12.11.08
South African’s will lose out on Youth Mobility Scheme
There were about 61,000 successful applications made for the Working Holidaymaker visa in 2006/ 07.
About 1,000 of those were from South Africa.
In two weeks time the door to the Working Holidaymaker program will be permanently shut when the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) kicks into practice and South Africans will have to find alternative and more difficult and less flexible visa entry to experience life in the UK.
In all fairness the South African government has known for an adequate amount of time that to qualify as a participating country they must have a reciprocal program running for British 17-30 year olds.
For reasons only they know they have not done this. I have put in calls and sent emails but am still waiting for a response.
The current Working Holidaymaker scheme allows people under thirty to work in Britain for up to one year of a two year visa. The Youth Mobility Scheme allows the participant to work for two. Previous participants of the scheme can not reapply for the YMS.
A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Pretoria has confirmed South Africa will not be participating from the ‘outset’.
“We made the South African government aware of the introduction of the new scheme some time ago but they have not, as yet, expressed an interest,” says Apsara McNaught, spokesperson for the British High Commission.
“In order to become a participating country, South Africa would be required to meet certain criteria, including the establishment of a reciprocal scheme for young British nationals to come here.”
Robbie Ragless, regional manager of Global Visas (South Africa) said, ‘This will have a huge impact. Young South Africans will not be able to do what every other young South African did in the past. The only other alternatives are student permits or work permits.
Despite the short-comings I’m hopeful they’ll get a reciprocal program up and running soon. If it is to be believed high unemployment levels are being blamed for the flip-flopping around, it could be argued jobs should be created to develop and manage a reciprocal program and letting a similar number of young people out of the country in exchange for letting a similar amount in surely isn’t going to threaten local levels of unemployment significantly.
I know over a dozen south africans living in London and the south-east. I’m putting together their thoughts and opinions over the next couple of days for a story I’m writing on the subject.
If you have comments on the subject leave them here. I’m interested in hearing your experience – did you come here on a working holidaymaker visa? How did it change your life, what opportunities presented themselves to you? Did you take that knowledge back to RSA or did you stay on in the UK? The story will be picked up by national newspapers and the issue will be highlighted.
I’m sure South Africa is a great place but today I think a lot of South Africans have been robbed, I don’t think I entirely care whose fault it is, I don’t think that’s the point, but I believe not seeing a springbok about Soho is a loss for me and a loss for Londoners and I want others to know to what’s going on.
Published by Gareth McConnell Global Visas in South African Immigration
December 5th, 2008 at 1:59 am
The SA High Commission in Pretoria let me have their figures for Working Holidaymaker visas issued. In 2006 there were 10,520 issued and in 2007 6,962 (not sure why the big drop; applications dropped by a similar percentage in those years). Ancestral visas in 2006 were 1,971 and 2007 1,694. These are greater numbers than the figure you quoted. I know of somebody from South Africa who began his stay in the UK on a Working Holiday visa, saying he intended to return to South Africa, but after a few months was looking into an Eastern European grandfather or great-grandfather ancestor from whom he could claim EU citizenship and remain in the UK. Perhaps the South African government realises that, like other African states have for decades, that its citizens who depart its shores seldom return. They find some other way to stay, obviously many illegally, which is why these changes have been implemented by the UK govt. However, for the individuals now denied access to the scheme, I think it is a tragedy. Many use the money they earn to pay for their education in South Africa upon returning home, or put down deposits on houses. These are major life-events for which it will now be much harder for them to find the requisite finance. There will now be no “easy” way for youngsters to gain British/international experience. It will be restricted to those who have money already,and who can afford to enter the UK as Highly-Skilled Migrants. I wonder what the economic impact on South Africa will be. Ten thousand people perhaps returning with £5,000 each is a substantial sum in African terms. However, for the UK the move is quite understandable. I think the UK’s colonial obligations are long over, and there is really little reason for the UK labour market to prioritise Commonwealth citizens without UK ancestral links over others. I myself am originally from South Africa, and entered the UK on an Ancestral visa about ten years ago and have remained in the UK. If my only means of leaving the country had been a Working Holiday visa, and that avenue were now closed to me, I would be feeling pretty desperate. I’d very much like to read your story when it is printed.