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 Everyone,
For those wondering how long the process takes my timeline was as such:
17th August: Submitted online application
21st August: Biometric in Sydney
28th August: Email from Manila to say the visa has been despatched
!st Sept: Email from visa centre to say it has arrived
2nd Sept: Picked up passport from visa centre
2 weeks all up which I thought was amazingly fast!
Hope this helps.
Hey Aussie nomad
I’m currently in london and have my tier 5 working visa that expires in 2016 but I need to go back to Australia for 2 weeks can I come back an still work in the uk?
Thanks heaps 🙂
Hi Kylie, you can come and go from the UK as much as you like on the visa and still be able to work and live there. Enjoy the trip home.
Hi there
My passport expires in 2016 – I’m planning on heading to London end of this year for 2 years. Do i have to get a new passport now?
Hi Megan, while you don’t technically need a new passport as it only needs to have 6 months expiry on it to apply I’d get a new one before you apply to make life easier. If you get the visa stamp in your current passport, when it expires you’ll need to carry it as well as the new passport you get while you live in the UK so customs can see it.
Hi
Really helpful information!!
But I was wondering if you know what is required for the question saying “What permission do you have to stay in this country?” Have talked to heaps of people about this visa but none of them know what to put for this question!
Thanks!!
Hi Belinda, that questions relates to what permission do you have to be in the country in which you are applying from. So guessing you are applying in Australia you’d note down that you are a citizen and all should be good to go.
HI
Ive just realised after starting the application (15 september) that it needs to be within 3 months of travel.
My flight is the 28th of december and it let me put that in with out saying that it wouldnt be accepted.
I am wondering if ive messes myself up here.
Hoping not but if i have can i cancel it and start again?
Thanks
Hi Blake, as long as you haven’t sent off the paperwork just adjust the printed form you have and fix the date to be within 3 months of when you applied. Otherwise most of the time they just backdate the visa to be 3 months from your time of application.
Hi there,
Apologies if this question has been asked already – I’m planning to apply for my visa in the next few months, just wondering whether there is a requirement to have my return flight booked when I’m submitting my application?
Thanks!
Hi Naomi, there’s no need to have a return flight booked. The visa lets you live and work there for 2 years which means you are essentially a citizen for that time so they have no need to ensure you’ll leave at the end when you arrive.
Hi there,
FIRST QUERY
I applied for a youth mobility visa earlier this year, which was approved and valid from March 2014 of this year.
I planned to leave and arrive in London in March but unfortunately circumstances arose in New Zealand that meant I had to put my re location plans to London on hold.
Having now sorted things back home here in New Zealand now wish to depart for London in late November but note the period on my visa has already been running since March, even though I have yet to enter London.
Was just wondering AT ALL if it would be possible / there is ANYWAY I would be able to cancel the visa that I applied for in March and re-apply for a new visa so that I can ensure I am able to get the full two years eligibility.
If so, what steps would I need to do before my departure flight in late November?
SECOND QUERY
I have also have had to renew my passport and now have just received my new passport in the post today.
Is my visa on my old passport still valid? Or will I need to get this transferred onto my new passport? If so how?
Or would I just need to take both passports – my old passport (with the visa on it) and new passport with me to show the UK customs when entering the UK?
Any help at all would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
David
Hi David, sorry to hear you had to delay your move to London. In terms of cancelling the visa I’m afraid that can’t be done once it was granted. You can cancel it while you are still in the application phase but once its issued there is nothing you can do.
The visa is still valid in your old passport just be sure to travel with both so you can show the visa to customs etc on arrival. Getting the stamp moved to your new passport can cost around 1000 pounds so its much easier to just travel with your old passport.
Hi “The Aussie Nomad”,
Thanks for your response was really helpful.
Re the Second Query – Will make sure I take both my old passport (with the visa in it) and new passport when entering the UK.
Just re the First Query – I have double checked this and contacted the UK Visa Services Agency. I have had differing reponses (via email) from them so has still made me a bit unsure on whether I will actually be able to cancel it and apply for a refreshed one.
The latest response I receive from them is below:
Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration International Enquiry
Service.
With regards to your email, please provide us with the following details so
that we can escalate the matter to the relevant department to get an
appropriate response as if you can reapply for a fresh application based on
the circumstances that you mentioned of :
– Applicant’s full name
– Date of Birth
– Application reference number GWFXXXXXXXXX
– Place of submission
– Date of submission
– Type of visa
– Passport number
– Nationality
– Visa number
– Visa Valid from
– Visa valid thru
– Reason for escalation (in your own words)
Any thoughts and suggesstions on this would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
David
Hi David, from everything I’ve heard previously you can only apply for the visa once and you couldn’t cancel it and have it re-issued. But if this is the response from them (even though it looks to be a standard list of questions) then it can’t hurt to follow up and see what your options are.
