a 180 day period.
is that 90 days all over Europe ?
so say if i was to go france for 90 days could i then move to switzerland for 90 then move on to sweden and so on…
or
can i only stay in Europe for 90 days then have to go back to England, for 90 then back to Europe ?
You can only spend a total of 90 days in all of the European countries that make up the Schengen area. So that’s france, germany, italy etc etc. So yes you’d need to bounce back and forth between the UK and Europe. But keep in mind if you are in the UK only as a tourist then they have limits on how long you can stay as well.
ok thanks heaps, thats gonna be a bit of bouncing back an forth haha. good reason to vist difference places in england and do a bit of work to travel Europe 🙂
so how do i go about working in europe is there a visa or anything ?
also dose the 90 days in europe take off the 180, so 3 months there then only 3 months away before i can go back ?
You can’t work in Europe without a visa from a specific country. You can work in the Uk if you go on a visa like the youth mobility visa. If you just bounce back and forth just with a tourist visa expect to be stopped and heavily questions by customs in the UK and Europe.
ok. thanks heaps for everything. ill just go with it when i get there !! cheers mate.
Got my visa and moving to uk next week! But I don’t know what to do about health cover and all that and I can’t find it anywhere
I’m on Medicare will that cover me? Or do I even require something like that when I’m over there? Just a bit confused!
Thanks
Hi Lisa, once in the Uk on your visa you are a citizen of the Uk so are entitled to the NHS which is the equivalent of medicare.
Check out my moving to london post as it covers what to do about seeing a doctor and a whole bunch of other bits and pieces.
Would an Australian on a youth mobility visa also have the benefit of free dental under the NHS? Or would we want to get private extras cover?
Joshua, I know you can see a doctor for free but unsure on the dentist bills as I’ve never known anybody who went to one while on the visa. I’d imagine there could be some extra cost but honestly I don’t know.
Hi again,
So, this was a bit stupid of me. I have had my biometrics appointment and am posting all of my docs off tomorrow (August 12th). Crazily enough I found an amazing one-way flight this morning and booked it on a whim…departing August 25th…!
Do you think I’ll have my passport back in time to actually catch this flight? Or should I perhaps be looking into flight cancellation options…? There seem to be lots of different reports on visa processing time but I’m just looking for a general idea.
Thanks so much.
Hi Tina, thats a very short time frame to get your passport back especially since its not even posted yet. The average i’ve seen is 2 weeks to get it back, others have said a week and a few have said longer. You’ll be cutting it pretty close with your timeframe so I’d be looking at options for delaying the flight if you need to and what costs etc go with it.
Fingers crossed it all works out but definitely plan for the worst case scenario just to cover all your options.
Thanks for your reply! yeah it was a bit ambitious of me in retrospect, I haven’t heard back from the visa office at ALL – not even to say that my docs have been received! so I’ll be pushing my flight back…luckily the change fees aren’t too bad.
Hey there, thanks for a really useful website.
I mailed off my completed application on Monday. I’m a bit worried cause I actually started the application process in July but turned 31 early this month. I read the requirements and it advised that they take the day payment was made as the date when my application started. (I paid in early July).
Do you think this lessens my chances at all of getting a visa? Also, it asked when I was planning to go to the UK. I assumed this meant to begin working so I placed down March 2014. But i’m actually going on vacation there in November. Do they issue the visa from the date I noted down?
I know you’re not a UK visa official but i’d appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks!
Hi Maggie, I think you will be fine, they just have to have the payment in before you turn 31 so as long as you meet that criteria all should be good.
As for the visa start date it actually needs to be within 3 months of applying so you may find your visa will start sooner than March next year. You may get lucky with your date but otherwise I’d expect it to come back with a start date somewhere around October this year.
Hi Maggie, I was hoping you could let me know if everything went well with your visa application and what day it ended up being dated as? Thank you!
Hey, thanks for the amazing post, really helped simplify the application process – many, many thanks. I just have 1 question though, regarding funds. See, i lodged my online application yesterday, and i need to use the 3500 sitting in my account urgently to pay for sudden expenses. Would my application be denied should i use the funds i have a day after applying? Thanks heaps in advance! 🙂
Do you have any info about getting a tourist visa to return to UK for a couple of weeks after the Tier 5 visa expires? If you have a return ticket to Oz, will they allow this?
Hi Bea, you get a tourist visa automatically so no need to apply for it. Just make sure that upon entry into the UK make sure you have your return ticket home with you and printed out so you can show them. The customs folks are right pains so the more proof you have to show you don’t intend to stay in the country the quicker you’ll pass back in.
