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.
Hi, thank you so much for this post, you have been a lifesaver! Many hours I have spent screaming and crying trying to figure this visa thing out, you have helped heaps! I just have one question; I have read on a few different sites that I need to have a Health number (IHS) (even though it should be paid through visa application?) however when I get into the questionnaire to get it it stated there was no need to go any further and did not receive a number, have I done something wrong? Or is the IHS now redundant for Youth Mobility?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Sammi, honestly I’m not sure on the IHS stuff. Some people have reported being unable to process applying for one while others were fine. I do however know the IHS requirement is only new so imagine you’ll still need to complete it.
Hello!
Thank you for the very detailed post!
A question of mine that I couldn’t find the answer to (that perhaps you know?) is:
– You mention that you must apply for the visa outside of the UK. So, if you are in the UK on a student visa and would like to apply for a Youth Mobility Visa (in order to be able to work after your studies are finished), how long do you have to be outside of the UK in order to be able to apply?
Thank you very much,
Mikael
Hi Mikael, once your student visa has expired or even before I beleive you can apply for the YMV visa. the only condition is you’d need to return to Australia to apply for it as I don’t beleive you can apply for it from within the UK regardless of if you hold a visa to be there or not.
Hi,
I have been looking at all the official websites and found no answers, hoping you can help. I’m confused about the 10 day collection rule for the BRP. Is it from the day I arrive or the day the BRP is ready?
I have a spousal visa which starts on 1 September, I was planning on arriving on that date and picking up the BRP the day I arrive and flying to Italy the next day (till 20 Sept.) but just found out the BRP will not be delivered till 8 Sept. These are the options I can think of:
1. Am I able to leave the country without it on 2 Sept. and come back for it by 10 Sept.?
2. Should I fly in a day early (before my visa is valid) then return after my holiday on 20 Sept and collect it?
3. Should I change the flight all together and not enter the UK till 20 Sept.?
Thank you in advance, really appreciate your help!
Loren
Hi Loren, my understanding is the 10 days starts from the day you enter the country. I assume that’s why they say it can be collected in 10 days rather than just come get it the day you arrive as they only send it out once you’ve been registered as in the country.
You can come and go from the UK for 30 days from the date your visa starts before you need the BRP so as long as that initial 30 day window falls in line with your trip to Italy all should be ok.
Hi,
I am anticipating on leaving Australia on Boxing day; so I cant apply until end of September..
Can the bank account letter say the balance in Australian dollars?
Also, with the address in the UK we were planning on staying in a Travelodge in London for the first couple of days would we just put that address?
Also i read somewhere that they only hand out a certain amount of Visas to Australians per year. Have you ever heard of anyone being denied due to them running out?
Thanks in advance, I apologise for so many questions!
Hi Madeline, yes the bank statement will be in Australian dollars, they handle any conversions when reviewing your application.
You can just use the travelodge address yes, just keep in mind that your BRP card will be delivered to a post office near that address for collection so be prepared to travel back that way to get it.
I’ve never heard of people being denied due to the visas running out, so don’t worry about that.
Thank you so much your page is fantastic.
I read somewhere that you must collect the BRP within 10 days. Does that mean it will be ready for collection on your arrival into London? E.g. if you plan to stay in London two nights at the beginning you can normally collect it straight away?
Thanks again, this process is quite stressful!
Hi,
I am wondering if they check your funds after your letter from the bank which you send in with the application? So, could you have $5000 in your account when you apply, then after receiving your visa use some of that to pay for flights etc?
Thanks!
Hi Zandra, they are unable to check your bank account for the funds so you would be fine to use it for flights etc after the application has been submitted. The money just needs to be in there at time of applying.
Hi,
I have recently obtained my youth mobility visa for the UK. Above you explained that this does not allow you to work in other European countries. However, I have been told that you can work in other countries if you are employed by a UK company? is this true. Im looking at doing a ski season in France and it would be awesome if I didn’t have to obtain another visa.
Any info on this would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Peta
Hi Peta, while I’d love to say I have the answer I’m afraid I just don’t know on this one. In my mind regardless of who your employer is you are doing the physical work in France so would need a visa to let you enter and then stay and work there. Otherwise you are limited to the tourist visa you were granted entry to the country and if you were asked are you working there it would be illegal the way I’d see it.
Hi Chris and Peta….a friend of mine on the Tier 5 visa is currently working in Germany for Topdeck for Oktoberfest, and as far as I’m aware there are no issues with her only having the UK working visa, as Topdeck is a UK company…mind you, I don’t think it’s technically a paid job, she gets a bed and food in exchange for working, so that might make a difference.
Hope that very vague explanation helps!
Hi,
I will be leaving on a world trip this December from Melbourne.
I will not be entering the UK until around September 2016. Will I be able to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa now and have it start when I arrive in the UK?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom Beard
Hi Tom, you can apply for the visa now but it will have to start 3 months from your date of application. Additionally you also need to enter the UK within 30 days or face having to re-apply to get a new visa vignette added to your passport to re-enter. You’d think they would let you apply earlier than 3 months with all the recent changes but alas that is not the case.