They may very well say to bad but hey if you don’t ask you don’t find out right?
Hi The Aussie Nomad
I have 18 y/o boy that wishes trail in the uk at 2 or 3 soccer clubs.
He will enter with a tourist visa to do the trails in Oct/November ,if he is excepted then he needs a work permit to be ready to go .
Is the best visa to go for a tier 5 ??
thanks
ahmet
Hi Ahmet, if he needs a work permit ready to go then I’d apply for the youth mobility visa as soon as you can and potentailly before you fly out in Oct/Nov unless they don’t need you to stay straight away. The visa can only be applied for in Australia so if he won’t be returning to Australia I’d get that.
Hi,
I’ll be arriving in London on the Youth Mobility Visa in the next few weeks. Just wondering what forms i will need to have on me at customs?
Thanks!
Hi Amy, enjoy the trip to the UK its a long flight. As for forms, you don’t need anything other than the landing card you’ll be given on the plane before arriving into the UK. Oh and your passport of course 🙂
I have a tier 5 visa I am currently in Amsterdam I plan to go back to London then fly to Berlin then go back to London then catch a bus back to Amsterdam this is all within 30 day period sounds crazy I know am I allowed to do this enter and exit the Schengen area as many times as I want within the 180 day period as long as I don’t stay more than 90 days.
Hi Tylere, you can come and go as much as you like from the Schengen area as long as you don’t cross that 90 days in 180 day period. I will say however that the more entry/exit stamps you get for Europe the more chance you have of upsetting/confusing custom folks. It can take them awhile to find the right stamp to verify you didn’t overstay so just be sure to open your passport up on the right page for them each time to save any issues.
Hi,
I turn 31 in Feb and am planning to leave for the UK in late April. I can’t seem to find any definitive information on when my Visa starts counting down?.
Does it start at my birthday in Feb, or 3 months from application? (I’ll be applying in January).
Also, considering I am 31 when there, can I use the visa as normal? (ie. leave and re enter multiple times during the 2 years?)
Great post by the way – really helpful.
Hi Steph, your visa must start within 3 months of your application being lodged so if you apply in January it cannot start any later than from that date. In terms of your age its a bit of an unknown variable as the details online are a little vague. My suggestion to all is to have your visa date started before you turn 31 to avoid any potential issues. This would mean it would have to start on or before your birthday. You lose a couple of months of your visa time but its better that than potentially not having the visa approved.
As far as the letter of the rules go though I believe you just need to have lodged and paid for your application before you turn 31, its just a matter of tempting fate and going with that or not.
In terms of coming and going from the UK once there and over 31, you’ll be fine. I turned 31 while on my visa and had no issues at all.
Hi Steph,
I am on the same boat . I have done a lot researches and asking around, I am confident that your visa must start before you turn 31. However, you do not have to land before or on your birthday, it does mean you ll lose a couple of months.
Hope it helps. Also, please kindly post your experience here if your visa is approved successfully. I am applying in Feb.
Thanks
Hi Aussies and Kiwis,
I’m a Kiwi living in London on a Tier 5 visa. I’m travelling back to NZ in Feb next year to apply for a Tier 2 visa. I am looking to book my flights now and trying to figure out how much time to allow for processing. I will probably have the biometric appointment on the week starting the 9th of February (hopefully at the start of the week) and I am looking to book a flight back to London on the evening on the 9th of March.
Assuming I have the bio appointment on the 9th of Feb and send off the application that day this allows about 20 working days for the processing. I see that most applications are processed within 15 days but this doesn’t include postage time to Manila and back.
How long have people experienced this postage takes?
Thanks!!
Hi Matthew, had you asked this question 12 months ago I’d say you’d get it back in 2 weeks no problems but processing times in Australia have been somewhat uncertain since a new company took over processing the visas. Not sure if thats the same in NZ but something to be cautious of. I’d probably allow yourself an extra week just to be sure or at the very least book a flight that lets you change the return date to be safe.
Here goes an update in case its helpful to anyone. I successfully got my Tier 2 visa. I went to the biometric appointment and then It took 2 weeks from when I mailed the application from Wellington to when I received it back. Considering it had to go all the way to Manila and back it seemed very fast but I aint complaining.
hello,
i have two questions regarding the visa if you are able to help..
