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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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New uk Visa : Rush for 'Working Holiday' The working holidaymakers visa scheme offered by the British government has been a huge draw with large crowds gathering outside the High Commission in Kollupitiya daily by a Staff reporter What is the working Holiday Visa and who is eligible to apply? We ask the British High Commission officials to explain. What is the working holiday scheme? The working holiday maker scheme is an arrangement where a Commonwealth citizen aged between 17-30 can come to the United Kingdom (UK) for an extended holiday for up to two years. You will be permitted to work, but will be expected to take a holiday during your stay. How do I qualify as a working holidaymaker? You qualify as a working holiday maker if you are a Commonwealth citizen. You want to come to the UK to take employment as an integral part of a working holiday, You are single or are married to a person who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the working holiday together. You do not have any dependent children who are aged five years or over , or who will be five before you complete your holiday. You can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds. You have the means to pay for your return or onward journey. You plan to leave the UK at the end of your holiday. How long can I stay? You can only stay in the UK for two years as a working holidaymaker , from the date you first enter the UK in this category. We will count time you spend outside the UK during that period as part of the two years. What work can I do? The working holiday maker scheme does not place any restriction on the type of work you can do. There is also no restriction on the amount of work that you can do (partime or full time) but you will be expected to take a holiday at some point during your stay. Any person allowed to enter the UK under this category is permitted to switch into work permit employment after one year in the UK. Do I need a visa as a working holidaymaker. You must get a visa as a working holidaymaker before you travel to the UK? Working Holiday maker visa application There is no closing date for applying for a Working Holidaymaker Visa. There is no quota for Sri Lanka. Application forms and information about the scheme can be collected free from the British High Commission or downloaded fro our website under Services - Visas - Application Forms and Guidance - Working holidaymaker. Please make sure that you have original bank statements and/or savings books. Bank letters or balance alone will not suffice. What is a Visa? A Visa is an entry clearance certificate that is placed in your passport or travel document at a UK visa office. The entry clearance certificate gives you leave to enter the UK. If you have a valid UK visa you will not normally be refused entry to the UK unless your circumstances have changed, or you gave false information or you failed to disclose important facts when you applied for your visa. When you arrive in the UK , an Immigration officer may question you , so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage. |
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