Thanks for this. Do you have to show that you have money? And apart from your ticket, what other evidence might be good to have? Is it likely that you would be rejected, and if so, what would happen if all your belongings were still in UK?
Hi Bea no need to show money but maybe have a little bit on you to show you have some and then you just need proof you intend to leave the country within the requirements of the tourist visa (so a printed ticket). They will most likely grill you a little so just be careful of what you say coming back in. Also when you leave the UK maybe try and make it a week or so before you return on the tourist visa.
This just gives you the chance to say you just wanted to see a couple more things in Europe before collecting all your stuff and saying goodbye to all your friends.
Thanks again! Do you know whether people are iften refused re entry when they return to UK?
Nobody I know of but plenty of people have either had a very difficult talk with the customs officials (me included) or been pulled aside for an interview that lasted a couple of hours.
Aussie Nomad,
Thanks for putting together an amazing post on the intricacies of the Youth Mobility Visa.
A couple of other points from my experience which I felt were worth sharing.
I organized the Youth Mobility Vsa prior to leaving Australia, but with the intention of traveling through South East Asia for 6-7 months before arriving in the UK.
In my application I put my entry date into the UK as 7 months from when I sent off my paperwork to account for the extra travel. I assumed that the processing officer would just automatically backdate my application by 3 months or if I was really lucky 6 months.
This didn’t work and I ended up having a visa entry date put as the day it was processed in Manila – so in all I effectively lost 3 months of my Visa.
A word for the warning – If you intend to travel for over three months before arriving in the UK and enacting your visa, make sure you don’t write down a start date which exceed 3 months from when you submit your application for processing.
Another issue that concerned me was that in the end I spent almost 12 months of my valid visa in South East Asia. As it came time to head to the UK I became increasingly worried that my real ‘intention’ to work in the UK would be questioned by the Immigration officer at the border. I was also concerned they would question how much remaining money I had in my bank (this didn’t bother me as much however because I still had ample funds but I was wondering how I would be able to prove this to the officer stamping my passport).
Basically I had visions of the officer deciding I wasn’t serious and that they would only offer my a tourist visa at the gate, which would have been complicated by the fact that I didn’t have a return flight to Aus.
In the end these concerns were unjustified and the Immigration Officer asked me limited questions of my intention to work (which I said Yes to) and which I assume is standard practice. No questions were asked as to my current available funds.
Lastly, I wanted to raise an Issue I almost had with my Visa when flying from India to the London.
I was held up at Delhi Airport by my Air Kuwaiti check in worker (not immigration staff) who for the life of him (and his colleagues, including some aeroplane Captains) couldn’t work out how I had a British Visa which stated that it was Issued in Manila when my passport showed I had never been to the Philippines
I was asked multiple times if I had been to Manila and was thankful I was aware that when I applied for my Visa it would be sent offshore for processing and was able to inform the check in staff of this fact.
They also raised concerns that the VISA said ‘Employment was restricted’ – I.e. they kept ignoring/not understanding the additional wording which read ‘subject to Youth Mobility Conditions’.
In the end after about 15 minutes of waiting I was allowed to checkin with no further problems.
This may have been a one off incident but I thought I would share it with others on this forum incase they encounter the same.
This hassle reminded me of the importance of paying attention to the Visa application process and relevant rules to allow you to put your case forward why you should be allowed to enter a country.
Now to my question to you,
So, having arrived a year after my Visa started and being allowed entry with no fuss I now want to finish the European summer with some more travel before returning to the UK to work over winter – yep I do intend to work it just hasn’t been the right time!.
I don’t particularly want this travel to be in one block but instead do a month or two cycling from around now after which I will return to the UK and work. Whilst working I would love to do a few trips to the snow during winter and maybe finish my trip by spending the start of summer next year in the Med.
Early next year I am also hoping to organise a Canadian version of a Youth mobility visa from London so that when my UK Youth mobility visa expires I can exit the UK and fly straight to Canada (or an intermediate country/s with the intention and flights to eventually head to Canada).