1. i am planning on landing in london, then travelling around europe for a month or two before settling down in london to work/live. can i start my visa from the date that i come back from europe? or does it have to start as soon as i touch down in london?
2. do i only need proof of funds when applying? or will i also need it when i go through customs and they check i have a visa for the first time..
thanks 🙂
Hi Talisa, our visa start date needs to be no more than 3 months out from the time that you apply. So you can make the start date be a closer to or on the date you want to return providing you apply around a month out from when you will fly out of Australia. Unless you have a set date I’d maybe apply 2 months out from when you want to leave that gives you a months travel time in Europe and if you stay a little longer it won’t be so bad.
You need proof of funds at the time of application, after that they won’t care. Customs only want to see your passport and the landing card you get given on the plane into the UK.
thanks so much for your reply! 🙂 very helpful.
i guess my question to that is- do you think i will have a problem when i land in the UK- if they did ask, and i say that my visa wont start for another month… but i stay in london for a week at the beginning?
i know there is probably a period i can stay there without needing a visa, but i know they give a lot of people hard time entering in general. will they see it as i should have started my visa as soon as i landed in the country the first time?
thanks 🙂
Thanks so much for this wonderful website! It made the whole visa processing less nerve wracking. I applied in Brisbane on the 22nd and just got my passport and visa back this afternoon! Was a very stressful two weeks waiting but it was comforting to read people’s experiences. Can’t wait to get over there in December. For any one interested my timeline is below:
Applied Online: 16/9
Biometrics: 22/9
Visa Despatched Email: 3/10
VFS Global Application received from the post email: 8/10 (passport was received the day before at VFS)
Picked Passport up from post office: 8/10
I was extremely surprised that the passport got couriered back so quickly especially considering I live 10 hours away from Brisbane! Good luck to everyone else applying!
I wish I had read this blog earlier. It’s wonderful. My question relates to withdrawing an application ( for a Tier 5 Temporary (Charity Workers) Visa. I’ve applied online and attended the biometrics interview but realise now that because of the 3 month maximum start date it won’t take me quite up to the end of my proposed period in the UK for my voluntary work. Have you any knowledge about the process of withdrawing? I know I will forfeit the visa and processing fees and have to repay these with a new application but just wondering what the process is in relation to the timing of having documents returned and at what point I can submit a fresh application. Any help gratefully received!
Hi Wendy, I know you can cancel the visa before you’ve sent off your paperwork for a youth mobility visa and get a refund and all is good. I don’t know however if there are limitations on the the charity visa in terms of how many times you can apply for it and so forth. I’d recommend calling the UK visa office or VFS Global who process the visas to get an idea on how it works.
Hi,
I heard there’s been a change of rules and now it’s rather difficult to get a working holiday visa for UK/London.
What basis do they reject/accept applicants on? (I’m 27, an Australian citizen and have a good job currently- so for the criteria for he visa).
Is it actually difficult to get a visa now? And if so, what do I need to do to successfully get one?
Thanks!
Hi Natalie, I’ve not heard of any change in the rules and see people still getting their visa just fine on a weekly basis. I’ve also never heard of anybody being denied the visa apart from having a criminal conviction. If you follow the steps I’ve outlined in my article above you should be just fine to get your visa.
Hi there! I noticed there was a part in your guide about arriving in the UK before the start day of the tier 5 visa? I am on a New Zealand passport and when I applied for the tier 5 youth and mobility visa they asked for an ‘estimated time of arrival’ so I put 10/November/2014. Forgetting that I had put that day down in my visa application I booked tickets to Manchester from Auckland arriving on 25/October/2014. I know that with a New Zealand passport I can stay in the UK without a visa for 6 months but with the tier 5 youth and mobility visa already issued does this still apply? Will I be refused into the country? Will I face any problems?
I was very stressed about this and someone suggested that I fly out of the UK and fly back in after my visa start day so I booked tickets to Paris on 7/November/2014 flying back in 10/November/2014 when my visa starts. So when I go to the UK initially I will state that I am a tourist and then when I fly back into the country from Paris they can stamp my visa to validate it? Will this work? I have called the UK embassy wasting a lot of money and even went to the Bristish consulate here in Auckland but no one is giving me any useful information. I just want to know what the rules are and what I can and cant do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hi Latira, what you have done is the best plan of attack yes. Because you will enter the UK before your visa starts you will be there as a tourist so cannot work or seek employment. To have your visa validated and be in the country legally to work you do have to fly out and back into the UK on or after the start date. That sounds like you’ve got it all worked out so you should be fine.