Hi All,
I just want to reiterate this is one awesome page Aussie Nomad! The guide to apply for a Tier 5 – Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa is probably the best one out there.
I’m in the same boat regarding the 30-day YMS sticker in my passport only being valid from 02/11/15 to 02/12/15 (my visa letter stated that I can stay from 02/11/15 to 02/11/17). These dates are based solely on the fact that I applied before I turned 31. However, I don’t intend to enter the UK until June 2016! I’m also hoping that my Biometric Residence Permit card will be kept safe at the UK Post Office for collection until then.
I’ve emailed the UK Home Office department for further advice. In the meantime, I’ve found a link through VFS Global who is the agency we visit to undertake the biometric registration here in Australia (except Adelaide):
http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/australia/pdf/biometric_residence_permit_to_launch_200515.pdf
The above FAQ sheet appears to provide the following answers:
Q) I’m not sure what date I will travel to the UK, what should I do?
A) It is very important you supply an accurate travel date as part of your application, as you will be
designated a 30 day travel window on the basis of the information provided in the application
form. Make sure you know the date you will travel to the UK before you apply. Your temporary
visa will only be valid for 30 days once you receive it and you will need to travel within this
period. If you receive your temporary sticker, and can’t travel during the 30 day window, you will
need to apply for a replacement.
Q) What happens if I decide to change my travel date after I receive my 30 day passport
sticker?
A) If the short term vignette has expired or will expire before you travel then they will need to apply
for a new short term vignette. You can do this by going onto the http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk site
and applying for a transfer of visa.
———-
Following the link, the UK visa application page does not appear to let you nominate an arrival date more than 6 months out from today’s date. After completing the mandatory fields, you select ‘Other’ as Reason for Visit, ‘Others’ as the Visa Type, and ‘Vignette Transfer’ as the Visa Sub Type. Doing some further research through this site https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees, the fee appears to be AUD$276 for a vignette transfer!
https://visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk/y/australia/aud/other/other-fees/vignette-transfertransfer-of-a-valid-visa-vignette-to-a-new-passport
This AUD$276 fee appears to be the only solution in obtaining a new short term vignette in relation to the YMS visa, if you cannot arrive within the original 30 day window.
I hope this helps – I was contemplating a whirlwind trip to the UK to pick up my Biometric Residence Permit but thought better of this 🙂
Hi!!
I am currently in England on the Tier 5 YMS VISA. I was keen to go for a visit home for my younger brother’s birthday. Trouble is, when I return I will only have 3 months left on my VISA. Do you think that I will have any trouble getting back into the UK with only this amount of time left?
Any help or opinions you could offer would be much appreciated!! Thank you!!
Thank you so much Aussie Nomad!! This post, as well as the answers to questions posted has helped me tremendously!
Hi,
I have just applied for my UK tier 5 visa and have my biometrics appointment booked for next week.
However I am stressing because one of the questions asked are you travelling with anyone? To which I answered yes as I am travelling with my boyfriend.. The next question was do they have a valid visa? (the drop down boxes where yes, no, not required) Well we were doing our applications at the same time and thus the only answer to that question would be no, as neither have current visa at this time…
I am now stressing that we will get denied, but I cant see there was any other answer… Has anyone been through this and I would be very interested in your outcomes as it may save me some sleep over the next week!!
Hi Nomad,
Just thought I would give you a few updates!
I am here in the UK under the new teir 5 visa.
Just like everyone else I was told I had to collect my BRP within 10 days of arriving to England however I arrived 29th July (as per my visa) and received a letter before I left Aus saying my BRP wouldn’t be available until Aug 5th. So really I only had 3 days to collect my BRP. Trouble was, I was travelling as of 3rd for a week so I was worried I would be fined for picking it up a few days late. There was no complications with picking it up 🙂
I now have to carry my BRP card and around at all times as that is now my visa.
Hi Tahlia would you please be able to give me some info on what the immigrations officers asked of you when you got to London? Assuming you flew into London? Did you need to show them proof of anything or just show them your passport and entry clearance?
Hi Rhi,
Sorry this is so delayed. As far as I can remember they didn’t say much to me. Just general questions but was much easier to get in as apposed to just to travel. All I carried with me was my passport and the paper stating I had to pick up my BRP. x
Hi there,
I got my Youth mobility visa in August last year but have only just decided I will proceed with using it and leave for London around March. Can you advise if the Youth Mobility visa is still active (as far as I am aware its valid for 2 years until the indicated expiry date on the visa), that is, I do not need to visit London to get any documents signed off first?
Hi guys,
I know I have found this site uber helpful and so hopefully my experience will help others as I know I was a ball of anxiety at times!
Firstly I was concerned with my application for two reasons, firstly I forgot a country I had visited and secondly I am travelling with my partner and so I had inputed his details and then when it asked his visa status it only gave me the options of, ‘yes, no, not required’. Obviously the only answer applicable to me was no.
I was so stressed and ended up handwriting ‘application pending’ next to my answer and I also hand wrote the country I missed.. Just make sure you initial it.
I was successful and so please dont stress as much as I did they are okay with handwriting!!