My questions are,
a) Is there a maximum time frame that someone with a Youth Mobility Visa can exit the UK before the immigration officer decides that you do not fulfill some vague rule of the visa and decides you are no longer allowed to have it. All it states on the Border Control website is that “You can leave and come back to the UK at any time during your stay.”. Has any one had their visa cancelled for being out of the country for too long between visits? Will I be questioned about my intention to work in the UK on my return form visiting other countries in the Schegen Zone?
b) will the UK border control happily stamp my passport when I exit the UK and re-enter so that I can show other officials that I haven’t remained in the Schengen Zone for too long?
d) Is the implied Schengen Visa that effectively gets granted to an Australian when entering a Schengen country able to be used for multiple entries and exits from the UK to the zone (given that the person still abides by the rule stating that you can only stay for 90 days out of every 180).
e) Does the time between receiving two Schengen zone visas have a minimum period of removal form the zone? e.g. If I enter the Schengen zone and stay for under 90 days out of 180 days (but across multiple smaller trips where I return to the UK in-between), once my original 180 day period has been completed does it reset and can I then enter again? Or do I have to be in the UK for full period of time before again entering the zone?
f) Has anyone successfully applied for the Canadian Working Holiday visa whilst in the UK on the Youth Mobility Visa. Are there any tips and tricks to this? (I know this is a little bit irreverent to the thread but someone might have the same plan as me)
I think clarifications of the questions I am asking will really help other Australians who intend to work a little in the UK whilst also exploring the rest of Europe during the life of their visa. I am going to also post this message to the UK Border Control email to see if I can get it officially cleared up.
Any help is appreciated!
Hi Ben, I’ll do my best to answer your questions.
a) You can come and go as much as you like on the youth mobility visa. As long as its still valid the customs folks will let you re-enter without much issue at all.
b) You’ll get stamps into and out of the schengen zone so those stamps will be used to determine the time you spend in the area. UK only stamp you in on arrival from memory.
d) You can come and go from the schengen zone as much as you like as long as you abide by the 90 days in 180 rule.
e) The schengen visa works on a rolling 180 day period. So if you go in and out several times over that 180 day period you just need to be sure that you don’t exceed 90 days over the last180. hope that makes sense.
f) I’ve not heard of anybody applying for the canadian visa outside of Australia. I do know you need to get a police record check for the canadian version so that could be difficult while out of the country. I’m unsure of the other requirements
Hope that helps answer your questions and let me know if you have anything else I can try and help with from my knowledge of the whole process.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thankyou for providing such an easy to understand website on travelling abroad and visa information.
I’ve read previous comments of DUI incidents and obtaining visas but I’m just wondering if you know anything about how serious the criminal convictions have to be to be denied from obtaining a visa. My partner has criminal activities such as assault and marijuana possession on his record from his younger youth days and is worried he’ll be denied 🙁
Hi Ashleigh, I’m afraid I don’t know how serious incidents need to be before you would be denied. You’d need to call the UK visa office and find out from them I’m afraid. Otherwise you can chance you application but be sure to provide as much documentation about the convictions as possible. So getting official documentations from police/court about each conviction would be best. Always better to provide more information than not enough.
Hi ashleigh iim wandering how u and your partner got on, we are currently in the same boat, my partners convictions are quite bad, breakinging and enttering, theft of motor vehicle, drunken disorderly, obstructing a police officer, and some of them are a few counts of it, he was 14-15 and afyer the age of 17 he has work3d and never been in trouble again, my concerns are similiar to the ones you had, have u got any insights or advicw u r able to please share with me? Thanks
Hi All,
This forum is the only one I found on the web to help with information on this topic (Criminal Records and the UK Tier 5 Visa) so I thought I’d add my experience.
I have a pretty serious criminal record, 30 counts of ‘Obtaining Property by Deception’. It’s a 7 year old conviction. I was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment but it was wholly suspended for 12 months i.e. I didn’t have to see the inside of a jail cell unless I reoffended within the next 12 months.
I applied for the UK Tier 5 Visa and I was upfront and clear about my criminal record in the application (there’s no use in hiding or running away from the truth, it only shows you haven’t learned from your mistake).
Anyway, my application was APPROVED and I’ve been granted a Visa. I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face ever since.
I guess there are a number of different variables with everything: nature of the crime, time lapsed, length of sentence. But in my case ‘thank-fully’ I’ve been granted the Visa.
Hope that helps.
Hi Noelle, thanks for the details on your visa process. I’ve very little info on what crimes they say are no go and what are ok so messages like yours are really really helpful for others in the same situation. Enjoy your time abroad.
Hi Noelle,
I’m in a similar boat with some driving charges and a conviction for a high reading on a drink driving offence from last year.
I was hoping you could shed some light on how you went about answering that question in the online application, did you go into much detail? Did you provide any documentation at the appointment and did they ask you about it in detail?
Been doing my head in over it and any information would be much appreciated!! I really don’t want to be denied!
Thank you
Hi,
The age prerequisite is only for the time of application, meaning you don’t have to be under 31 when you arrive in the UK with this visa? Is that a correct understanding?