Just be prepared or the customs folks to give you a bit of a hard time for arriving before your visa is to start. They’ll want to know why you are entering early and so on so be prepared with a story about you are just looking around a bit etc before flying out and be sure to have a copy of your flight to Paris with you when you go through customs on arrival. The more you have to validate your story and keep them quite the better.
I know all that sounds a bit off putting but you just never know with UK customs but based on my experience its always more difficult than it should be.
Thank you for the information! Are you sure that I can go into the UK as a tourist even with a visa already issued? Where did you get official information about this?
I have searched everywhere for information on this like the UK government website, Bristish consulate, immigrations lawyer but no one seems to know much about this topic.
Hi Latira, I’ve never spoken to anybody official but have spoken to a number of travellers who were in the same situation and entered the UK just fine before their visa was due to start and then left and re-entered on their visa. That is also how I interpret the visa laws because you can legally enter the UK as a tourist with just your passport prior to the visa starting, there is nothing stopping you. It just means that even if you are in the UK when your visa starts its not valid until you enter the country again as you first entered on a tourist visa so are limited to its requirements.
Hi,
Thank you so much for the post, it’s a great resource.
Just a few questions
1. Additional ID – in the case of providing an additional ID at application i.e. a License, will it be an issue if the addresses do not match up (i am in between homes) or is it just to verify identity?
2.Quota – is there a finite number of Youth Mobility Visas given out each year? Have you heard of many incidences of people having their visa application rejected based on this or do you just need to ensure you fulfil the criteria?
3.Bank Statement – does a printed electronic Bank Statement suffice? (as most banks now issues e-statements)
4. Start Date of Visa – confirming this is from the day of online application lodged and not at the Biometrics or once approved?
5. Applying with a partner – are these processed together or is it based on each individual meeting the set criteria?
THANK YOU!
Hi Huong, to answer your questions:
1. I believe the ID is just to verify who you are and so the address should be fine.
2. I believe there is something like a maximum of 30,000 visa available each year but I’ve never heard of that cap being reached or people being denied due to to many applications.
3. The bank statement needs to be an original one posted to your from your bank or stamped and given to you directly from a branch. This is to avoid you faking the document by printing it at home.
4. The start date of the visa is the date you want it to start. This cannot be more than 3 months from the date of your application lodged online and not the biometric appointment.
5. It’s based on your individual applications and I normally recommend if you are travelling with a partner to apply separately and don’t mention each other. Less chance of causing issues as you never know with visa applications.
Thank you so much!
Hiya,
I am actually in the process of applying for the visa right now. There are a lot of curly questions, i guess i was just wondering if there were any experiences around how specific they are.
a) i dont have any contact with my father, (or in the even that some ones father is deceased for example how is this even applicable???) so unable to gather his passport details – is this mandatory ? can you just skip this even if it is marked with red asterix and explain during the application process?
b) I was a refugee and migrated to australia when I was 3 months – technically i would have travel documents stating another nationality, but i would not have these documents, as i became a citizen in 89′ not sure how much of a stickler they are – or should i just answer truthfully and in the interview answer the questions more specifically???
c) i know there are a couple of questions regarding the detailed travel questions – assuming they are not hung up on 100% exact dates?
Thank you so much.
Did you ever find the answer to this question? Same problem here! No fathers details.
I just received my UK tier 5 visa within Australia but it states the place of issue (on the visa) is Manila. I assume that the UK processes their Visas offshore in the Phillipines and that this is OK?
Hi James, the visas are processed in Manila yes so all is ok with your visa.
Wow! So many comments!
Do you know if there is a difference between a Tier 5 visa and the Youth mobility visa? I’ve been accepted to do a two week internship next year in the UK, but I don’t want to ‘use up’ my two year youth mobility visa just for that. I’m having trouble working out if they are two separate visas or not! If you had any clue, that would be fantastic!
Hi Hannah, there are various tier 5 visas of which the Youth Mobility Visa is a part of. Your options are limited I beleive in terms of what visa you can go over on as you will be working for a company there. I believe some people have entered the country of a tourist visa previously as their internship wasn’t paid but be careful as you are still working so it is illegal.
