Comments on: UK immigration: Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme failing young people

By: Anj

Anj — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:30:27 +0000

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.

By: Gareth Global Visas

Gareth Global Visas — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:15:34 +0000

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.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:12:08 +0000

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

By: Twist

Twist — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:38:10 +0000

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

By: Gareth

Gareth — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:33:58 +0000

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.

By: Tony adams

Tony adams — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:11:31 +0000

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 ,

By: Gareth

Gareth — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:15:41 +0000

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!

By: El

El — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:57:47 +0000

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.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:16:19 +0000

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!!!!!!

By: Krystal

Krystal — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:09:36 +0000

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.