UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

UK suspends Working Holiday Visas

Saturday, 20 January 2007

Suspension is still in place for some countries participating in the Working Holiday Maker Scheme.

Visa sections in Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur are still not able to accept Working Holiday Maker scheme applications.

A consequence of this is that citizens of Bangladesh, Malaysia, The Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka resident in those countries cannot, at present, apply for a visa in this category. The Immigration Rules do not permit such resident citizens to apply elsewhere in the world.

This move has been taken because of acute operational difficulties caused by an unprecedented increase in the number of working holidaymaker applications in these countries and the adverse affect this increase has had on the wider visa operation.

The service is expected to resume at some point, and applicants who wish to apply at that time will need to hold a valid UK TB Health Certificate before applying.

No further applications will be accepted until further notice.