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, Im Currently in the States. Do you know if I can apply from here? OR need to apply from back home, Australia.
Hi Jacques, I believe you can apply from the US but check with the UK embassy nearest you to be sure.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
This might be a bit beyond what you know, but you seem to have lots of info.
I am in the UK on my Teir 5 and my partner is here on his ancestry visa. Apparently I could have come to the UK on his visa but we did our own thing, thinking it might be easier. Anyhow, we are now trying to figure out if/how I can latch onto his visa as a defacto partner and thus stay beyond my allowed 2 year period. If you have any information that would be great.
cheers
Hi Jill, I’m afraid you are right that one is just beyond my knowledge. I’d suggest calling the UK embassy to find out what is required.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Thanks for the tips! I attended my biometric interview today and I am about to post off my documents. Was triple checking that I had everything enclosed and now have a querie about the passport photo…
The sheet I that I was given at the office today states to enclose the application form (to which I have a passport photo affixed) and also says to enclose a passport photo. So my question is – do I enclose just the application form with the passport photo affixed or the application form with photo affixed, plus another copy of the passport photo?
Ta!
Hi Melanie, the details on the UKBA site only mentions one photo with your name written on the back of it and from memory I only added one photo to my form. If you are really worried add the second one in there just to be safe but one should suffice.
Hi Nomad,
Thanks for the helpful website. Had a question regarding the application timeline. In regards to applying for the visa I understand you can only apply up to 3 months ahead however I plan to be traveling through Europe for 2 months before arriving in the UK which means I will only have 3 or 4 weeks to apply for the visa before I leave. I think this might be a bit fine with timing/stress so was wondering if I could apply earlier. Eg. Apply October for visa start in Jan but won’t be in the UK until Feb?
Realize this would mean I would have 1less month in the UK but would rather this than deal with possible delays and only have 3 to 4 weeks for the visa process just before I go.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hi Sam, you can start the visa early yes and just miss out of a month of it. I applied within 4 months of my departure and planned to travel for 2-3 months before getting to the UK so just had my visa start a little earlier. Turns out after 2 months I was ready for a rest so the earlier start worked out in my favour and I didn’t miss any time of my visa period.
Awesome, look like i’ll start the Visa process soon then. Thanks heaps!!
Hi,
Thanks for the helpful website!
Although I know this question is not as relevant for those applying from Australia, I wanted to know if you had any idea how/where to inquire about the number of allocated sponsorships for the youth mobility scheme, as some countries have a much lower limit (Canada has 5,500 places for 2013).
I know this question might be a stretch, with 35,000 places for Australia this might not be something you have ever look into, but I thought I would ask regardless.
Thanks a lot!
Hi L, I don’t believe they publish the number of visas offered anywhere that I’ve ever seen to be honest. Your best option would be to cal the UKBA offices nearest you and inquire that way.
I have a question about travel insurance – once you have been living in the UK for a while, is it necessary/wise to keep having valid travel insurance?? eg. I have a 6 month policy that is about to expire, but I have no intention of leaving the UK in the next 2-3 months? It is more for accidents (eg. getting hit by a bus), then insuring my belongings.
Hi Clare, you will need to check with your insurance provider as many won’t cover you once you stop travelling and start living somewhere so keeping it may be wasting your money.
In saying that if you are living in the UK on a visa you will be covered by the NHS which should cover you should the worst happen.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Does it matter that i set my start date 3.5 months from my visa application date instead of 3 months?
Thank you!!!
Hi Sarah, yes it will matter as you can only set the start date within 3 months maximum of your application. I’ve seen in the past people have set the date to be 4 months or similar and the visa processing hub changed the start date to be right away instead.
if you haven’t sent the forms off I’d adjust it just in case. The visa center should just start it a max of 3 months but it seems they don’t do it in most cases.
Hi Aussie nomad
Thank you for your quick response . I haven’t sent the forms off and haven’t done biometrics yet. so should I just adjust the forms with a pen next to the start date?!
Thanks Sarah
Hi Sarah, I would just to be safe. Cross out the date that’s there and just write in the new date.
Thank you! Also legally how many days is 3 months, that the visa center goes off? 90 days?? thank you again!!
Hi Sarah, I believe they use 90 days as the value for 3 months so just work on that or maybe shoot for 89 days just to be safe.
Hi Aussie nomad- you should start a business with your handy site! 😉 thanks.
I have been currently travelling Europe this year, but like others left my visa too late to apply before I left, and now had to return to Aus to apply for it! Annoying but I’m going to a wedding too so not too bad. For those who were wondering, as far as I know you can’t apply from other countries in Europe UNLESS you have a work visa for this country- which for most as far as I know you have to apply from Aus as well! Trust me I have spent many hours/ money googling and calling agencies and the uk boarder security.
Anyway, my question is Aussie nomad, is that I am wanting to apply for my visa as soon as I return home- like in the first few days by having all online forms completed and done online so I can get it back ASAP.
Do you think I will have probs submitting it from online from OS or does this not matter. Am I able to book in my appointment online so I am ready to go once I get off the plane?