Hiya,
I am actually in the process of applying for the visa right now. There are a lot of curly questions, i guess i was just wondering if there were any experiences around how specific they are.
a) i dont have any contact with my father, (or in the even that some ones father is deceased for example how is this even applicable???) so unable to gather his passport details – is this mandatory ? can you just skip this even if it is marked with red asterix and explain during the application process?
b) I was a refugee and migrated to australia when I was 3 months – technically i would have travel documents stating another nationality, but i would not have these documents, as i became a citizen in 89′ not sure how much of a stickler they are – or should i just answer truthfully and in the interview answer the questions more specifically???
c) i know there are a couple of questions regarding the detailed travel questions – assuming they are not hung up on 100% exact dates?
Thank you so much.
Hi there,
My partner has had her Tier 5 visa rejected on the grounds that the date on the bank statement she supplied was not within 31 days of the application being submitted….
Its hard to find information about reapplying for the visa once the initial one had been rejected. Do you know if this is possible? It seems that she will just have to start the process all over again.
Can’t seem to be able to register again with the same email address….
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks a lot
Hi Jazzy, given the visa was denied due to invalid paperwork I’d imagine they can re-apply straight away and be fine. Its not like they were denied due to a criminal conviction or similar. In terms of their account within the application system its most likely easier to start again with a new email address to avoid confusion and isssues.
Hi,
The UK visa application states you must be outside of the UK to start the application process. Do you know if this applies to completing the online section?
I’m currently overseas (in the UK), returning to Australia shortly, and wish to complete the online section abroad to ensure a biometrics appointment ASAP upon my return.
Do you know if this is acceptable? Or has anybody else in this thread performed a similar thing?
Hi Jac, you can begin your application outside of the country yes but you must be in Australia to attend the biometric appointment and send off your passport for processing. So what you are planning to do in order to speed up the process will be fine.
hey mate, so i dont have to declare a speeding ticket from years ago do i? i paid it in full and that was the end of it, no court appearance or anything like that was required
Hi Dan, nope no need to declare the speeding ticket I don’t believe as you didn’t go to court or anything serious like that.
Hi, my first application was denied as my bank statement was not adequate. I am applying a second time, do I need to have any extra documentation to show why I failed the first time? eg. the first bank statement
Hi Anita, I don’t believe you’ll need any extra documentation for your application. They’ll have all your details on file I’d imagine so just apply as normal. Do let me know how you get on as I’ve never heard of anybody being denied due to inadequate bank statement so would be useful feedback for others in the same situation.
Hi there Aussie Nomad,
Today I had my biometrics interview and all went well.
However when I was filling out my application form online I made an honest mistake. When it asked for my previous travels to the UK, I listed them correctly. I have travelled to London 3 times this year, the first on holiday, and the second and third time to visit my mother and brother who were over there working.
Without thinking I wrote (for the 2nd & 3rd times travelled) for ‘business’. I am really concerned now as I did not go over there to work however to only visit my family.
It was not brought up during my biometrics appt. so I assumed I was all cleared. However after the interview I have been having second thoughts as to whether I should have mentioned my mistake or not.
It means everything to me to have my visa approved, I just have no idea if a mishap such as this one will stop me from getting it?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Brittany, I’m sure you’ll be fine with your visa as you can enter the UK on business with a tourist visa and have no issues at all. While its an unfortunate mistake I don’t believe they’ll have issue with you. As for the biometric appointment, those folks are just there to take your fingerprints and send your form off. I don’t believe they do much in the way of validating an application unless you ask them specifically.
Hi Dan, thanks for this – very helpful. Just a quick question – how long is the waiting time on a biometric appointment?
Do you know if there’s a way of being able to continue to live and work in the UK (legitimately) once the 2 years is over? I’m worried that if I’m still loving it there after the visa expires I won’t have any options and will have to come back to Aus.
Thanks! 🙂
Hi Adriana, the only way to stay in the UK after your visa expires is to have an employer sponsor you to stay and keep working for them. This isn’t a straightforward option either and has costs for your employer and you needing to return to Australia to apply for the visa. It’s also the only real option going on current visa offerings.
Hi, Ive just completed my online application and re read it all and relaised i made 2 stupid mistakes. First of all my dads date of birth says 16/9/2014 which obviously isnt right and then i put my mums married name instead of maiden name. I have my biometrics appoint tomorrow. Will they deny my visa based on these mistakes? Any ideas of what i can do?. Thanks.
Hi Shannon, mistakes like that happen ALL the time so you’ll be fine. As the application is printed off and you take it with you to your biometric appointment I’d make the corrections on your printed form before handing it in after asking the staff at your appointment if thats ok to do so.
