A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds. Most working holiday visas are offered under reciprocal agreements between certain countries, to encourage travel and cultural exchange between their citizens.
There are usually limits on the type of employment taken, or the length of time the traveller can be employed. The visa holder is expected to have sufficient funds to live on while they seek employment. The UK Border Agency has announced that from 27 November 2008, a number of current youth mobility schemes will be combined into Tier 5 (Youth Mobility), as part of the Points-Based Immigration System.
The current Working Holidaymaker Scheme will be merged with other schemes: au pairs, BUNAC, the Gap Year entrants concession, the Japan Youth Exchange Scheme and the concession for research assistants to MPs. Participating countries must offer a reprocal scheme to young British nationals.
The scheme will start with four participating countires: Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. The USA will not participate, and with the abolition of BUNAC there will be no youth mobility scheme in place between the USA and the UK. South Africa, from where 17,000 young people a year came to the UK under the Working Holidaymaker scheme, is also unlikely to take part.
Meanwhile, until 27 November 2008, under the UK current Working Holidaymaker scheme, Commonwealth citizens aged between 17 and 30 may be eligible to enter the United Kingdom as Working Holidaymakers. Employment should be seen as incidental to the holiday and therefore work is not allowed for more than 12 months out of the permitted 24 months.
The 24 month validity period runs continuously from the date from which the Entry Clearance is valid. Regardless of any time spent travelling outside the UK. This period cannot be extended nor can it be put on hold. Although Working Holidaymakers can study in the UK, either part-time or full-time, they cannot switch in the UK to student immigration status.
A Working Holidaymaker who wished to extend their stay in the UK as a student must return to their home country to apply for Entry Clearance in the relevant category. Someone who studies in the UK with the status of Working Holidaymaker may not join the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) scheme. Argentina's Working Holiday Program provides opportunities for people aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) to holiday in Argentina and to supplement their travel funds through incidental employment.
The visa allows a stay of up to 12 months and is available to New Zealand Citizens. The UK Border Agency came into existence 1 April 2008. Formed as a result of a Cabinet Office report, a decision was taken to merge the Border and Immigration Agency, UK visas and the port of entry functions of HM Revenue and Customs into one new integrated border control body.
Immigration officers have the power of arrest and detention whether they are at a port or inland, which is conferred on them by the Immigration Act 1971. In practice, port Immigration Officers exercise powers under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 and inland Immigration Officers exercise powers under S28A to H of the Immigration Act 1971 and paragraph 17 of Schedule 2.
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