My timeline:
Application: 14 September
Biometrics: 24 September
Received email decision made: 29th September
Email from VFS they had my passport: 5th October
Received via Australia Post: 6 October
Soooo happy!!!! I arrive in the UK on the 14th of December ready to go!! Thanks everyone for contributing to this site and Aussie Nomad for providing such excellent information.
Hey Chris,
I was wondering if anyone knew if the BRP can be picked up by someone in the UK and sent back to Australia? Because I didn’t realise about the BRP (sloppy follow up researching after May 2015)
Or do I have to go there to pick it up?
I applied for the visa basically before I turn 31, hence the rush (also thanks to this website (kind of wish I found this sooner) I have discovered that I am not the only near 31 y.o. to be applying for this 😛 ) and I wont be able to go until a much later date. Would they allow me to enter at a later date? Because I know that a friend of mine traveled for 9 months before she went to the UK on the visa, mind you this was before the pick up of the BRP in the uK, it was when it was sent to you in your passport.
Thanks,
Claudia
Hi Claudia, you would have to collect the BRP card I’m afraid and it’s only generated and sent out once you’ve entered the UK I believe and they’d want proof of who you are for collection. To enter later on you just apply for a new 30 day vignette and all will be good. The new process is rather annoying, your friend got the better deal on the old visa setup.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thank you so much for your insight on this, it is most helpful!
I had a question regarding the funds. From what I understand you must have the funds and proof of the funds in a bank account at the time of your online application.
Do the funds still need to be in your account at the time of your appointment or when you arrive in the UK?
Thanks heaps.
Hi Kate, funds don’t need to be in your account when you enter the UK no but it’s a good idea to have some money on you when you travel 🙂
Hi, I am planning to apply for the Youth Mobility Visa although had a question.
I understand you cannot work anywhere outside the UK whilst on this Visa but is it possible to travel to other countries within Europe?
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thanks,
Sera
Hi Sera, yes you can travel to other countries within Europe or anywhere in the world should you wish.
Hi there,
I am planning on travelling to the UK in June 2016 but I’m travelling around Central America for 6months prior. Is it possible to apply for my UK visa now and just lose 6months off of my 2 years or do I need to enter the UK within the start date of my visa to pick up my BRP? Cheers!!!
Hi Dan, you can apply now and lose 6 months on the visa, you’d just need to apply for a new 30days vignette before you arrive so the BRP details are processed for you.
Hi,
I recently applied and was accepted to the Tier 5 (youth mobility visa). The visa is dated 22nd December 2015 for entry.
I now plan to travel from Australia in November to SE Asia and India then arrive in the UK late May 2016.
Is this going to cause me to loose my UK visa if I do not arrive within the timeframe of the Vignette? and if not, is it possible to apply for a new vignette while travelling overseas or would I need to return to Australia for this?
Could I potentially apply for a new vignette in India?
I understand this visa process is relatively new and I cannot find this information anywhere. I have tried contacting UK immigration and will let you know if I get a response.
Hi Conrad, yes you can apply for a new vignette I’m just not sure if you can apply from India or have to return to Australia. I’d imagine you can apply from wherever you are but as I’ve not knowledge of the process I can’t say for sure how to go about it.
Good write up and well done on all the responses.
A couple of points:
‘I believe this visa falls under the non-settlement category but can not confirm this.’
YMS is definitely a non settlement visa.
‘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’
This has always been possible, in fact I applied for a WHV from the US in 2004.
As i have replied to some of the comments above, it is possible to apply for a new YMS visa if you have not entered the UK on the first one.
Hi Wade, do you have any experience on being able to re-apply if you’ve not been in the UK already? I’ve seen a few reports of people not being able to re-apply after having been granted the visa is all and have no experience with it myself. Especially with the new 30 day vignette process it seems they are making it harder not easier.
I’ve advised a few people on it before and it is allowed under the rules as long as you haven’t entered the UK on the current visa.
https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility/eligibility
“You can’t apply if you have:
– already been in the UK under the scheme or in the former ‘working holidaymaker’ category”
Note the reference is to ‘already been in the UK’ rather than having been issued the visa.
Ok good to know, I’d not seen that wording on the site but it’s been awhile since I’ve looked at it closely as well.
Hi, hoping someone can help.
When I go to book an appointment there are only appointments available up until November 6th? Will more dates be released soon?
I am leaving Australia on the 26th December, am I leaving enough time if I plan to make an appointment on 7th Decmeber to have my visa approved so that I can leave Australia? I won’t arrive in the UK until 1st Feb or should I be aiming to make an appointment in November?
Any thoughts, feedback or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Simon, I believe it’s a rolling period of when dates are available due to the office that has to process the appointments. I’d maybe look to apply a little earlier than the 7th just due to delays around the busy christmas period, better to be guaranteed to have the visa back in time than miss out in my opinion.
Hi Aussie Nomad!
First up, thank you so much for writing all this, it saved my life during the application process 🙂
I’m now all set with my visa and will be arriving in November. I’m currently making plans to travel over Christmas in the Schengen area and I had a question. Does the YMV allow me to travel (purely for holidays) within the Schengen countries without applying for seperate tourist visas for them?