Thanks in advance.
haha Hannah I’ve considered a book on the whole process to be honest 🙂
I fixed that might be the case for applying for the visa a I read the wording again the other week and it seemed to suggest that so thanks for the confirmation. I’ll update the post above to reflect it.
For the visa I see no reason for you to not be able to fill out the online application and set your biometric appointment before you get home. It would certainly speed up the process for you.
You book your biometric appointment at the end of filling out the application form online so you can have it ready for when you get home providing a date is free then.
Hi Hannah
I did the same sort of thing when i applied for my ancestry visa. I was in The UK on youth mob.visa, but had to go home to apply for ancestry visa. I was worried about how long it would take, as i’d booked my flights to return within 3 months. So, i sent of all electronic docs from the UK, booked my bio metric appointment for the day after i arrived, and then sent it off, right after the biometrics appointment. I then received an e-mail confirmation 5 days later saying it was approved! So quite a bit of stress for nothing, but it’s certainly not clear anywhere whether or not you can do this. Hopefully this helps! Good luck!
Bek
Thanks Aussie nomad and Bek! That is a relief as it’s a bit confusing. I’m so glad to hear yours came back quick too Bek, I have a 5 wk turn around which I am hoping will be ok. It is stressful!!
Yes, Aussie nomad it’s very hard to get it from other parts of Europe- not like us laid back Aussies who let the poms fly to NZ and come back. Ahhh my partner is even on a defacto PR with me in Aus and that had no weight in the UK!
I think you already answered this but I am unsure about the financial letter- do I just contact my bank for it? Is it easy??
Thanks
Hi Hannah, for the financial letter it can either be a bank statement issued within the last 30 days (original not a copy) or a letter from the bank, printed on their letterhead stating you have the required amount of funds.
Hi Aussie Nomad!
I think I already know the answer to this question but it is worth asking 🙂
I did not enter the UK on my Youth Mobility Visa until 4 months after its start date. My Visa ends early next year and I was wondering if you knew of any way I could appeal my expiry date and extend my youth mobility visa to leave 24 months after my actual arrival date into the UK which was June 1st.
thanks in advance!
Hi A, I’m afraid there is no way to appeal the visa dates that I’m aware of. You’ll just need to make the most of your time left I’m afraid. I had almost all of my 2 years there and that still wasn’t enough so you’ll always be left wanting more.
Best you can do is leave the country and come back in on a tourist visa but be sure to have return tickets booked and so on if you do so they don’t think you are trying to stay and work on illegally.
Yes I thought just as much. Thanks for your help!
Hey there, first of all, this website has been a godsend for me applying for a YMS visa; I cannot thank you enough! I’m wondering about going to the UK a week earlier than my visa actually starts. Everything I can see suggests that what you say -arrive as a visitor, then leave and re-enter on your visa- is correct, but any idea how I can verify that? I’m Canadian and the Consulate General in Ottawa and in Toronto are just automated messages with no human being to talk to! How did you get your info!
Hi Emily, you can legally enter the UK before your visa starts on a normal tourist visa but for your YMS visa to take effect you must leave the country and come back in. Thats how all visas function, you sort of get checked in and out via border control.
Just be prepared to answer questions via the customs officials as to why you are coming early etc as they might think it suspicious.
Just a query re the reverse of this. UK citizens coming to Australia as tourists and then starting work a month later, do they need to leave Australia and then re enter?
Debbie I’m unsure on the reverse and how the Australian Government treats them but I’d imagine they would need to leave and re-enter to have their visa validated.
Just to add my visa turnaround time: I submitted my online application (and payment) on Thursday 10 Oct and made a biometrics appointment for the morning of the Friday 11th October (I had already prepared all my documents). The biometrics appointment took 5 minutes and I went straight to Australia Post and sent off my passport (all in Sydney).
I received the confirmation email on Thurs 17 Oct and picked up my passport today on Wed 23rd Oct. That’s just 14 days for the entire visa process!
This is so efficient and easy compared to getting visas for other countries!
Hi Amy, Thanks for the update on your visa processing time, will be good info for anybody looking to apply around this time of year.
Hi,
Found this website very helpful. I was wondering on your experience of stolen passports/working visas. Mine was stolen whilst travelling and have obtained my new passport back in the UK. But trying to research on the process of replacing my working visa as it is still valid until June 2014 in order to continue to work and travel until then. But am getting incredibly lost on whether I can apply for it again as the Tier 5 can only be applied when outside of UK.
Considering either to:
1. Cut my losses and head home as I have already done some travel
2. Continue traveling and re-enter the UK on as a tourist visa for 6 months
3. Keep researching and apply to re-new my visa for until june next year
Hi CC, you should find that while the visa is stuck into your passport it will still be registered electronically with the UK customs so you will be free to come and go as you like still on your visa. You’ll just have to explain your passport was stolen and that’s why its no longer in there.
I’d call the Uk visa office just to be safe but not having it in your passport shouldn’t be a problem.
Great thanks for that. It is a relief and I hope that would be the case.
You wouldnt know the correct contact number any chance? The UK visa website is not the most straight forward and pretty much leads you around in circles which does not help at all. Its quite frustrating really.