For eg. 30 when you apply and 31+ when arriving in the UK.
‘You will score 10 points if you are:
under 31 years old when you apply for your visa; and
at least 18 years old on the date when your visa becomes valid (the first date when you can enter the UK).’
Thanks!
Hi Sam, that is correct you just need to be under 31 at the date of application. You don’t need to be under 31 when you arrive in the uk.
Do you need to be 18 when you enter the UK? Can you apply for the Youth Mobility visa at 17 and 9 months, then enter as a tourist a month before, travel and then start working at 18? If so, do you need to leave the UK and re enter for the working visa to apply. And can a 17 year old be in the UK unaccompanied during that month prior?
Hi Debbie, you do need to be 18 to apply for the visa yes. Also if you enter the UK before your visa starts you’ll need to leave and reenter the country to be on the visa as entering before means you’ll be on a tourist visa.
Thanks for the quick response 🙂
One more question…do you think it would be worth seeing an immigration lawyer aswell to see what our options are? Do you think they would possibly know how serious the convictions would be? It’s just such a shame that silly things in your youth can really affect options available to you when you’re older. We have filled out an application as of yet, as we’re afraid we’ll get denied and it will complicate even more options.
Thanks for your help. Much appreciated 🙂
Ashleigh, I’ve no idea to be honest. I think calling the UK visa office would be the best option as they can tell you what might give you problems. If you apply and they have problems they get in touch and give you a set number of days to provide more information to satisfy their questions.
I doubt an immigration lawyer would be worth the costs to be honest as this is just a working holiday visa and not something more long term.
Hi,
Thank u sooooo much for this post, I should’ve read this article earlier and I have a few question.
I just arrived in UK yesterday with no visa, cos I learnt that Aussies can stay here for 6 moths and I’m just visiting my girlfriend. Now I realized that I cannot open a bank account because I’m just a visitor without visa, and I might wanna work at some point if I have a working visa.
So my question: if I wanna apply for youth mobility visa, can I possibly apply it somewhere in Europe (since I can’t apply in UK)? Cos it’ll be costly to go all back to aus again. But I learnt from ur article that I’ll need to send off my original passport and live without it for at least 4 weeks, will there be a risk to stay in euro without my passport?
Second question, if I don’t get my youth mobility visa, and I want to stay for another 6 months in UK, can I just go to France and come back for another 6 months stay?
Third question, I learnt that there are only 35,000 places for Australians to apply for this youth mobility visa, how can I check if there are any places left?
Thank u very much, ur article has helped me a lot, I need to reschedule all my plans now, haven’t think it through before I came LOL.
Hi Nathan, I believe you can apply for it outside of the UK but I’ve never done so myself. I’d be looking up the nearest UK visa office outside of the UK and seeing if they can provide it. I don’t believe you’d have to much trouble being without your passport for that long, you just wouldn’t be able to cross countries etc and would have to stay in the one place as you’d need an address etc to have your passport shipped back too.
As for the 6 month stay in the UK, you can indeed stay for 6 months but then you need to exit the country for 6 months before you can return so no jumping out and back in again.
To the number of visas on offer, there is no way to check how many are left but I’ve never heard of them running out.
Thank u very much for the reply, solved a lot if my questions. I guess I will need to apply for this visa, I’ll come over and ask u if I have any more questions ^_^
Hi Nathan and Aussia Nomad, how did you get on applying for the Tier 5 Youth and Mobility visa from somewhere else in Europe? I’m heading to Europe soon and have left it too late to apply for this visa. I’d rather not delay my trip or get return tickets to apply so I’ve been looking into applying from another country. I’ve been told you can apply for this visa if you have at least 6 months working residency in the country you are applying from. So, in around about kind of way, if I get a working visa from Germany (which can be applied for on arrival), can I then apply for the UK visa from there?? Will I have to proove I’ve been working in Germany for 6 months before I apply?
Hi Andrea,
Did you ever figure out the answer to this Question? I have been in Germany 4 months now as a student, and have a German Residence Permit, and a permit to work part time since I am a student here. I would like to go to the UK in a month and work there, but I am unsure if I can apply for this Tier 5 Youth and Mobility visa from Germany yet.
Hi Dave, going on my recent knowledge on the problem you can apply for the visa from Germany as long as you have a valid visa that will allow you to stay there for at least another 6 months.
I have a follow up question, if I left UK after 3 months of staying here, do I need to stay out of UK for six months before I come back? This is without any visa.