For example, starting in the UK on my YMV, will I need to apply for a French tourist visa to go to Paris? Or will my YMV allow me to holiday freely in the Schengen area?
Thanks again for all the help!
Hi Rochelle, as an aussie you don’t need to apply for tourist visas to the schengen area at all regardless of the YMV visa so you are all good there. You just book your ticket and go.
Hi there!
First of all, thank you so much for all your information and for helping so many people – good on you!
I have a quick question; I have got my VISA approved and will be entering UK in 3 weeks. I was wondering what documents I needed for getting through immigration officers, as I have the VISA in my passport, but I think I’ve misplaced the paper that had the ‘your visa has been approved’ etc on it. Would just my passport be fine?
Thanks again 🙂
Luana
Hi Luana, you just need your passport with visa in it and thats it. You’ll have to fill in a landing card on arrival but that will be provided one the plane before you land.
Hi,
I’ve been living in Scotland since October 2014 on my Tier 5 YMS Visa and I have one year left as it expires October 2016. I moved over here to be with my boyfriend who is a British citizen and was wondering if you had any idea as to how I can remain in the UK after my visa expires? I am Canadian and wasn’t sure if I had to go back to Canada to apply for a different kind of visa and then come back or if I could apply for a different visa while in the UK? I’ve read that with the YMS visa, you’re unable to extend it, you’re unable to apply for the same visa more than once in your lifetime and you’re unable to switch it into a different visa (I think) however, is applying for something completely different possible? For example something like a spousal visa as we will have been living together for 2 years by the time this visa expires in 2016.
If you have any insight I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks in advance! 🙂
-Danielle
Hi Danielle, you can apply for a spouse visa or a sponsored work visa yes but believe both require you to head home to apply (sponsored work visa I know you must go home for).
Hi Daneille,
I am in a same boat as you. But just from Australia and moved in July 2014 and my visa ends in August 2016.
We can apply for a Partner of a British citizen.
I met someone who went through the process and she suggested to go through a Third-Party as there are a lot of documents that are required. So, the application won’t be sent back for being incomplete.
Andrea
Hello,
It seems this question still hasn’t been answered: if my visa start date is January 2016 and I arrive in the UK in June 2016, this is well past the 30-day vignette validity. I understand that I will have to apply for another short term 30-day vignette for a fee, but if I am traveling around USA/Europe how do I re-apply? It is my understanding that I need to attend another biometric appointment and send off my passport when re-applying. I can’t do this if I’m traveling can I? I know that you apply online, just not what is required afterwards.
I would assume a lot of people would be in this same position (traveling before arriving in the UK). Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can find no info other then “you have to re-apply for another vignette”.
Hi Alex, wish I could tell you but this new 30 day vignette visa item has not been around a long time and I’ve very limited details on how you reapply outside of what I’ve written above. Soon as I get more information I’ll update the post and in the meantime if you managed to find out hwo to apply while travelling I’d love to know.
Cheers for all the great info!
Do you need to have a job already lined up over there to be accepted or can you just find work once you get there?
Thanks
Hi Kenneth, nope no need to have a job before applying.
Hi All,
Great site Aussie Nomad, thanks!! Just a note on a couple of things I have noticed that may have changed:
– RE: “Must apply within 3 months of travel date”. The online form does allow you to select a date up to 6 months in advance. HOWEVER, I’m NOT SURE if you could then book a biometric appointment earlier then 3 months in advance.
– RE: Bank Statement Details. There is a UK gov Tier5 Youth Mobility checklist form (with points for nationality and age etc.) that says the bank statement must be dated within 3 months of date of application. Then I read on Aussie Nomad that it must be within 30 days of your application date. When we went to the Sydney processing centre (last week) they said it should of been dated for the date we lodged our online application. Our statement was dated for the day of the appointment. They still took the document but warned us they were not certain the embassy would accept it. I think they were being overly cautious and sort of making up their own rules. Will keep you posted on if the embassy refuses our application.
– RE: Photo. PHOTO MUST OF BEEN TAKEN WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. They actually check this against your passport photo too so don’t be a tightwad and try and save $20 on passport photos by reusing your 5 year old passport photo like someone I may or may not know. Don’t worry too much though as the Visa Centre let us go and get a new photo taken before we lodged.
– RE: Arrival in the UK. The processing centre said that if we arrived earlier then stated arrival date, we must follow the tourist visa criteria (as Aussie nomad says above). They said to get our visa, we must arrive within 30 days of our stated arrival date, report to the nominated post office in our application within 8 days of arrival in the UK, then wait up to 10 days (advised to stay in England during this period) for notification that our BRP is available for collection, then return to post office to collect the BRP.
Keep posting relevant info of your experiences everyone so we know whats happening!
Thanks!
Hi Aidy, while you can select up to 6 months in advance as far as i’m aware the limit is still 3 months.
Find that info about the bank statement needing to be dated the day you lodged as well its almost impossible to get things from the bank on the day you wanted, especially if the statement needs to be posted out.
Good advice on the passport photo, always worth taking the time to get new ones.
Love to see how you get on with the BRP info once you get abroad. I’ve got very limited details (don’t even know what one looks like) on them so anything you can add after you arrive would be great.