I don’t know the one for the UK but you could try the Australia office on the number 1300 858 472 or email to [email protected]
Hi,
I contacted the number for immigration in UK (0870 606 7766). Just to let you know for future reference for others in this situation. Apparently you need to apply for the TOC application (Transfer Of Conditions). Im hoping that is all I’ll need so need to apply. Fingers crossed.
CC that’s a great piece of information to have found out. I’ll add it up the top with everything else for future reference if anybody else has their passport stolen.
Hi,
So I have applied for my Visa and paid the $330 or whatever it was online and now am trying to log back in, but it states that I haven’t paid, even though I have a confirmation email saying that the payment was approved.
Is there anything I should do?
Thanks
Hi Will, if you’ve just gone through the process I’d wait it out till Monday just in case there is a system problem and it hasn’t updated. If it’s still no good by then give the visa office a call, the phone number is 1300 858 472 and they should be able to help you.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
I have a question regarding visa start dates… I’ve recenty been granted the visa, thanks to all the helpful info on here! however, I was planning to go over in March 14. The visa starts in Jan 14….will there be any problems in me going in March? Or do I have to travel in Jan?
Thank you!
Hi Venu, you will have no problems arriving after the start date of your visa. The only problem you’ll have to worry about is missing out on 3 months of your visa period. Everything else will be just fine.
Aussie Nomad,
A quick question from your blogs, how long does it take to get biometrics appointment in Melbourne? So like from the time you go to book one online, how long do you then have to wait to travel up to Melbourne to then go to your 5 min appointment?
and if you sent all the documents off on the same day how long does it then take to get them all back? is your passport safe, and does it return with your visa?
The bank statement thing is still confusing me. for practicaul purposes, IF I apply today, 4th of novermber for examples for a YMB visa, but choose the start date say 2 and half months from today January, 25th, 2014, approx. what dates does the bank statement need to be?
Between Octover 4th, and Novermber 4th
or
After November 4th but before biometrics appointment (which I also ask how long it takes to get them)?
Thanks,
Also Aussie Nomad,
on the form, how many points do you write for English in part 1? it does not list that as a section on the online calculator? if I am correct you put
Nationality (30 points) (Part 2)
Age (10 points) (Part 3)
Maintenance (Funds) (10 points) (Part 4)
So hence 40 for attibutes, and 10 for maintance, but what do you put for English?
Also
is issuing authority Australian government? or who?
Also,
for part 7 additional information did you give any information to support your application? if so, what did you put? and for anyone else following this, what did you put?
Cheers,
Joe.
Last Qestion Nomad,
I have been reading about UK National Insurance Number for the youth mobility scheme?
What is this? does this mean us aussies do no need travel insurance as this will cover us? or do we need to apply for this as soon as we get there or does it come with out visa?
do we need it to work? does it mean doctors appoinments are free?
Hope you can help with everything clearly for me.
Great Read.
Cheers, Joe.
Hi Joe, I’ll try and sum up all your question but let me know if you need anything else.
1. You book your biometric appointment date after you complete the online application and pay your money. You pick the date so if one is free the following day you can go in then of you want to.
2. You dont send your paperwork off to the biometric people, you just take it with you to be verified. You post it all off AFTER your biometric appointment.
3. For the bank statement if you were to apply on the 4th of November the statement must be dated between the 4th of October and the 4th of November. Basically the 30 days prior to you completing the online form and paying your money.
4. The points for English refer to the VAF9 form which is linked up above. I’m not on a great internet connection to look it up right now but check that form it should tell you.
5. The UK National Insurance number is like your tax file number. I’ve a post on that linked from my moving to london post in the sidebar of the site. Its separate from travel insurance. You need the number to work and get paid. As for healthcare you will be able to make use of the NHS (again details in my moving to london post linked above). You do get free healthcare like on medicare but be sure to have a form of travel insurance for anything you do outside of the UK.
Hope that covers off on all your concerns.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
You’re an absolute top bloke, many thanks for the time and effort put into this site selflessly helping others! I am on the Tier 5 YM scheme and know you mentioned that there was no way to appeal the visa dates (I read through all the blog posts!) but I was curious to know whether you had ever come across a scenario where someone had to go back to Aus for an emergency (my father passed and I was away for 4 months at the start of the year)? I just wanted to see if there was any process for exceptional circumstances.
Any help/advice is much appreciated mate.
Hi Ray, I’ve not heard of any options at all to appeal for exceptional circumstances I’m afraid. Your best option is to call the UK visa office and plead your case and see what they say but I don’t like your chances.
Sorry to hear about your father as well.
An Australian passport holder can apply for the Youth Mobility Visa outside of Australia as long as it is from a country that the applicant is legally living in. I am an Australian passport holder currently living in France on a Working Holiday Visa. In February of this year I contacted WorldBridge Services to ask whether or not I could apply for a Youth Mobility Visa from France and this was my reply:
“You may submit an application for a visit visa in any country. Applications for any other entry clearance categories, however, should be submitted in your country of nationality or your country of normal residence.