Hi Nathan, from my understanding of the 6 months stay is that you can be in the UK for a total of 180 days and then need to be out for 180 days. So you can stagger your 180 total however you like as long as you don’t overstay in any 1 year period. Its the same requirement you have for mainland Europe in that you can only spend 90 days in any 180 day period there.
hope all that makes sense.
Great, I get it. Thank u so much for the explanations, I was so confused before I came, I really need to get this youth mobility visa now.
Hi Nathan
How did you get on applying for the UK visa elsewhere in Europe?
Hi there!! Thank you so much for posting this info on your blog. I have been looking at applying for a Youth Visa, but had so many people tell me different things about the age limit. They all kept saying that I had to enter the UK before I turned 31, but from what i’ve read on other pages, as well as what you’ve written, as long as I apply for it beofre I turn 31 I am fine. So thank you!!! If I had to enter before 31 it would really have thrown a spanner in my planned trip. 🙂
Hi Katherine, yes you can enter after you turn 31 but the visa needs to be applied for before you do. Keep in mind you also need to apply for the visa within 3 months of your intended visa start date so if you leave it to long you will find that you visa will start before you get there. Hope that makes sense.
So it doesn’t matter greatly then if you arrive after the start date of your visa? I guess you’re just losing days that you could be working??
That’s it yes, you are just missing days you could be in the UK working and enjoying the experience.
Hi there,
I have a question regarding traveling outside the UK while on the Tier 5 youth visa. I understand that you are only able to spend 90 days outside the UK in the Schengen zone, but I have spent only about 30 days in Schengen areas and the rest of the time I’ve been in Eastern Europe. If I come back to the UK 5 months after leaving even though I haven’t been in the Schengen area for 90 days will I have trouble getting back in? Basically I flew out of london on June 6 and its just gone past 3 months outside the UK, should I book a flight back ASAP and what happens if you’re outside the UK for longer than 90 days and want to come back in? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Andy, you can spend 90 days in every 180 days inside the schengen zone. If you have the UK Youth Mobility Visa you can come and go from the UK as much as you like regardless of the schengen area because the UK isn’t part of it. Hope that helps.
Ok, thanks so much for getting back to me.
I have another question regarding the Schengen area. Basically I have spent a total of 62 days in Schengen countries so far – France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria my only other concern is the other countries I have spent time in. Is Romania, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia or Montenegro in the Schengen zone and if I leave the Schengen area and have spent time in those countries does it count towards my 90 days or does it stop until I enter the Schengen again? If you are unsure do you know the number for the specific UK Boarder Agency department to call that can help me with this query?
Sorry to overload you with questions, thanks so much for your help.
Hi Andi, you’ll need to research the schengen zone, there is a big list over on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area). You get 90 days in the zone out of every 180 so as long as you don’t go over that all is good. You only use up days while in the schengen area as well, once you leave it stops until you re-enter.
The UK don’t care about your time in Europe as its a different visa zone, you’ll need to speak with one of the customs people in Europe for any specific questions.
Hi
I have a question about the start date. I am applying for the tier 5 visa to work in the UK however I do not know the exact date I will arrive in the UK due to work commitments in Australia. It could be as early as December or as late as April. When I do my application I will choose my start date as December 1st however if I don’t actually arrive until April will the visa still be valid? Is there a cut-off period the passport must be stamped after the start date?
Thanks
Nicole
Hi Nicole your visa will be valid from the start date whether you arrive then or not. Its set by the date in your passport not by your coming and going from the UK.
hello this is probly a dumb question but my visa start date is the 1/10/13 is it ok to catch a plane on the 30/9/13 if it doesnt land in the UK until the 1st do you only show the visa to the UK airport? Thanks alot!
Hi Maddie, as long as you arrive in the UK after your visa starts you’ll be fine. Your passport will need to be shown to the customs officers on landing in the UK and it helps if you point out the page with your visa stamped into it to save on a few questions.
hi further to the above post i haveactually bought my ticket to the uk and land one day before my visa actually starts. i land on the 2/02/14 and my visa actually starts 03/02/2014. will i be allowed into the uk? on the 02/02/14 or would i need to leave and come.back to the uk after the 3/02/14 to activate my visa? if this is the case can i leave the uk at a later date like 08/02/2014?? thanks for your help
Hi TIm, you’ll be allowed to enter the UK just fine but you’ll be admitted on a tourist visa and not your youth mobility visa as it hasn’t started yet. To activate it you’d need to leave the country and re-enter at a later date but I’d do it sooner rather than later as you won’t be able to work etc on the tourist visa.