Nomad,
Thanks for all this information on the website it has been a wealth of information during a process which could otherwise be quite tricky.
I had a DUI conviction in excess of 0.08% BAC in 2011, so I had a criminal conviction to may name which made me quite nervous when applying for the visa, but from reading your website it gave me confidence to apply and would hopefully get approved for the visa. The documents I provided was my bank statement, photo’s and a national police clearance (from the AFP which took about 2-3 weeks to receive).
My timeline was quite quick despite my expectations:
Application: 23/10/15
Biometrics apointment: 28/10/15
Received email decision made: 4/11/15
Email from VFS : 9/11/15
Received via courier: 10/11/15
Good luck to everyone else and hope my experience calms some nerves and kudos to the previous posters for their experience
Congrats on getting the visa mate, enjoy your time abroad.
Hi there.. this was so helpful- thank you so much!
Just wondering, how long does it take to get your passport back??
thanks
Hi Tegan, usually within 2-3 weeks but sometimes earlier if you are lucky.
Do you really need a valid Passport for the duration of your visa period ?
Yes I’m afraid so Jess.
Actually in practice there is no such requirement. The visa expires on its expiry date rather than with the passport. If the passport expires, you carry both it and your new one – plenty of people do this.
But with the move to BRP cards this is irrelevant anyway – you only get a 30 day visa in your passport, then are issued with a separate BRP card which is totally independent of your passport.
But you’ll want a valid passport to be able to leave the country 🙂
Hey,
I applied for the visa before i turned 31, and also went to the biometrics appointment.
I am about to send off for the visa.
I think I will be able to make it to the UK within 30 days to pick up the Biometrics document.
But what happens after that? Ie what do I do with the document after I get it?
I dont plan on moving to the UK this second. I just wanted to have the work visa up my sleeve just in case I wanted to work there over the next two years. And I meant just working for a few months at a time if I go over to the UK. I am an Australian, living in the USA (I also have a work visa for the USA).
So, I was just going to go over there during the 30 day period to pick up the BRP, and then come back to the USA .(Ie just go the UK for 3-4 days to pick up the BRP, so I can validate the visa). How do I activate the visa with the BRP once I pick it up? And am I able to go back to the USA and come for just a short time to work over the next two years with this Youth Mobility visa?
Sorry if thats confusing? Thank you so much for this website.
Hi Phil, the visa is active once you enter the country. Based on that they then send out the BRP card to be collected at the nearest post office to where you stated your address in the UK would be. You may have to hang around for longer than 3-4 days thought as I think the BRP card takes 8-10 days to be sent out for collection.
You can come and go as much as you like on the visa within the 2 year period so you should be all good to do as you’ve planned.
Phil,
I went through a similar process to you, where I only planned to be in the UK for a couple of days to pick up my BRP, then leave again.
The key is planning your stated date of arrival. It seems as though the BRP is only available for collection 7 days after the date you specify as your date of arrival in your application (you will come to realise this when you receive your approval letter). So if you state in your application your arrival date in the UK is the 11th of November, the 10 day collection window for the BRP will commence from 18 November.
So if you want to time your collection to a specific date, list as your stated date of arrival in your application the date that is 7 days prior to your desired collection date. It doesn’t matter if you don’t enter the UK until after your stated date of arrival. This date in the application process is just used to signify the commencement date of the 30 day temporary visa.
Hi guys,
Just an update on my visa processing time.
Application: 28/10/15
Biometrics appointment: 11/11/15
Received email decision made: 20/11/15
Email from VFS : Did not receive one (I’ve read that some people get this email and others do not)
Arrived to me: 26/11/15
I also left a country off that I visited by accident as I thought we only had to include non-Commenwealth countries. They allowed me to write this additional information on a sheet of paper which I signed and dated as extra supporting documents. I also made a mistake with a digit of my phone number which they just got me to cross out, re write and initial.
I was also worried as I had small cuts on both of my thumbs and thought they may have issues with my biometrics, but again, there was no issue here.
Thanks so much for the awesome resource Aussie Nomad! 🙂
Hi All,
Just wanting to share my new 30 vignette visa experience.
Applied the week before i turned 31. Got an appointment a few days later in Sydney for my bio metrics (there seemed to be lots of availability at that time). All went smoothly. I put the maximum entry date – 3 months from application (as i wasn’t planning to come till next year until they changed the rules). Once my visa arrived i booked a flight to enter on the last day of the 30 day vignette! All went to plan. Entered on the 19th October and went to my selected post office the following day to collect my BRP card. It was there and all smooth sailing. 2 years to come and go as i please. Now for setting up my bank account.
Good luck everyone
Cheers
Mira
Hello,
Many thanks for taking the effort to write this guide, and for being so active in replying to comments.
I applied only three days before my 31st birthday and it was granted on the 3rd of November.
I had strict timing requirements as I was going on a work trip overseas just after my birthday and also did not have enough time left on my existing passport.
