UK Working Visas

Hey Guys,

Looking at doing a working holiday in the UK (Typically London) obviously I need to apply for a visa first. Had a look on the site http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1082828862591

However I heard a thing where they wont accept your visa until you got 2000 Pounds in the bank (At time of Visa application). I will have 2000 Pounds (Hopefully) the day I leave NZ, as I have about 6 weeks annual leave owing to me at work. Can someone please confirm this? also any other issues\problems you came across?


Cheers
Skip

Unless the rules have changed since I did it, some time ago admittdly, you will need the equivelent of £2000 showing on a savings bank account statement and have had it there for some time (3 months is recommended) when you send in your application or you wll have thrown away the application fee. You could borrow some cash off someone for a while, but again it must have been in the account for an extended period of time, not just three days.

I would strongly suggest, if you have been earning more than $45,000NZ in the last 12 months, have a degree, are under 28 and have been working for 2 years or more in a job that requires a degree, to go for the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa. You can work as long as you like then, and will be much more atractive to employers.

You can calculate whether you may be eligible on the website:

http://www.workpermit.com/uk/hsmp_calculator.htm

To get the maximum salary earning points you only need to be earning $37,500 per annum (£12,500 equiv). see below...

NZ is a category C country....

5,000 per annum 5 Points
£5,600 per annum 10 Points
£6,300 per annum 15 Points
£7,200 per annum 20 Points
£8,100 per annum 25 Points
£9,100 per annum 30 Points
£10,000 per annum 35 Points
£11,000 per annum 40 Points
£12,500 per annum 45 Points

Greenie...how many points total is the qualifying amount? xx

I had $2500 AUD but because I had a return ticket home I was able to get a Visa with less than the recommended amount.

Good luck!



You will also need an address in the UK to advise them of where you will be staying.

You need to get 75. Age and level of qualifications count for most.

Good advice here. As said, get the highly skilled migrant visa if poss. If you are on a working holiday visa, you will have not choice but to temp/contract as employers wont offer you a permanent position. Recruitment agencies take the whole visa thing really seriously too and are fairly vigilent in asking you how many weeks you have worked given the 12 month working entitlement restriction.

Oh yeah - you definately need to have saved the £2k when you send off your application. From what I remember though, I don't recall having to prove you've had it in your account for three months though... check that out.

If you are coming here to work for a few months, then travel, then work, then travel then I dont think its matters if you are on the working holiday visa. But if you are looking to make a more permanent move here then HSMP would be better option.

may have been 8 weeks I can't remember, what i do remember is that it can't look like the money suddenly appeared a few days before you send the application in.