Please note: in general terms “country or territory where the applicant is living” refers to the place where a person is present in any capacity other than as a short term visitor and has permission from the relevant authorities to be so.”
I successfully submitted my application yesterday at WorldBridge Service’s Visa Application Centre in Paris but not before its staff contacted an embassy (I’m not sure whether British or Australian) to confirm my eligibility. If you’re an Australian passport holder living in France on a Working Holiday Visa that is ‘type D’ you are eligible to submit an application for a Youth Mobility Visa from Paris.
Hi Jessica, thanks for the detailed comment. I’ve been meaning to update my details above to match what you’ve said but not had enough time to confirm it was true. Glad to get it confirmed now so it can help others applying for the visa.
Hope you can clarify
Once you have filled in printed off application how do you go to the next step off biometrics ? I am assuming that is the next step !
I haven’t come across any info about about how to get biometric appointment please help
This info is for my son in Sydney
Best wishes many thanks for HELPING everyone that you do
Kerrie
Hi Kerrie, when you apply online, after you finish the form it asks about the biometric appointment and you get to pick your date and time etc.
Thanks so much Aussie Nomad
Just at the early stages of this application your blog is so important to have available . I am sure I will have more questions that will need your help .
Best wishes Kerrie
Hi Aussie Nomad!
Thanks for posting this up, it’s been extremely helpful! I have a few questions, hopefully you can answer before I make the $12 payment to talk to a consultant.
I have just applied for the visa and have made the payment and booked a biometric test for early December, (I leave for the UK in March) unfortunately I have a trip planned for early January so will be needing my passport. From reading the comments it looks like it will take 2 weeks before I will receive my visa and passport yet this would be subjected to how busy they are… so could be longer. Was wondering if these biometric testing can be re-scheduled a month or later than previously planned, would the application still be valid then?? Would I lose my money and have to re-apply? Also is that just calling the consulate and re-booking?
Thank you in advance,
Kym
Hi Kym, yes normal turn-around for getting your passport back is 2 weeks. I’ve not seen it take longer than that and is often only a week at times. Due to you applying in December there might be some delay but I think if your passport is sent off early december you’ll definitely have it back for january.
I don’t believe you can change your biometric appointment without calling them and even then believe it needs to be within 4 weeks of applying going on another persons question recently. There is a link above about processing times you might want to look at as well.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
You’re site is so informative and easy to navigate unlike the actual UkBorder site! Thanks for the easy step by step guides in applying for the YMS. Although I have read through all your posts, I just wanted to clarify a few things to be sure before I apply.
My questions would be, would it be safe to apply online like 5 days before my 31 st birthday as I would like to delay the start of the visa. I turn 31 at the end of December and was not planning on entering the uk with this visa until maybe a year from now. I have to apply now so the visa would be available when it’s time for me to go. I know that I would be giving up the months prior to this date to when the visa is issued, so what would you suggest I put on my planned travel dates? Still the 3 months from application date incase the visa date starts immediately? Should it be a problem entering the Uk with this visa after so many months since it started? Also on the website application it says to have itinerary and residence ready. How do I answer these parts if I haven’t planned on going just yet?
If you could answer my questions, Thanks in advance!
Oops…sorry forgot another thing. My passport expires September 2015, before the end of my visa if it gets granted. Would you suggest I still do my online application and pay for it before my 31st bday. Would I need a new passport before i attend the biometric test Or can I send this passport away with my application?
Thanks again!
Hi Sam, for applying for the visa you just need to be under 31 at the time of application so imagine 5 days before would be ok. I do think however I’d apply a little bit sooner (maybe 2 weeks before) even though I know you are trying to get as much time free for when you do arrive abroad. Just want be sure you can have your application posted off before you turn 31 and then there is no need for them to query it at all.
As for the visa start date it needs to be within 3 months of your application so just put down 3 months out from when you apply to save off on them potentially starting the visa date straight away which has happened to others before.
As for the itinerary and residence ready that isn’t required for the youth mobility visa that I am aware of.
For your passport it needs to be valid for the entire length of the visa period according to the visa requirements as they stick the visa into your passport. so I would look at renewing that first before you apply.
Thanks for the great website! Super helpful. I just wanted to ask whether you can travel to the UK before your youth mobility visa start date on a tourist visa? Your page says this is possible but I’ve seen conflicting information online so just wanted to ask your advice and any recent experiences.
Thanks!
Hi Kaz, yes you can enter the UK before your visa starts but for your visa to become valid on its start day you need to leave the country and then re-enter on it. If you stay in the country on the initial tourist visa you are bound by its rules so you can’t work etc.
Most likely you’ll also get asked a few questions by customs on entering the UK as they would think it strange of you arriving before it starts. many people however fly into the UK and then leave to travel around before coming back to start the visa so you would be fine to explain it away.
Thank you for this!!! I’ve been trying something explaining this visa program for a couple months. Even though I’m from Canada, so I can assume the process might be a bit different, this has made me so much more calm about the whole process.
Hi Heather, I believe the process for Canadians is very similar to what we have to do as Australians so glad to have eased your mind a little.
Hi!
Would you able to tell me how much time is given to do the biometric test and to have the application sent away after doing the initial online application?