As I wouldn’t be in Australia to attend an interview for several weeks after the initial application, I put it off until almost the last minute. Also I wanted to spend xmas in Australia. Here were my timings:
– New passport applied received ~10/09
– Applied for Visa 01/10 (latest appointment date offered by website: 27/10)
– Work trip ~09/10 – 26/10
– Appointment 27/10
– “Decision has been made” email 03/11
– AusPost “Urgent reminder” note received 19/11
– Finally picked up passport on 20/11
I didn’t receive an email after the 3rd of Nov that my passport was sent. Much fretting and visits to the (always closed) office were fruitless.
The only indication that it was ready was an “urgent reminder” note from Australia Post that there was something waiting for me at the Post Office. There was no initial note, so not sure what happened there.
Also, to add to the stress, initially they couldn’t find the passport when I went to the P.O. – an anxious few minutes later, I ripped open the plastic and did a mini jig for joy when I found out I had it!
Observations:
– They didn’t care about the date on my photos, despite the “must be one month” rule on the website. $17 down the drain there, as I could have re-used my passport photos.
– The interview wasn’t an interview. Just a biometrics sample in a dingy room in an office building in Perth. The lady questioned the date on my bank statement, but I told her I did submit my application within one month of the date. All good there.
– My bank has no branches, so I submitted an online request to get a paper statement – I actually said it was for a visa application and they stamped it for me.
– This was stressful. A last-ditch effort at the last minute. I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you are wavering and approaching the cut-off date – just do it!
Yours,
Mr. C
Hey, I just wanted to say how good this blog/thread and also to say that despite the fact that I became very anxious after reading it, my experience was suuuuper easy.
I’m an Aussie currently studying in France and my student visa is only 5 months (this worried me). I was also worried A LOT about my bank statements because I only get my (Commonwealth Bank) statements online and when I called my branch in Sydney they assured me that printing it would constitute an original, but that seemed to contradict what I read here and there was no time for me to get “stamped originals”.
So I went along to the visa application centre in Paris on a Monday morning (23 November) and was in and out having done my biometrics and everything within 15 minutes. I ended up paying an extra £130 to have it couriered back to me and also to have it decided a bit quicker because I am going to the UK for Christmas and couldn’t risk not having my passport. (The choice was 4-5 working days or 10-15).
The DHL man handed my passport back to me on the Friday morning (27 November) and I am thrilled. I’m landing in the UK on the 22nd of December and very excited for my next adventure.
I hope this might help anyone who is stressed about their bank statement – I literally just printed off the statement I receive online in colour and that was perfect.
Thank you again for the great help!
Hi Nomad,
great site, I really appreciated the information I found within and so I wanted to add my experiences for anyone in my situation.
I turned 31 in August ’15, I was studying my masters and wouldn’t finish until Dec ’15, as such I was in a situation where I had to commence my visa prior to my ability to travel. The experience went (successfully) like this;
Toward the end of July I put in an online application, arranging a date for appointment in Brisbane for early August. As with comments above, I needed to be in the country of my residence for this to happen.
This (BRP) appointment occurred a week or two prior to my 31st birthday, this is just the meeting where you hand over signed application docs, supporting bank statements, birth certificate etc, and they take your photos and fingerprints. The application was lodged at this date, and I received confirmation of my approved visa after the date of my 31st birthday.
The date of travel of this initial application was not permitted to be more than 3 months in advance of the date of my application and so I received a vignette for entry during (I think) September, but it didn’t matter anyway as I could not have travelled until well after the 3 months period of available options.
My initial vignette lapsed.
I went online and followed guides for a ‘transfer of vignette’, applications on UK VIsas page, ‘other, ‘other, ‘transfer of conditions’. This required I pay an additional fee of several hundred AUD, I think about $400 or something thereabouts. At the end of this process I had to set another appointment with the VFS office in Brisbane.
I attended again with signed documents and supporting documentation, new photo and fingerprints were taken, effectively a new BRP taken. Note, at this time I am older than 31, though I have an approved Tier 5 YM visa from earlier in the year, this part is not seen as an application ie; no decision is to be made, simply change the conditions of an existing approval.
I have just received my approved, amended vignette for entry early next year.
Thanks again, and all the best for other applicants!
PJ
Hi There, I am going through this at the moment too. Could you please tell me how long it took you between applying for the transfer of vignette appointment and actually receiving the new transfer vignette in your passport,
Thanks
Conrad
Hi there
I recently cancelled my visa application as I wasn’t going to arrive in the U.K. Too pick up my brp within the 30days. When i finish my travels in the USA I want to apply for my visa again, do you think I will have any hiccups with the process using the same email address etc?
Cheers for your help
Dan
HI Aussie Nomad,
Great site, highly informative!
About the BRP, I am in a similar situation to some others – I’m planning on being in London to pick BRP and then leave again (very similar situation to Phil)
As I’ll only have a short time in London, what would happen if I was unable to pick up the BRP? Can this be picked up when I come back? Even if I come back say around 6 months time?
Thanks for this site and all the info
Cheers
Hi Sarah, if you don’t collect your BRP on the first entry you’ll need to apply for another 30 day vignette to enter the UK. Your BRP card becomes your visa to enter the UK after that initial 30 days so without it you’ll just be a tourist.
