The recession has a negative effect on many aspect of our lives, but this is the natural way of the economy to bring order to itself after years of frivolous spending by the common consumer. It is always darkest before the dawn, that good old idiom says, but that isn’t necessarily true if you act on time.
In recent news an article covered the fact that a lot of backpackers from the UK and Germany are rushing down to Australia in 2009. If you are amongst those people willing to spend the next year in Australia, then there isn’t a better time to get your Australian visa and book your flight.
Obtaining a visa might take you between 2 days and two weeks, depending on the approach you chose to obtain one. You can do it by yourself, however if you need it in a hurry it is better to go through an agent, since it will cut most of the hassle and you application will be processed faster.
Currently you can book a ticket from London to Sydney on British Airways’s site for as low as 518GBP. This will be the price you pay if you book now for any date of the period ~01/05 – 15/06/2009. This will soon change, however you have the great opportunity to book a cheap in the next few days. Airlines will not be able to sell low cost tickers for much longer so this summer is you chance to book a low cost flight from and to Australia.
It is a great time for working holiday makers from Australia to travel to the United Kingdom and for UK backpackers to jump over to Australia.
Before the new system was introduced there were more than 80 routes for a non-EU national to enter the UK. The present, much more simpler framework consists of 5 tiers, which help people find the right path to the UK.
Tier 1 is for highly skilled individuals willing to practice what they do best in the UK
Tier 2 is for skilled workers (nurses, teachers, engineers, etc.) who already have a job offer to work in the UK
Tier 3 is for a very limited number of low skilled workers needed to fill temporary labour shortages for a specific project
Tier 4 is for students, continuing their education in the United Kingdom
Tier 5 is for Youth Mobility and temporary workers (people who are allowed to work in the Uk for a limited time)
For each tier there is a point target that the applicants need to meet. Points are awarded according to an objective and transparent criteria, allowing applicants to assess themselves.
Youth Mobility Scheme is the new name of the UK Working Holiday Scheme. Requirements remain nearly the same. A point based system applies. You must score 50 points to be able to apply. You get 30 points if you are a citizen of one of the following countries – Australia, Japan, Canada, or New Zealand. Another 10 points are awarded if you meet the age criteria (18-31). If you cover these requirements you can score another 10 points if you prove that you have at least £1,600, or their equivalent.
One of our customers was a bit confused about the right visa she is after. After 15 minutes of chat with one of our representatives she was able to take the proper actions and begin the process right away.
Karen: Welcome to the Visa First live chat! How can I help you today?
Nadia: I’m wanting to apply for the youth mobility visa. I don’t know if its temporary worker or youth mobility migrant I’m after?
Karen: Hi Nadia, how old are you and when do you intend to travel?
Nadia: I’m 25, leaving on 17th of January.
Karen: OK, and how much funds do you have available?
Nadia: $8000 savings so far.
Karen: Great! Can I take your name and date of birth please?
Nadia: Nadia *****, **/**/****
Karen: And what’s your home address, contact number and email address
Nadia: 15/ 178 ******** Street B******** 0407009313, *******@hotmail.com.
Karen: And can you get a bank statement with 3 months transactions history? Original one?
Nadia: Can I copy from Internet banking?
Karen: If on the bank statement there are the following details:
Karen: Your name
Karen: Account number
Karen: Financial institution name and logo
Karen: Date of the statement
Karen: And the Internet copy should be accompanied with a supporting letter from your bank on company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statement provided.
Karen: And also the stamp of the bank should appear on all the pages of the statement
Nadia: Okay, I can get but not right away… Once I get that what next?
Karen: You need to send us the application form with all the required documents by fax or scan and email them back to us.
Nadia: Are you able to email me the new application form?
Karen: We need to make some changes as the requirements were published today. Can I send it to you a little bit later?
Nadia: Yes. How long before I leave should I lodge it? Am I running out of time?
Karen: Well you need to apply as soon as possible as it will take at about 6 weeks. Did you already book a flight?
Nadia: Yes
Karen: OK, and when will you be able to have your bank statement ready?
Nadia: By Wednesday.
Karen: OK, in such case would you please contact me back on Wednesday – you can fax me the documents on our Australian fax number 02 8088 7415 for the attention of Karen Collins.
Nadia: That should be fine. So the only documents needed are the bank statements?
Karen: You also need to send me a copy of your passport with pictures. The picture should be less than 6 months old. I will send you all the information in the email and it will be on the application form. We only need to confirm some details with the Immigration authorities.
Nadia: So, if my passport picture is more than 6 months old I need another pic?
Karen: Yes
Nadia: Do I just fax a copy of passport?
Karen: Yes – we only need copies of the documents to check if everything is OK.
Nadia: Cool
Karen: And then you need to send original documents to the British High Commission
Nadia: Okay
Karen: Talk to you soon Nadia
Nadia: Thank you!
Karen: Have a nice evening!
The Youth Mobility Scheme is new and many people who have applied under the old categories might get worried. If you have applied before 27 November and you still don’t have your visa granted you have nothing to worry about. You should be covered by the transitional agreements. If you have a similar case and don’t know how to proceed, just drop us a line at ask@visafirst.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