Cheers,
Sam
Hi Sam, I believe from a previous commenter that you have around 4 weeks to book in for your biometric appointment after you lodge your application online.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for all the great info and comments.
I think I’ve read on the website that you have 90 days to book your biometric appointment after you apply online – http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/australia/01-temporary/?langname=UK%20English – in section 3 “apply online”. Is this correct? Does anyone else have any experience with this?
We are planning to head to the UK in April 2014, however my husband turns 31 in the first week of January so we are looking to apply online now. To put a potential spanner in the works, we are going to overseas on 18 Jan 2014 so if we complete the online application, attend the biometric appointment and send of the docs by the end of this week (20 Dec), we may be cutting it a bit fine in terms of getting our passports back by 18 Jan with Christmas/New Year closures.
Will we be able to apply in the next week and then book a biometric appointment in early Feb when we get back from overseas??
Thanks!!!
Hi
Please help
How many points question
40 attributes 10 maintenance and ????? for Englsh
Been all over the forms . guidance forms / application forms I cannot find the answer going crazy !
Thanks
Hi Kerrie, as per the guidance notes from the UKBA website:
“Please note that not all tiers/sub-tiers have a requirement for English and/or maintenance and you should consult the appropriate Guidance for the tier or sub-tier under which you are applying, for details.”
Basically you can leave the English box empty as it doesn’t apply to you. You can get your points for the attributes and maintenance from here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator
and from the Appendix 7 form here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/visas/vaf9-app7.pdf
Hope that helps.
Hi,
I would like to know if it’s sufficient enough to send in passport and original bank statement or must I also send in a photocopy of them as well?
May I also ask if you have any suggestions to what I should fill for the section ‘additional information you wish to give in support of your application’?
I’m not sure as what is appropriate to write down.
Any information would be appreciated!
Thanks again!
Hi Sam, you must send original documents no photocopies. As for the additional information that’s entirely up to you but I’d say not many people fill that out.
Hey Aussie Nomad,
Thanks for all the information – it’s great.
I noticed above you mentioned not to send photocopies however I read on the new site that you must supply original copies and a photocopy for each supporting document. This may be a new thing?
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/australia/01-temporary/?langname=UK%20English.
Also, I must have missed the section where you said to write your mother’s Maiden name. I accidentally wrote my Mother’s current surname.. (the surname on her current valid passport). Do you think this will be ok?
Thank you!
Hi Chelyn,
That may be a new requirement with the new website but the link you’ve provided is for a temporary work visa and not the youth mobility visa so there could be some confusion as the documents for both will be different.
As for the mistake with your mums last night I’m sure you’ll be ok, but if you are really worried you can call them to have it amended.
Awesome guide man. Just wondering if you’ve heard anyone having problems with spent convictions. Do you think it’d be fine if I have no record except one spent with full documentation etc?
Hi WDK, for your convictions you just need to provide as much details on what it was for etc as you can at time of application. most people have been fine for minor offences from what I’ve heard but its really up to them and their discretion.
Good to know! That’s cool, I’ve got all my documentation still and a few letters of reference that went with it so should be all good. Thanks for your reply.
Hey mate,
Thanks again for the awesome site. Spent conviction was no problem in the end, sent in all my court paperwork and it was fine. Got my biometric scan done on january 3rd and posted it off express that day. Got it in the mail today. 17 days from posting it, to Sydney, to Manilla processing then back to me. Crazy good. Thanks for your advice! Arriving in London on March 3rd 🙂
And to add to that for others, the conviction had a few complicated circumstances surrounding it. The charge was for fraud in the end which isn’t looked upon too kindly by countries like USA. It was a spent and there was a police complaint involved along with some dropped charges. Included a quick cover letter explaining that with all of my documentation along with contacts to two police officers I dealt with. So seemed like it was no problem at all in the end. Was a bit worried.
Hey mate.
I an currently in the tier 5 youth mobility scheme and thought it expires in may when I arrived but apparently it was for January. Does it not stay from when you enter the country rather than when you thought you might enter? I would have lost 5 months if this is the case.
Cheers for any information.
John.
Hi John, the visa start and end dates are as per what is printed on the visa in your passport and not from when you first entered the country I’m afraid. So if the start date is from january on the visa in your passport that is the start date not when you arrived in may.
Hi,
This is probably one of the most basic questions out there, but I’m applying online, and on the first page it says ‘Date of intended travel’ and I’ve put that in. On the next line it says ‘Location’ . I know this may be a really stupid question, but is it referring to my current location or location of travel (UK)? When I put my home country (NZ), it provides details about applying from NZ for the UK, but when I select UK it doesn’t come up with any suggestions. I’m so confused!!
The next line says ‘Country of Nationality’ which I’d obviously put NZ so I don’t know what I’m supposed to do and I cannot find an explanation anywhere!!
I’m so sorry to bother you with such a silly question!!
Hi Jo, it looks like the UK visa website has just had another makeover (wish they’d stop changing it) aimed at making it easier to apply but it feels more confusing to me. From what I can decipher your location field will be where you are currently applying from so if you are in OZ then put that and then your nationality as NZ below. Hope that helps.