Hi,
I am super confused! i am travelling to uk and europe in May for 5 months. i thought that getting the uk working visa would allow me to travel europe past the 90 days in a 180 day period? is there anyway i can do this?
thanks
emily
Hi Emily, no sorry the YMV is only for the UK. Travelling in Europe will still restrict you to the 90 days in every 180 I’m afraid.
Heyy,
Thank you heaps for all your answers, you’ve been so so helpful in this process.
I think this visa is accurate for my situation but i want to double check before i apply, I’m moving to London to work for a year and a half, does this visa apply for me?
Also I’m Applying for my Visa to start in March 2016 because I’m planning to travel Europe before hand and will have limited access to computers and supply’s, but i wont actually arrive in London till June 2016, is there a certain time i have to arrive in London once my Visa has started?
Thanks heaps, keep up the good work!
Hi Laura, you need to enter the UK within 30 days of your start date to collect your BRP. Failing to do that means you’ll need to apply for another 30 day vignette that allows you to enter the UK on your YMV.
Hi there
My partner and I are leaving New Zealand at the end of April, and want to travel for a couple of months before heading to the UK. We will need to apply for our Youth Mobility Visas before we leave NZ, so won’t have the full 24 months in the UK (i.e we may spend two or three months in Europe, so our visas will only be for 21 or 22 months). I’m a bit confused about the BRP though – is the ten day period for getting the BRP from the date our visas will start, or can we have a date that we enter the UK (and get our BRP) that is different from the day our visas start?
Anyone??!
Thanks =)
Hi Rebekah, the BRP is issued 10 days after your start date of your visa and must be collected within the first 30 days or you’ll need to apply for another vignette to enter the UK. Failing to do that means you’ll be entering as a tourist and not on your YMV.
Hi Nomad,
I have just put in my application for the youth mobility visa for the UK and I am hoping to meet my Irish girlfriend in three months time. She is currently looking for work in the UK and Ireland. Can I apply for a working holiday visa for Ireland at the same time?
Thank you.
Hi James yes you can hold a working holiday visa for Ireland and the UK at the same time.
Hi,
Firstly I just want to thank you for putting this together. It has been SO helpful.
My question is in regards to another visa. I’m planning on applying for the YMV so I can live and work in the UK for 2 years and spend it with my boyfriend who is a citizen. My question is, if I have proof that we lived together for the 2 years I was there, will I then be able to apply for an unmarried partner visa while still in the UK or will I have to return to Aus?
Thanks
Renee.
Hi Renee, you’ll need to leave the UK after your YMV expires as you cannot extend your stay on that visa. I don’t know the process for applying for a partner visa in the UK but check to see if you can apply for it while in the UK on a tourist visa perhaps.
In fact you can do exactly what you are proposing, and while it is not possible to switch to most other visas from YMS, you are allowed to change to unmarried/spouse without leaving the uk.
I turn 31 in April and have started the application for the YMV but not yet completed it. Since I want to get it right approved first go, was thinking of going with one of those companies that assist you with the visa application form, in which they look it over before you send it off. Theres some that charge $100, and some that charge $250, just wanted to know which you’d recommend.
Cheers
Shez
Hi Shez, save your money and avoid those services. I’ve not known anybody to be denied because of a mistake on their visa. It really is super easy to fill out. Keep that money for a fun weekend break trip somewhere in Europe.
Hi All,
I came across this post on the internet that may help… It was regarding a Tier 2 visa, but I would assume that it would be the same process. I am in the same situation, however if possible I would like to re-enter the UK on a tourist visa and then apply for the new vignette while I am there.
“We have successfully been approved a new 30 day travel vignette. Due to us not knowing the new rules regarding the 30 day window and because we had planned travel before heading to the UK our vignette lapsed. Therefore we reapplied from Switzerland (which is not our home country), paid the fee, went to another biometrics appointment then sent off the application. Passports were returned within 1 week! We didn’t supply any additional supporting documents but explained in the application forms our situation.
The whole process was quite stressful as whenever we emailed or called for assistance we had mixed advice. Even the guy at the Geneva office where we had our biometrics appointment told us we had the incorrect form and would need to reapply for the entire application. Lucky we did not listen to him!”
Cheers
Hi Conrad,
This is so helpful for us as we are in the same situation as you, and getting stressed out as we have just received our Visa and found out that we will not be able to make the 30day window as we will still be in the USA till mid-May (visa starts in March). Can you please explain the process of how you went about getting a new vignette and how much it ended up costing? Thanks!
Hi everyone,
Great source of information by the way, so glad I stumbled across this.
Any assistance would be great, I’m applying for a vignette VISA transfer. Unfortunately my 30 day sticker in my passport goes from the 12th of Feb to 13th March 2016 … but I don’t get to the UK until the 18th of April. I have begun my application for a Vignette Transfer, however I’m not sure what to put details to put in for the catgeory “VISA Transfer Details”. It asks – Please enter details of the passports that contains the visa you wish to transfer along with VISA catgeory, date/place of issue and date of expiry. I can’t go past the current date for date of issue which makes it even more confusing. Any help would be awesome!
Hi
Thank you so much for all of your info. You’re website has been like a bible for me over the last couple of months.
