jayr

Seems the Uk has withdrawn the ability for Aussies to work for up to 2 years on working holiday visas:

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/c...55E953,00.html

Del Boy

about time too

wombat42

l would rather go on a working holiday in Bangladesh's rat infested sewers then Britain.

Del Boy

Actually, I believe the sewers there aren't as bad as you would think. we don't have them yet and the rats have to make do with living in our houses

JAJ

But before anyone gets too excited about this, the working holiday visa is still there for Australians, it's just that they are apparently reverting to the pre-2003 position which put more emphasis on the *holiday* than on the *work* aspect.

As this is still a more generous visa than Australia offers to young Britons, there is no risk to the Australian WHV for British citizens.

The real issues with the UK working holiday visa is the fact it's extended to all *Commonwealth* countries:

- including those that pose an unacceptable immigration risk;
- including those that offer no reciprocal access for young British citizens;
- including those that offer inferior schemes to young Britons (eg Canada - which offers young Australians and New Zealanders a much better visa than is available to British citizens).
- while at the same time, does not allow the UK to develop working holiday visa schemes on a reciprocal basis with non-Commonwealth countries.

A sane government would immediately withdraw the WHV for all countries except Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and would put the Canadians on notice to upgrade their scheme for British citizens if they wanted to keep access to the British WHV. New arrangements could then be negotiated on a country by country basis.

Jeremy

jayr

I'll send you the tickets...

Shellfish

1) I think it's going to be seen a very xenophobic and racist
2) most young people living in these third world commonwealth countries would not be able to raise the money required in order to get the visa
3) possibly too little too late

JAJ

A reasonable, well-managed migration system is neither of the above.

Unfortunately the Labour government's policy changes since 1997 have created the shambles today.

There are not many WHV type schemes offered on a non-reciprocal basis, and the UK is under no moral obligation to continue to do so. Australia doesn't.

And as for offering WHVs to high risk immigration countries - again, no other country does this kind of thing, why should the UK? Again - Australia doesn't.


Jeremy