I’ve just completed my application online and I put down UK as location. I found that confusing – I’m hoping this wont matter too much, should I contact someone to amend it?
I’m applying from Australia and everything else says that this is where I’m living.
I haven’t been able to take my app any further ie book my biometrics appt or pay as the system wasn’t working today.
Any suggestions on what to do here?????
Hi,
Your blog has really help through out the process of applying for my visa. I have received a email saying my passport has been dispatched, this was one week ago. I put an express trackable parcel bag with my application to post my passport back however after 1 week I have still not received my passpost and it I have tracked it online and it has no history, but the envelope that we sent is trackable and has all the correct information. Has anyone else had any issue with this?
Hi Chloe, when I sent off my passport I never had tracking info for when it was sent back to me and I believe it’s been the same for a lot of people who left comments on my site. Given it’s been a week I’d imagine you’ll be getting it back within the next day or so but failing that you can call the post office to get more details on where the parcel might be.
hey nomad,
this site is amazing and has answered a lot of questions i had.
I’m supposed to be going to the UK at the very end of December but haven’t applied for my visa yet :/ and just wondering what is the fastest way and best site or way to apply for it ??
🙂 thankx
Hi Monique, you can only apply for the visa through the UKBA website I’ve mentioned above unless you pay someone to fill it out for you. There is no quick other way to get it sooner I’m afraid.
I thought that would be the case 🙂 thank you
Just another question I’m little nervous about sending away my passport. Dose it usually only take 2 weeks for them to send it back? and do they often get lost in the mail
🙂
I’ve never heard of someone’s passport being lost but its also why they tell you to send it off with a trackable parcel so that it can be tracked if it does go awol.
Hi Aussie nomad.
Well done on putting together this great site. Its been most helpful. However Im a bit confused about the whole 90 day europe bit and weather or not i need to first go to the uk before i go to europe? I am planing on flying in to amsterdam to meet some friends and then going on to paris before flying into the uk. my visa will have started in the uk a month before so i realize i will lose this time, but will i be eating into my 90 days in europe as i have not yet entered the uk? will my visa be active or will i need to get tourist visas for both holland and france?
Thanks so much for all you help.
Matt..
Hi Matt, thanks for the kind words about the site.
OK so with regard to the whole visa thing there are two different ones you are talking about there. You have your UK youth mobility visa that I assume you have applied for which grants you the ability to live and work in the UK only (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) for 2 years.
Then you have the Schengen Visa which covers around 27 european countries and allows you to stay up to 90 days in every 180 day period.
Both are completely seperate so your UK visa won’t help you explore Euope, just the UK. Your UK visa will start on the date stamped on it and yes you just lose time to be in the UK, it will not have any impact on your time in Europe you still get 90 days in every 180 to be there and travel around.
Hope that helps a little.
hey aussie nomad thanks for all the info i have a quick question.
when it ask for nationalities on my passport it says Australian but i was born in New Zealand but do not own a nz passport should i put nz on the visa or leave it just Australian
sorry and one more lol, its asking for my contact detail and how long i have lived there but its only allowed me to enter a uk address a little confused lol
Hey Rexyboy, for nationalities if you only have an Australian passport then put down Australia.
For the contact details I’m not sure on that one. It should be asking you about your current address in Australia and not the UK as far as I’m aware, maybe check the box’s that you’ve selected the right options and are applying for the right visa to be safe.
Thanks for the info! It was really helpful when getting my visa. I can confirm that it is possible to get the visa outside your country of residence, as I got mine in the USA and am an Australian. Note that I did require an address in the USA to have my passport returned to me.
Hi Josiah, thats great information as it is a very conflicting topic and I’ve never tried it so have to reply on people commenting to update this post. Appreciate you taking the time.
Hi thanks for the comment!
I am going to be travelling for over three months and so can’t apply for my visa before I leave Australia. I’ll be in NYC for a couple of months on a tourist visa so I am hoping to be able to apply then. Any tips for the process?
Cheers,
Kate
Hi Kate, I’m afraid you can’t apply from the US unless you have a valid working or resident visa for the US.
Is it possible to apply for your visa to start earlier then you intend to arrive?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Kate, if you’ve already been granted the visa I do not believe its possible to change it.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
I’m have my youth mobility visa and will be setting off on an adventure next year (planning to base myself in Scotland) – it starts on April 1. I read somewhere else on this page that if you fly into the UK before your visa starts, you have to leave the UK and reenter on/after the start date, I assume so Immigration can mark down that you’re in the country and allowed to work.
At the moment I’m hoping to fly over 9 or 10 days before my visa starts. Do you know if, because it’s a relatively short time, I would be able to fly straight into London without having to leave the UK again 10 days later? If I would have to leave, I might use it as an excuse to fly into Dublin instead and spend some time on the Emerald Isle before heading over to the UK 🙂 – that would be alright because I would be in the Republic of Ireland, yes?
Hi Holly, I’m afraid for your visa to be valid you’ll need to leave the country and then re-enter. When you enter before it starts you are entering on a tourist visa and not your actual youth mobility visa.
