The UK government is changing all visas and one of the biggest issues will be the abolishment of the old Working Holiday Visa, that will be replaced by the new Youth Mobility Scheme. The official date this will happen is the 27th of November 2008. Read more here

In Essence the Youth Mobility Scheme works a lot like the old Working Holiday Visa, but with the most important difference, that it will not be available to South Africans! Under new legislation any country can form part of the Youth Mobility Scheme, if they choose to do so. That country then has to have a deal in place with the UK, allowing UK youths to travel to that country. At this stage no such deal is in place with South Africa, and experts all concur that any such deal in the future seems very unlikely.

In short therefore, we as South Africans will only be able to obtain a Working Holiday Visa (valid for 2 years) until the new Youth Mobility Scheme kicks off on 27 November 2008. If you have a valid Visa before 27 Nov 2008, no problem you can still make use of it for the next 2 years for as long as it is valid. If you don't however have a Working Holiday Visa before 27 November 2008, you will not be able to go!

We suggest that you apply for your Working Holiday Visa straight away. You can have it start 3 months in the future, so if you get it in November '08 you can have it activated in January '08 and still have all the benefits of the visa till January 2011! It takes 5 days to apply and obtain your Working Holiday Visa.

Many young South Africans live under the false illusion that they will find some other route to live and work in the UK, but they will unfortunately get a very bad surprise after 27 November. Especially young teachers will never earn enough in South Africa to get a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa, nor will they be able to find work in the UK from South Africa in order to qualify for the new equivalent of the Work Permit. If you dont have a Working Holiday Visa when the New Youth Mobility Scheme kicks in, YOU ARE STUCK!

If you are under 31 years of age and you will hold a formal teaching qualification by the end of 2008, please give us a call immediately (012 345 4865) so that we can assist you with your Visa Application. We will offer you free assistance.

SAnavrae@classroomteachers.co.za