UK Home Office Announces Annual Allocation of Youth Mobility Visas

Yesterday, the UK Home Office published a policy paper containing information on the countries and territories who are able to participate in the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme as well as the annual allocation of places available for migrants. The Youth Mobility Scheme which applies to young people from countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand allows nationals from these countries to experience living and working in the UK for up to two years.

What is the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme?

In 27 November 2008,  the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme replaced a number of different schemes, including the Working Holidaymakers scheme for Commonwealth citizens. The Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme is available to nationals of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and to British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas).

Those who wish to apply for this visa to work in the UK temporarily, must apply for entry clearance and can only stay in the UK for the period of validity of their entry clearance and cannot obtain an extension to stay. However, if the migrant is undertaking a role which cannot be filled by a settled worker and the employer has a Sponsor Licence, after the employer has completed the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT), they may assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the Applicant who can then make an application for entry clearance as a Tier 2 General migrant.

Appendix G Immigration Rules: Annual Allocation for 2015

In their policy paper published yesterday, the Home Office announced the following places are available for use by Countries and Territories with Deemed Sponsorship Status:

  • Australia: 38,000 places;
  • Canada: 5,000 places;
  • Japan: 1,000 places;
  • New Zealand: 11,000 places; and
  • Monaco: 1,000.

In addition to these places, the following are places available for use by Countries and Territories without Deemed Sponsorship Status:

  • Taiwan: 1,000 places;
  • South Korea: 1,000 places; and
  • Hong Kong; 1,000 places.

Contact us for Successful Tier 5 Youth Mobility & Tier 2 General Visa Applications

If you are a national of one of the countries mentioned above and wish to explore your options of living and working in the UK for 2 years under the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, contact our expert team of immigration lawyers. If you are currently a Tier 5 visa holder and wish to explore your options of continuing to work with your current employer, our expert team will be happy to discuss the visa options available to you.

Our team of experienced and professionally qualified solicitors and barristers will be able to guide you through the process step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of the law. Please always call us for a free telephone assessment and free case assessment even if you wish to consider other advisers.

Our Immigration Experts are able to give specialist legal information and advice in this area of law. To contact one of our Immigration Solicitors or Immigration Barristers please complete our legal case assessment form and we will get in touch or call us now on 0845 8622 529 for a free telephone assessment and free case assessment.

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