Flying into Dublin will be fine just be sure to fly back into the UK from Dublin, entering via Belfast will mean you are already in the UK and is a bit of a grey area for travel because you won’t be stamped into the country.
Thanks so much for your help! Great site too, so much helpful info
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Firstly thanks for all the great info – its really the only place that I have read info that is useful!
My husband and I are departing Australia on 31 March 2014 and will be travelling through the US and then heading to Brazil for the World Cup before landing in the UK on 28 June 2014.
We then hope to work in the UK for the next 9 or so months until March 2015.
My questions to you;
– We are applying for Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visas – this gives us 2 years, yes?
– We tried to apply for visas during the week but only allowed us to select dates at the end of Feb 2014 – is this far too early for us to begin the application process?
– If we apply now they will begin our visas within the next three months and therefore we will loose 6-7 months of our visas?
– Would you recommend we wait until early next year (Jan) to begin the application process? (we would then only loose 4-5 months on our visa during travel time)
– Is there an acceptable duration of time from when your visas to begin that you are expected to enter the UK without any hassles? (i.e. visas beginning Feb/March 2014, entering UK to begin work late June 2014 – 3-4 month delay)
I hope you can help!
Zoe
Hi Zoe,
– Yes the visa is valid for 2 years and lets you live and work there for that entire time
– When applying for the visa you need to be looking to start the visa within 3 months of leaving Australia. As you intend to travel beforehand you’ll have to deal with starting it 3 months after you leave and miss out on some of the 2 year validity of it.
– yes thats correct
– I’d leave applying for the visa as late as you can so you avoid missing time on it. But it will need to be done before you leave Australia and you should allow a month at minimum to get the whole process completed.
– Nope you can come and go as much as you like on the visa. If you get there a year late all you’ve done is miss out on a year of the visa. The UK don’t have limits on when you have to use it by etc.
Hope that helps.
Cheers Aussie Nomad! Thanks for the help 🙂
Hi Aussie Nomad
This blog has been so helpful I can’t thank you enough! I was planning on paying someone like britbound to do the visa for me but I think now I can do it on my own! I’m heading over in March next yr so will be applying for mine soon 🙂
Just a couple of questions.
– I’ve read on other websites that you need to send multiple copies of your application and supporting docs – is this true?
– before getting an adult passport I had a child’s passport which has obviously now expired. I still have it – do I need to be sending this off with my current passport when applying?
– do you recommend paying a company to set up a bank account – I’ve heard its a rough process??
Thanks again!
Hi Hannah, its really really easy to do the visa so don’t waste your money on getting someone to do it for you, you’ll need that money once you get abroad 🙂
As for your questions:
– No need to send multiple copies of your forms just the one is fine
– If you have an old passport yes they do ask that you send it off I believe, otherwise you can just say it was lost and avoid sending it
– getting a bank account is really easy as well, I’ve a post about getting a bank account and all sorts of other items all linked up in my Moving to London guide. Everything is very easy to get so keep your money and do it all yourself.
Hey! 🙂
I was just going through the application process and noticed that a UK address is a required field.
“What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK?”
My girlfriend was planning to move out of student accommodation get a a flat/apartment 2-3 weeks before my arrival (We both need to pitch in for funds) so this in theory would have been my main address.
Is there any way I can really get around this or will we just have to deal with her moving into a new place a month or two before I arrive?
Hi Dean, I don’t remember seeing a UK address as a requirement when I applied or when I checked the new application form a few weeks ago. It would seem strange for them to ask for it as well given you’ve not even arrived in the UK yet. I’d double-check you are filling out the correct form and I’ll be sure to evaluate the application process again to see what is going on.
Absolutely love your site! I too am applying for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa at the moment, and too am being asked for a main address in the UK.
At the beginning of my application I picked reason as ‘work’ and then ‘Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa’. Is this right?
I’m finding the whole thing harder than I had hoped. Digging up old passports and finding dates of travel in the past 10 years is a bit much!
But yes, hopefully you can shed some light on the ‘main address’ issue. Should I just put a UK friend’s address?
Hi Chris
Thanks for your brilliant site and patience in answering everyone’s questions.
I have completed the online form today using the new beta website, and it is quite different to the old VAF9 Form. Biometrics is booked for 13 Dec and I intend to mail it off ASAP as I am arriving in the UK on 20 Jan 2014!
A few observations:
Dean is correct, Part 1 Qu 20 requires an address in the UK. I put a friend’s apartment, but I’d suggest putting a hotel or hostel if you don’t have an address.
For contact no, they prefer a landline as the primary contact and mobile no as the secondary contact.
For “how you would like to receive your original documents”, the options are “in person”, “by post” and “in person with registered return envelope”. I picked “By post”, but when I printed the form it said “Submission Method – By Post”.