Hi Nomad,
Not sure if you have any information about the end of your tier 5 visa. I have roughly 2 months left on my visa but want/need to stay an extra couple of months til the end of my current tenancy and to do some exploring in the UK before I leave to France. This is obviously a problem as I am overstaying my visa. Is it possible to leave UK and enter on a tourist visa prior to my Tier 5 expiring? What are the ramifications of overstaying 60 days? Would it be a different scenario having overstayed going to Europe rather than back to Oz. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Hi Peter, your best option is to leave the country at the end of your visa and go travel for a week or two. Coming back into the country as you intend to stay on for a bit I’d make sure you have your flight booked for home and have it printed out with you.
The customs officials will be concerned you intend to stay and keep working after your visa has expired so the more proof you have to say no you are only coming back to say goodbye and leave the better.
As for overstaying I’d really avoid it. Myself and many others have done what I mentioned above without any real problems and the last thing you want is a mark against your name for when you may want to return.
Thanks this website helped me out so much.
The guidance notes and visa4uk website are so confusing
It says “You must sign the declaration, which should be sent or handed to the relevant Visa Application Centre or Visa Section, with all supporting documents.” But no where does it say where you are supposed to send it or that you can do it during the biometric appointment. In fact, it doesn’t even talk about the biometric appointment. I assume I just fill all the relevant information online and then once I finish it will outline I have to book a biometric appointment and that I have to bring all original documents? Why isnt the biometric testing mentioned anywhere?
I was originally thinking I just had to post all my documents to a specific address. Have they ever lost anyone’s passport?
Hi J, I know what you mean about the confusing website. I thought I had to post off my application before going to my biometric appointment as well. It’s for that reason and a lot more I decided to share my experience and hopefully help someone else. It’s been great that so many others have shared their experiences as well so we can all get through the process.
I’ve never heard of anyone having their passport lost, which is surprising to be honest.
Bit confused again.
You outline
“It is advised to post your documents off in a platinum express post envelope and to included a second one for posting back to you. Take note of the tracking numbers on the envelopes for your own reference.”
“At present I do not have the exact address but have been told applications are posted to a GPO Box in Sydney before being forwarded to the processing hub in Manilla. The address will be added here as soon as I have it.”
So when we include the second envelope for them to post our stuff back are we supposed to buy a domestic or international return envelope? Bit confused, do they send it back to me directly from Manilla? Or does Manilla send it to the Australian address and then they put it in the domestic return package and send back to me? Why is this process so confusing? I need to know before tomorrow as I want to buy my prepaid packages before I go to the biometric assessment centre.
Thanks again
Hi J, you should be given an address to post your documents to upon attending your biometric appointment which would be the GPO box. Manilla is the processing center and the visa office deals with it being sent there and returned. You need only be worried with the address you were given in Sydney.
Hi there,
I have the same question and I’m still a bit confused, could you please clarify:
So the postage both there (to the PO box) and back (the self addressed envelope), are BOTH domestic courier bags?
They don’t explain it on the sheet of instructions they give you at the Biometrics appointment!
They make it sound like it should be domestic postage there, but international postage back…
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Jess, its been awhile since I applied but the address you are given is a domestic address so you just post it there and supply the same bag to have it returned from there.
It used to be the visas were processed in Canberra ( when I applied they were) but now they get sent to Sydney and then shipped off to Manila.
So in short get yourself an express post bag that you can track for domestic only and all should be good.
Is this a typo?
“When should the bank statement or letter be dated?
Your bank statement needs to be dated within 30 days of applying for the visa. So if you were to apply for the visa on the 1st of June your bank statement or letter must be dated after the 1st of March. The statement or letter must also show you have the total amount of funds required to meet the application requirements for the youth mobility visa.”
Should this say you letter must be dated after 1st of May? Isnt 1st of March greater than 30 days from 1st of June? Or am I missing the point? Just want to make sure I dont get the bank to put wrong information down
J, good pickup that is indeed a typo. It is 30 days within your application date and not 3 months like I’d written.
Thank you so much for this post! You’ve answered a lot of my questions here that I couldn’t get answers to after a lot of fruitless sifting through the UKBA website. I’m really hoping to apply for this soon – perhaps next year sometime – so keen to get over to the UK! Helps too that the majority of my family are Brits and based in London! Planning to apply from Singapore (I am currently working in SG), so am glad to see that I don’t have to go back to Sydney just to apply. Just a question if you have any ideas (so sorry if you have already addressed this somewhere – couldn’t see it pop up) – I saw on the application form that you can state if you’re going to the UK with your partner. Does my husband and I both have to apply for the visa, or is it one application and the other comes as a spouse/ dependant of the visa-holder? If you have any ideas, that would be fab – thanks again for the great blog!