My timeline was really fast – I thought it might help others.
Application: 05/04/16
Biometrics apointment: 11/01/16
Received email decision made: 14/01/16
Email from VFS : 18/01/16
Received via courier: 20/01/16
Cheers,
Hi Aussie Nomad!
Thank you so much for positing about the Youth Mobility Visa. This is so much more helpful than their official site – I wish they had some examples they could put online. Good effort on trying to answer everyone’s questions – I tried reading through all of it to see if mine were all answered but I’ve been reading it for 2 days and I think that’s enough. I’m kind of going through the online application now and there are a few questions I have. Sorry for the essay:
There is a question that says, “Are you a national of the country in which you are making your visa application?”
As someone who is simply an Australian Citizen I assume the answer is “No”.
Then they ask you to “Enter the Details of what permission you have to stay in the country.”
Can you just write that you are an Australian citizen? What exactly do you need to elaborate on here?
Then later on in the application there’s a question, “Have you ever voluntarily elected to depart the UK?”
I have visited the UK twice on holiday, so I imagine the answer is yes. But do you know if this means anything more negative? I would have obviously departed the UK on my travels.
When I hit “yes” for that question they ask to give the date of departure, airport or port of departure, immigration decision and the papers you were served and the reference number. The date of departure and airport or port of departure are compulsory but the rest isn’t. I don’t know why they need this info anyway – I’ve already put in these details in my previous visits to the UK.
For the official documents regarding monetary status can you just give them the bank statement? You don’t need to give them a letter with it as well do you?
When filling out the contact numbers should you give the international dialling code? For example 00 61 8 … etc.
Are you 100% sure those printed forms (Appendix 7) are redundant? There is a bit if confusing conflicting information on those printed forms anyway. There is a huge discrepancy between the printed form and the online form regarding parents. For example, the printed form asks for the nationality of your parents at their birth and the time of your birth, whereas the online form just asks for the nationality in their passports. I think my parent’s were of Malaysian nationality when I was born but they are Australian citizens now according to their passports. I feel as though it would be stupidly contradictory to hand in a printed form that says one thing, and an online application that says another. How about the mother’s family name? On the online form I can just use her family name as it appears in the passport whereas the printed form seems to want her maiden name. But from the looks of the blog just putting her current surname seems fine.
I’m applying from Perth – so I don’t need to provide any envelopes or return envelopes for the biometric stuff because it’s all included as part of my deal isn’t it? Just reading through the comments and getting more confused 😛
May I ask why do you need to send in the copy of the ID page in the passport at the Biometrics? They already have the passport…
Do you really need the Biometric Resident Permit and/or visa before you start applying for jobs? I was hoping to get my visa approved first and apply for jobs whilst I was still in Australia. I’m really hoping to get a job before I go over there…
Hi Charlene, for that first question you would answer yes as you are a national of Australia which is the country you are making your application from. It’s all in the wording and they really don’t ask it well. For the voluntarily elected to depart the UK you would put no as you were never asked to leave and left you just left as your trip was over.
Yes the bank statement is fine to give on its own no need for anything else.
No need for international dialing codes as you are applying in Australia.
The printed forms are now totally redundant and you can only apply online so yes the Appendix forms are history. They really should take them down to be honest to avoid the confusion.
Yes applying in Perth means they do all the postage and so on you just drop everything off at your appointment and come back to get it when it’s done.
You don’t send in anything for your biometric appointment its just poor wording on their end.
You can start applying for jobs while still in Australia you just need the other details once you get abroad to stay in the UK.
Hope all that makes it easier for you.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thanks for your reply. I’ll let you know how it all goes!
thanks Charlene & AN
I found this forum to be an immense help while going through my application process! I’ve just recently had my Tier 5 visa approved so I thought I would leave a little note of my experience and timeline in applying to pass the help along 🙂
Regarding bank statements – a few days before I planned to apply, I called up my bank to ask for a custom statement to be generated to cover up to the date I was applying (which was a Saturday). I’m with UBank – an online bank – so was only able to call as they have no physical branches, but once I explained what I needed they were able to create the statement along with a confirmation of funds letter, both of which they stamped and signed. As well as posting these out they also scanned and emailed them to me just in case they didn’t reach me in time for my biometrics appointment. These documents were accepted just fine.
It must be a quiet time of year as I experienced a super-quick turnaround!
Here is my timeline:
16/01/16 – completed & submitted online application
19/01/16 – biometrics appointment
22/01/16 – received an email that my application had been received at the Manila processing centre and a decision had been made, and it was being sent back to the visa centre in Melbourne
25/01/16 – received an email that the Melbourne visa centre had received my documents back
I picked it up on 25/01/16 and it was all approved!
Regarding the BRP – on my approval letter that I received back it stated that it would be ready for collection from April 23rd (my visa starts on April 16th) from the post office it nominated near my residential address in the UK. You have a 30 day vignette to enter the country, and then 10 days from the date you physically land in the country to pick it up, otherwise fees apply. I land on April 29th, so it all works out nicely.
Hi Danica, thanks for the detailed update on your application. Hope you have a great time over in the UK.