Hi there, just wondering for the youth mobility visa, is there a restriction of 6months per employer? Or did they get rid of that with the change? Cheers!
Hi Zen, I’m not aware of any employer restrictions anymore. I believe that was removed when they opened up the ability to live and work in the UK for the full two years instead of just one.
So my dad was born in England, and I can’t figure out on the website whether I’m eligible to be an English citizen. Real frustrating! Would you know anything about that?
Hi Brayden, if your dad was born in the UK then you would most certainly be eligible for citizenship. Hopefully he has a passport or birth certificate already so that you don’t have to chase up to much to apply for yourself.
hey nomad 🙂 , SO I can go to the UK and apply for any post, even the ones which are reserved for UK nationals or do not provide a working visa? Such as jobs listed as Stage 4
Does this mean I can go to the UK and look for work or do I have to look for work , get accepted and then leave.
Thanks , your help is appreciated.
Hi Stella, you can go to the UK to live and work yes and apply for any job you are qualified for. I’m not sure what stage 4 jobs are so you would need to research that but overall if work is going you can apply for it. You can also go to the UK and then find work, there is no requirement with this visa to find work before you arrive there.
hey aussie nomad!! first to let you know your site is a godsend and thank you for all the time and effort you have put into it, it’s amazing!!
so my question is my sister sent her application off, did her biometrics and got an email about 3 weeks later saying her passport and processed visa would be sent within the next few days. are we to take it that her visas been granted??? or is there a chance something will come back saying sorry we processed your visa but its been declined.
thanks!!!!!!!
Hi Layla, I’d take that as the visa being granted. I’ve never heard what people get told when the visa was denied but based on what you’ve told me and what hundreds of others have the visa will be all good to go.
Hi, I have applied for the tier 5 YMV and received an email saying my everything can be collected after 3 working days. Is there any particular time I need to turn up at to be collect my documents? Do I need an appointment or can I just rock up at the designated time?? Thanks so much, your site is very helpful!!
Cheers, Tim.
Hi Tim, you can normally just turn up and collect your passport at anytime. I don’t believe they give you a set time and I know others have just turned up and all ways good.
Hello,
I am applying for the Youth Mobility Visa. The application asks if you have been refused a visa from any country in the last 10 years. I was denied a zivno (a freelance working visa) in the Czech Republic last year. Will this be detrimental to my application? Furthermore, is it even necessary to answer yes, since it wasn’t a residency visa, just a freelance working visa?
Thanks,
Amber
Hi Amber, I thought the question asks only about visas for the UK being denied but don’t quote me on that. I think you could leave it off though as the UK can’t check other countries for your application status so there would be little way for them to find out you’d applied.
Hi,
Just wondering if you know if you are allowed to work for the same company for more than 6 months on the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa?
It doesn’t outline any rules regarding this in the guidelines, however have just been warned to investigate by others.
All it does say is you are now allowed to work for the full two years, as previously you were only allowed to work for one year of the visa.
Thanks!
Hi Kate, the old rule of only being able to work for a company for 6 months at a time is no longer valid. You can now work for a company for the full 2 years of your visa if you wish too.
Hi,
I am looking at studying in America in July 2015 on a J1 Visa and then was interested in working in the UK after i Finnish my studies in november 2015 (maybe arrive in the UK jan 2016)
Can i hold the tier 5 visa and the US visa at the same time ???
and to avoid difficulties with the application process is it ok if i apply for the Tier 5 visa from australia with a start date say oct 2015 even tho i won’t be getting there till january 2016… i understand the visa will become active and i will loose 3/4 months of possible employment time….
if i am okay with this, will the visa still remain active and valid and can i find work from whenever i arrive until the end of the 2 year period ?
thanks
Hi Lorenzo, as far as I know you can have as many visas as you like because they all belong to different countries. For the UK visa while you could apply for it while in the US as you have a valid visa I’ve heard nothing but trouble from people applying from there so agree its better to apply in Australia before you go.
This means you UK visa must start within 3 months of applying for it so the longer you stay in the US the less time you’ll have to live/work in the UK. The start date is based on what is stamped in your passport and is active weather you go there or not.
Hope that validates what you were thinking of doing.
Hello!
i just wanted to let you know i was successful in obtaining a youth mobility visa!! And there is no way i could have done it without the help of this blog, thank you so so much for all the time and effort you put into it.