Hi Tammy, glad to of been some help to you as I know what that UKBA site is like.
In regards to your question… I don’t know to be honest. I’d imagine you’ll both need to apply for the visa as you’d need the visa put into his passport as well for checking in and out of the country otherwise you’d both need to come and go together.
I’d really suggest calling the UKBA office to check for sure. Their phone number is above in the post. If you do call I’d love to know the answer so I can add it to the post here to helps others.
Hi 🙂 I’m travelling to the USA before I go to the UK. I am sending off all my paperwork tomorrow, but will need my passport ack before the 22/10. Is there anyone I can call/email to ensure I get it back in time?
Hi Cherie, I’m afraid there isn’t anybody you can call to ensure it gets processed in time I’m afraid. In saying that someone told me last week it took 7 days for their passport to be processed and sent back and the average is 2 weeks so I’d say you should be fine timing wise.
Thank you so much, makes me feel a lot better 🙂
Hi I am currently in the process of applying for a tier 5 mobility visa and I have had 1 conviction of drink driving middle range in january 2011 and was ordered to pay $800 and lost my licence for 3 months this is my only recorded conviction what is the likelihood of being denied because of this if you have any idea that would put my mind at ease thanks 🙂
Hi Nick, I’ve seen a few people now apply for the visa with a drink driving conviction and all had no problems. Just be sure to provide all court documents etc to show the outcome etc when applying and all should be ok.
Thanks for that fingers crossed 🙂 the work you put into this blog makes life so much easier for me as a first time traveller true Aussie spirit I can get some sleep now cheers lol
haha no problem at all Nick glad to have been of help. Good luck with the visa and let me know if you run into troubles. Any info you can share helps others.
What an awesome site guys!
I’m desperately after some help at the moment though. I have a Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa and have been working in London and have been heading out of the country to visit Europe for short stints. I went to Oktoberfest and got my Aussie passport stolen. I have obtained an emergency passport from the awesome guys in the consulate in Frankfurt but now what do I do about the Tier 5 UK Youth Mobility Visa which was stuck in my old one?????
Do I have to get it replaced before they will let me back into the UK? My flight back to London is in 4 days and I have tried calling every UK consulate and uk boarder website but they don’t lead me to anything. Getting pretty worried they will turn me away at the border and worse yet my boss in London will kill me if I’m not back at work on Monday!!
If anyone can give me a few ideas or shed some light I would be really grateful. Thank you.
Hi Will, bad news about the passport but hey you made it to Oktoberfest so at least you can drown your sorrows. In regards to the passport, the UK customs folks should have you on file as having a visa and it should be linked to your passport when you enter the country.
Given you have an emergency passport etc I’d state your case etc and all should be well as they can cross match you in their systems. You can then chase up a new passport back in the UK and see what needs to be done about getting the visa back.
Your only real option is to call the UK offices and get onto someone who can answer your questions but sounds like its harder than it sounds.
Hi Nomad,
Thanks for the valuable information, best site ive come across and explains everything in thorough detail!
I just have one question with the funds, it says you need to show you have the available funds at time of application.
I applied on sept 2nd but did not have the funds in my account until 18th sept. I got a bank statement saying I have the funds and did my biometrics appt today and sent the documents off today.
Does it matter that the funds were not in my account on the exact date of application?
Thanks for your help 🙂
Hi Janice, thanks for the kind words about the site. I do try to keep everything updated and as accurate as possible.
Someone else had asked this recently but they had the funds in their account a few days after applying. Personally I’d have the funds in there for a minimum of 30 days so it looks like you saved the money and didn’t just borrow it from friends/family to get the visa.
In saying that though they only ask for proof you have the money, its in your name and was in there within 30 days of your application. I’d imagine you would be ok as you meet all the requirements but its a fine line I think. Do let me know how you get on and if you are accepted as I’d like to add this to the post above if you get through ok.
Hello,
Thanks for the information.
I will definitely let you know the outcome once I find out 🙂
Hey Aussie Nomad,
I just wanted to give you an update on my UK Visa …. I got it!! 🙂 So it looks like it didn’t matter that I had the funds after the application date.
One other issue I had was that I put down the arrival date as 1st Feb 2014 and for some reason I thought they would automatically push it out 3 months from my application date if I put the arrival date longer. I read one of the comments above stating they put the start date as the date the Visa gets processed. I panicked, call the $12 info line and they gave me an email address to write to, to request to have my start date changed.
