29.01.09
UK immigration: Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme failing young people
Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme only open to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan
Students from Yale University who normally spend the summer in the UK on a Working Holiday Maker visa might to go to another country because of changes to UK immigration policy.
The newly introduced Tier 5, Youth Mobility Scheme, which replaced the Working Holiday Maker visa, excludes young people from countries that lack reciprocal programmes for British youth.
The change has already ruled out any chance of thousands of 18-30 year old South Africans traveling to the UK. The visa permits six months paid work to supplement a two year taste of life in the UK, a cultural exchange that is now measured in terms of a points based system instead of the fluidity it’s worthy of.
Figures obtained by Global Visas from the UK Border Agency under a Freedom of Information request show that between 2004 and 2008, 67,936 Working Holiday Maker Visas were issued to South Africans, the Youth Mobility Scheme now appears to be threatening hundreds of young Americans.
Phil Jones, Director of Undergraduate Career Services (UCS) at Yale University, has been told some US citizens will not be able to participate in the temporary work programme and has admitted things have been put on hold.
Regret
“We’re still trying to find a way through the bureaucracy that legitimately fulfills the requirements as the British government has set out,” Jones said in an interview Tuesday.
“Even if UCS is not able to send U.S. citizens on the program, a small possibility remains that the program will still run in “skeletal format” for eligible students.”
Students have expressed regret the exchange programme might not go ahead.
Meanwhile members of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council (FNC) delegation have complained that the British educational system puts students off studying in the UK.
Abdul Aziz al Ghurair, the lead speaker of the delegation has said most UAE students prefer to study in the US because of inflexible British university entrance requirements.
Crispin Blunt, an MP and secretary of the all-party UAE parliamentary committee, acknowledged the problem. “There are two barriers for UAE students coming to the UK: the first is the foundation course and the second is the visa regime,” he said.
Result?
This is a significant number of people.
How will this effect the UK’s cultural rivers, when, in the immediate future, thousands of young people from overseas disappear from the London stream and no longer trickle to our other great towns and cities?
Have you been effected by changes to the working holiday maker visa/ youth mobility scheme?
Leave your comments below.
Published by Gareth McConnell Global Visas in UK immigration
January 30th, 2009 at 4:09 am
I am an american youth, and when I first heard about the YMS, I was very excited. It was going to be my chance to experience the UK for 2 years, without having to be highly skilled or pay for school there. I counted down the days for months, certain that the US would be included in the scheme. Then the day came, and the offical announcement hit the internet. I was so shocked that only 4 countries were participating–4 countries, where I’m sure, it wouldn’t have been that hard to get a visa for the UK anyway! My dreams were crushed, and now I’m almost ready to give up what I’ve dreamed of since the age of 9…way more than half my life dreaming of experiencing the UK..and now I think it’s never going to happen.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I’m studying at Edinburgh University (final year). I’ve always wanted to go to the US and take a year out and work from coast to coast – unfortunately it’s highly unlikely this will ever happen because of US immigration rules!! If I’m ever going to do it I will have to work during term and save money and go on a holiday. It’s difficult enough studying and surviving let alone saving. The US needs to offer an exchange programme otherwise we’re both going to continue suffering. Not fair!!!!!!
February 4th, 2009 at 2:57 am
I find the new Youth Mobility scheme to be a terrible waste of foreign talent. However the UK is under pressure to curb the numbers of working holiday makers from Africa aqnd elsewhere failing to return to their home countries on completion of their visas.
The new system only allows countries with reciprocal working arrangements with the UK to participate. It is up to the US and South African governments to commence a youth cultural exchange for the betterment of all countries involved.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I think El has hit the nail on the head, this UK immigration move boils right down to curbing people arriving from Africa. Unfortunately this is a bite in the ass to americans, south africans and every other country we used to welcome young people from and equally to uk youth! – shame we’re stopping these two countries though considering a lot of brits see these two destinations as highly attractive – i hope it will iron itself out within a year but as bureaucracy goes it will be interesting to keep this conversation going because i think it’s a major mistake and a bit of an embarrassment – US immigration bowing to UK immigration – doubt it!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Am a Nigerian, please i would like to know if Nigeria can still participate in Youth Mobility scheme this just introduce.
Your response would be highly appreciated
Thanks ,
February 11th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Hi Tony, unfortunately not, the Youth Mobility Scheme is only open to four other countries at the minute – Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan – because they offer the same opportunities for young people from the UK to go and live and work in Australia, NZ, and the other countries.
Your next best alternative is the UK Tourist Visa/ General Visitor visa but this might be difficult for the following reasons:
First of all I guess you are young, between 18 and 30?? – you need to be able to show you can support yourself for the duration of your stay,
Second, you need to be able to satisfy the following rules from UK immigration:
- only want to visit the United Kingdom for up to six months;
- plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit;
- have enough money to support and accommodate yourself without working, help from public funds or you will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends;
- do not intend to charge members of the public for services provided or goods received;
- do not intend to study; and
- can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.
- do not intend to carry out business, sport or entertainer visitor activities;
- do not intend to marry or form a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership;
- do not intend to receive private medical treatment during your visit , and
- are not in transit to a country outside the Common Travel Area.
It’s pretty tough as you can see, if you think this is cool and you stand a chance register your details and someone will call you back.
April 10th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I have been in UK since 2001 and married an EEA member in 2002.I had a baby outside our marriage in 2005 since she wasnt ready to have kids. However,she was aware of my baby after 15months and she threw me out of the house and put in divorce immediately.My 5yrs resident permit expired in Dec.2007 while the degree absolute came out in September 2008.I applied for my PR in December 2007. My PR was refused bcos I cudnt get any document from my ex to show that she exercised her treat right in UK. I appealed at AIT enclosing four P60s of my ex but with different address from where we both lived together for 4yrs. My appeal was refused. I applied for reconsideration which was refused again. I was given the opportunity to appeal at the high court.I was advised by a Solicitor that I should apply for Further Leave to remain with my Patner and my 2daughters(the first is 3yrs and 5months while the youngest one is 1yr and 6months) as my dependant. Do you think am qualified to apply for FLR/ILR? Is there anyway I can apply for ILR since I dont want to appeal at the High Court? Please help me out because am really worried and short of ideas.Thanks
June 17th, 2009 at 10:12 am
hi there i’m from south africa and i was wondering if i would be able to get into the UK on the youth mobility scheme. I have family who are happy for me to stay in there house
June 17th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hi Bradley, unfortunately not, the YMS isn’t open to South Africa citizens anymore, your other alternative is a tourist visa which allows you to stay for up to 6 months.
To be eligible for a UK visit visa you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds. You must also intend to return home at the expiry of your UK travel visa.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I like Krystal am an american and I have dreamed of calling the UK my home since childhood. I truly hope that the US and the UK can come to an agreement. This is such a loss for both countries.