I leave for Dublin on the 30th of november and arrive on the 1st of december, that same day i catch the bus to Belfast which is of course part of the UK. The date my visa begin is the 9th of december initially when i thought i would be arriving there. I will be in Belfast till about the 17th of December. My question is do i have to leave Belfast and come back in to enter on my visa?
thank you
Hi Abbie, congrats on getting the visa. As to your question, you don’t actually pass through customs or anything when moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland. You’ll be registered into Ireland as you fly into Dublin but there will not be any reference to your entry to the UK. I’m not sure if you plan to live in Northern Ireland or will then head over to London afterwards so just keep that in mind.
Hi Aussie Nomad,
Firstly, thank you for your fantastic information you give to so many people here, your help to others with their visa’s is amazing.
I am writing to ask if someone has been charged as a juvenile with sexual offences when they were 16 and were put on a sexual offenders register for seven n half years, with no conviction, and now they are over 18, will they be able to apply for a Tier 5 visa for London ?
Hi Dianne, I’m guessing here but if any of the charges required a juvenile to attend court at any time then I’d be noting all of that on the application form. I think given the offences you’ve listed its likely to be denied for the visa but you just don’t know till you apply or call them up and speak to someone.
Hi Nomad, great site which has assisted me lots in applying for this Visa ! Cheers !
With my application I put my intended travel date for February 2015. I have my biometrics appointment this week, and when I checked my application again today it says “Travel date: May 2015” , not sure if this is the next available date, I’m confused and worried why its selected as May when I selected February
My question is, will I just be placed on the next available date which it seems to have done??
Thanks !
Hi Ethan, strange your travel date has changed on your form. I’d look at writing on the form to correct the date issue as you can only apply for the visa within 3 months of when you want to travel to the UK making May an invalid date if you are apply now. If you want you should be able to ask the visa folks at your appointment if crossing it out and writing the correct date on the form is ok. I believe it is but can’t say for sure and trying to call somebody these days is impossible.
Hi thank you so much for all this information.
I’m looking to travel in April and I’m from outside of Brisbane so I’ll have to travel down there for the appointment.
If I submit the application in January how long roughly do you think I may be waiting for an appointment and once the appointment is done how long will it take for visa approval.
I understand times can be different in every circumstance I just want a rough guide so I don’t leave myself open to any issues.
Hi Kate, when you submit your application you can pick your appointment date there and then within the following 30 days. You can noramlly get a time the next day and onwards as far as I understand.
Thank you so much for this guide!
I have just attended my appointment with VFS in Perth, and paid for priority (fly xmas eve but didn’t want to take any risks).
The ladies who did my biometrics and sent everything off were lovely and very reassuring. My tip is to take note of your express post envelope number which you get to fill out with your preferred mailing address (not sure if this is just priority though). This way I can track my passports speedy return!
Will update with full timeline once I receive my passport back.
Good tip Angie and good luck on the flight xmas eve to the UK. You’ll get there ready for a “hopeful” white christmas.
Typed in my tracking number into auspost tracking system today, and it is in transit! Should receive it tomorrow. I feel very relieved knowing my passport is in Perth. I will update again when it is in my hands, hopefully with a visa inside!
Ok so – RECEIVED MY PASSPORT WITH VISA INSIDE. I applied for Priority Processing from Perth.
9/11 – Application submitted online, paid for priority.
25/11 – Attended Biometrics at VFS Global Perth (this was the next available appointment)
3/12 – Received passport with VISA
5 Working days turnaround is incredible! I arrive 7am xmas day
Note: I received no notification emails unfortunately but this guide helped me to not stress about this.
Hi! This is great, I wish I had found it before I applied for my visa!
Upon reading through this, however, I realised that I actually put my mothers current last name, and not her maiden name, on my application. I have already sent it, paid and booked my biometric appointment. Do you know whether that mistake will cause delay/rejection of my application, and if so what I can do to fix it? I don’t really have time to reapply before I leave if this visa does not get accepted.
Hi Alanna, you can either amend the form you have with the right name since you haven’t had your biometric appointment or ask the visa staff if you can change it when you have your appointment. I know of MANY people who have sent off their forms with the incorrect last name for their mother so doubt you’ll have problems either way.
Hey Nomad,
Been checking out your site for a while now, hopefully applying for the visa this week so I can be in the UK by Feb next year.
My question is with the Passport place of issue. I’ve put Wellington, although I’m unsure if that means country, so in that case would it be New Zealand? Not sure if any other NZers have asked you about Passport details for the form. I’ve put the issue authority as DIA WLG, which is what is listed on my passport. Will this be a deal breaker if any of this is wrong when I submit my application after biometrics? Really don’t want to risk spending all that money and having to re-apply.