So this morning I got an email from them stating the start date has been changed to 2nd Dec 2013 (3 months from my application date) and this afternoon I got the email saying “Your email will be dispatched shortly”.
The processing time was surprisingly quick too – I sent it off on the 26/09, it was received by GPO address on 27/09 and I received the confirmation email today, 03/10/13.
Hope the above information has been some what useful to people. If you have any further questions, please let me know 🙂
Thanks for your blog and all the valuable information Aussie Nomad, you have really made all our lives SO MUCH easier! :)))
Hi Janice, thats great news about the visa and the travel funds it will be really helpful to others so I’ll be sure to add your information up into the post for everyone to benefit from.
Good luck with your time in the UK as well, am sure you’ll enjoy it.
Hi Janie – I hope you will get a notification of this, even though it’s been a while. I got my Tier 5 visa back today and noticed (to my horror) that the start date was 2 days after I arrive in the UK. I don’t know what I was thinking… Anyway – did you end up getting your start date changed? Or do I have to leave the country and come back again?
Hi Nomad
Great website! thanks for all this info, made my life easy 🙂 I am concerned about posting my original passport to them. Is this what you did? By the looks of it it cannot be a certified copy. How do I ensure that I will get my passport back?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Venu, Yes you need to post off your original passport. I’ve never heard of anybody having theirs lost and I guess it helps to post it off in the express packages so it can be tracked better.
Hi Janice, can you provide me with the email you got in touch with as I want to defer my start date.
Do you have to resend you passport back to them to have it deferred?
Hi J,
I have a feeling you need to send the email before your Visa is processed? I think once it’s processed it’s probably finalised.
The email address is: [email protected]
Hopefully you can change it! 🙂
Hey J,
I replied to your msg with the email address but can’t see it here – did you get it? If not, I will resend.
I’m guessing once the Visa is processed, it’s probably too late?
I just received this email on 2 October 2013.
“Your visa will be despatched shortly. Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days. Applicants in Australia and New Zealand should allow 3 days before tracking their documents via the local post. UKBA-Manila Visa Hub
This is an automated message. Please do not respond to this email address as incoming mail is not answered.’
Am I safe to assume I will receive my passport soon? I want to book a flight to London on 22 October?
Word of advise to people sending in applications, take a photo of your reply paid return envelope. That way you can track your envelope when they send it back to check if it has been sent and you can get a better idea of where your passport is
I think it’ll be back next week or the week after at the latest?
Did you peel off the barcode of the return express envelope so you could track it?
I recieved this same email J. The part that gets me is the “Passports can normally be collected from the Visa Application Centre after 3 days”. So I have to pick it up from the visa application center?
But the email doesnt have an address for the Visa application centre and an extensive web search has reveal naught.
Is the visa application centre just another name for the consulate where I did my biometrics?
Thanks
Hi Tal, if you sent your passport off with a return envelope before the visa office instigated a new change to their system then you should get your passport back in the post. If you handed your passport over at the same time as your biometric appointment then you need to pick it up from there unless you paid to have it posted back to you.
Hi Tal, yes that is correct. Unless you opted for courier, you will collect your passport and Visa from the same place which you did your biometrics.
I was advised to take a print out of the confirmation email and bring along with your biometric and application receipts.
Hi Tal, did you receive your passport and visa back yet?
Could you please share your process timeline with us?
Thanks
Martin
No because the annoying ady at the post told me the sender will keep it, dont get why she wouldnt suggest that I write it down.
Should have taken a snap of the code atleast then I could have tracked it and had a better idea if it has been sent off or not.
Do you think the visa processing centre keeps the code? On the form it says they dont keep the code. In case it gets lost do you think they will keep it?
I dont mind calling the line and paying $12 just to double check were the package is
the lady at australia post was saying something like i cant peel off my return post code because the sender has to do it. I could have atleast taken a photo of it so I could track it.
Annoying woman!
I think you could probably email that address and ask them about it? Unless there is another place you could enquire about the status of Visa/Passport?
Wow, thank you so much for all of this information, it is so much more helpful than the actual visa website!
I have an odd question though. I am hoping to stay in the UK for just under three months next year, but don’t have the funds to do it without working. Does the youth mobility visa allow for such short stays?
Obviously I would love to stay for longer than that, but I’m studying medicine and once you graduate you basically have to get a job straight away, which gives me a very short window to do anything else.
Hi Steve, thanks for the kind words about the site. As to your question you can stay as short or as long as you like within the two year period the visa lasts.