Part 5 – Points Claimed Qu 61-64, the form does not explicitly state to put the number of points you are claiming but I think that is what they’re asking. I put Nationality – 30, Age – 10, Maintenance (funds) – 10, Total – 50
Application fee is AUD $370 (£200)
Useful bit of info re Biometrics:
“Please ensure you arrive on time and no more than 10 minutes before your allocated appointment time. Please take a seat and wait to be called. Biometric data capture takes only a few minutes. You must bring your Passport, a printout of your On-line Application Form and Appointment Booking Confirmation Notice with you. Your biometrics cannot be captured without these three documents. Please note that staff at the British Consulate CANNOT provide guidance or information on visa matters or processing times. They will stamp your application form to show that biometrics have been taken and you should ensure that only this copy of the application form is sent, along with your passport and supporting documentation to UK Visas and Immigration, GPO Box 2718,Sydney, NSW, 2001. If you have any queries, please look at our website http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or call our information line on 1902 941 555 (charges apply) or 1300 UKVISA (credit card line).”
Hi Jess,
Thanks so much for the updated details on the new form the UKBA have released. I’ve not been through it all as yet so will be sure to now.
I agree about the address, entering the address of the hostel or hotel you intend to stay at on arrival will be the best address to use. And curse the aussie dollars exchange rate vs the pound, back in July it was $40 cheaper.
THANKS JESS! You’re a legend!
Hey Aussie Nomad,
Another quick question for you 🙂 I know it has been mentioned a couple times above that if you don’t have your first passport because you’ve lost it, it’s fine to put on the form that it’s lost.
On the new form they ask if my passport is my first, I said no and then they asked for the details of that passport (issue date, expiry date, etc). I left it blank and selected passport is “lost”. I also wrote it in the “additional information” section that my first Aus passport has expired and lost and therefore I’m unable to provide the passport details.
Do you think this will suffice? I think i’ll cry if my app gets rejected 🙁
Thanks heaps 🙂
That’s pretty much what I put on my application, I highly doubt that you will be denied just because your passport was lost.
Hi
Thanks so much for posting this, I’m looking to apply next year and its definitely cleared up some questions.
I’m looking get a visa to start in August. Would you have any idea if I’ll have issues getting a visa that late in the year because I know there is a limit?
Thanks in advance
Hi Leah,
Good luck with the visa next year. As for missing out due to the limit, well I’ve never heard of anybody missing out from that in all the time I’ve had my blog. People are still applying now (December) and getting a visa so I imagine you’ll be just fine next year.
Thanks so much for posting this. Your blog is a life-saver! It was so informative, even more so than the official website itself! I’ve just completed my application online – seems like they’re trialing a new visa application site. The new form allows you to put in an intended travel date that is more than 3 months away. I’ve put in June 2014, but we’ll see whether they readjust the date on my visa.
Hi Nancy, yes the UKBA seem to be beta testing a new application portal which is a big change from the previous setup.
Would be great to hear from you if the new form allows you to apply more than 3 months out, would be a big help to a lot of people I’m sure.
Hi guys,
Have been following this blog/thread in the last month and have found this to be so helpful. I echo what everyone’s been saying, that this is definitely clearer than the uk4visa website.
Unfortunately I only found this website a bit later on and rushed my application and went through an agency.
I did ask whether the new application portal let’s you apply in advance, earlier than the 3 month period and answer is no. They will still give you the date within 3 months of application.
Hope that helps!
Hey Nancy,
Actually checked this with an agency I went through and they said UKBA will still have your visa start within 3 months of application, not more!
I do wish I had found this site earlier, before I got too excited and went through an agency (1st contact) and paid a premium to use their service. D’oh!
Great blog, Aussie Nomad!
Hi Jaira, thanks for the feedback from your experience and yes it’s a shame you didn’t find me first so you could save yourself a few dollars but not to worry.
I’ve applied yesterday. I inputted the address of the hostel I am staying at in London at the beginning of when I hope to arrive. Going to biometrics on Tuesday in Vancouver, Canada. Fingers crossed.
I got the email this morning that I got my VISA. I applied March 13 and had my biometrics on 17th. They received my application in New York on the 19th. It took 14 days since receiving my application but actually was less working days and also there was Christmas and New Years in between so I am sure they were closed certain days so despite the 14 days I waited it was quite fast turnaround on their part.
I can’t thank you enough for this website it was a life saver. So very helpful.
Hello. I understand this may be a really stupid question but I can’t find the answer anywhere and this site has helped me out a lot…
I applied for my Youth Mobility Visa and got an email saying it will be dispatched shortly, and then recieved my documents and passport in the mail… When do I actually get the VISA? I was expecting it to be sent to me with my passport and documents, is it supposed to be sent separately?
Thanks and sorry for the dumb question.. I’m a bit anxious!
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
I’m not 100% certain but it might actually be IN your passport. Have a look 🙂
Hi Amanda, as Jaira has said you’ll find your visa pasted into a page of your passport. It takes up a full page so won’t be hard to find in there.
Hi am wondering what you know about student visitor visa to uk my daughter has just sent off her visa application to travel the 6 jan 2014 someone told her she still might be able yo travel there even if she has not received her visa in time but I cant see how this would work can you tell me anything at all
With thanks
Gayle
Hi Gayle, I’m afraid I don’t know much about the student visas as I’ve never applied for one. I do know she can travel there as a tourist for up to 6 months without applying for anything.