Also, what’s the UK like in February? Some of my UK mates tell me the weather is terrible and I should wait till summer, but I’ve already got friends over there and a Glastonbury ticket, so figure I would come and try find some work before the festival season rolls around (I work in media, editing in promos at a television station atm, fingers crossed there’s some work in London).
That last one was a general question but any help with the first question would be great.
Thanks for keeping up the question answering and the blog so well!
Hi Hamish, in my passport it says place of issue being Australia. Not sure if your passport states it but otherwise I’d put New Zealand if it doesn’t. As long as you are listing what’s on your passport you should be fine. If not then the most obvious answer is the best.
UK weather in Feb can be a bit on the cold side but I’ve seen the last couple of years the winters have been far milder than when I was there the couple of years before that. And Glastonbury is a worthy reason to get over there, just pack your gum boots and you’ll be all set. Also you’ll be on the visa for 2 years so you might as well get used to the cold now, as it will come around again in a years time.
I am a NZ citizen wanting to apply for YMS. I meet all the criteria however last year I overstayed in Greece after misunderstanding my Schengen entitlement. I was given a fine and I am free to go back to Greece. I flew to the UK after this and was initially questioned about Greece however they let me in and I’ve been back to the UK since. Do you think this fine in Greece will be an issue, seeing I’ve been let into UK as a tourist numerous times since?
Hi Kim, I think you’ll be ok. You were only issued a fine and as you’ve been back to the UK since without problem I see no reason to worry.
Hi Kim,
I was wondering how you went with your YMS application?
Did you have any issued because of your overstay?
I had recently overstayed in Schengen (not understanding either) but did not get questioned at all about it by immigration and received no penalties, but I was also wondering if this would reflect badly on my application?
Thanks.
Hi….
I was wondering if you might be able to help me. I have applied for a youth and mobility visa however, I have already booked flights and we intend to go travelling before hand, leaving on 19 Jan, arriving in UK 3 and half months later.
As such in the application when it asked intended date of arrival in the UK I put April 2015, (applied yesterday). This is over 3 months out. I thought that maybe the visa would just start 3 months after the application date as opposed to when you say you arrive and as I already had flights booked I should put the actual date I arrive.
Is this a problem? I have my testing tomorrow, what do you think I should do?
Thank you very much in advance for your time and any advice you might have.
Hi Sarah, in the past I’ve seen peoples visas have their start date adjusted to 3 months out from the application date and I’ve also seen them made valid on the date of application because they specified a date far in advance of the 3 month period. Guess it depends on the visa processing people.
If it were me I’d adjust the date on the form to be 3 months from your time of application for peace of mind but you can also ask the visa folks at your appointment if you should change it and if you can just adjust the form. As far as I’m aware you can just write on the form.
I changed my visa start date in my biometrics appointment by writing on it and initialling it in front of the staff.
Hi there,
I was just wondering I am heading to the uk on the youth mobility visa tier 5 and have applied for a job as a maternity nurse, un aware that as part of the agency we are self employed and have to do our own taxes etc. is this allowed on this type of visa? I have read conflicting advice.
Hi Kate, yes it is allowed on the visa. It’s more work obviously but you can be self-employed for sure.
My problem/concern: I submitted my bank statement, which is only released twice a year. This year was March-September. I had under 2k. But I also submitted my successful loan application and certificate of balance (as of November 27th) showing I had currently over 7k in credit.
What are the chances of me in getting this visa? I got it fast-tracked so I’ll know by next Friday.
Hi Sam, as long as the statement was dated within 30 days of you applying for the visa and shows you have the required available funds all should be ok. Otherwise it may be a problem for you but like you said, you’ll find out pretty quickly.
hey aussie nomad
thanks so much for all of this info!
I’m currently 6 months into my Tier 5 visa, however I am eligible for the ancestry and want to change it over ASAP as my work have requested so.
Do I need to go back to Australia to do so? And if so How long will this take? Is there any way to fast track it?
Thanks so much 🙂
Hi Bree, I’m afraid I’m not 100% up to speed on the ancestry visa (its on my list of things to write about) but I do believe you must return to Australia to apply for it. The application process is similar to the visa you have now but you must submit a few more documents proving your parents rights etc. You could try speaking the immigration in the Uk to see if you must return to Australia to apply but my guess is you need to come home. I believe there is a fast track process now as well.
Full details are here https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa/overview
This site is amazing!! The information is so helpful!
Thank you 🙂 Cant wait for my trip!