While applying for UK’s Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa, I realized that with dual nationalities it presented some problems (well, mostly questions) in my mind. After a search online, I realized how little information there was- so I decided to write my own version on how to apply for the visa with dual nationalities. In this post, you can read about my experience and some instructions on how to apply (how to answer the hardest questions!). I’ve split the process into two parts because the application process involves two parts. There is also a Q&A section that I came up with for those that are just looking for answers. If you have any other questions you can comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
Going to work in the UK was never in my future plans or something I had ever thought of. I did consider staying in the UK after completing my Master’s Degree, but at that time I wanted to go home (back to Taiwan) so I left after one complete year. Why did I decide to apply for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa? Well at that time my husband’s friend told him that she just came back working in the UK for 2 years. She told us the the next lottery was coming up in January and we could give it a shot (if we wanted).
A little background about the lottery system. Taiwan citizens are able to take part of the Tier 5 Youth Mobility program as long as they are under the age of 30. However, you must take part in the lottery system, because there are only 1000 spots each year. You may think, 1000 is a lot, but each other LOTS of Taiwanese people are fighting of this opportunity. In January, they draw lots for 800 people first. There is another change, but a smaller opportunity, 200 places in August.
So I thought, okay, husband, give it a shot – I heard it’s super hard to get the visa, but he tried anyway, and got it. I didn’t enter the lottery because I held a Canadian passport. It’s relatively easy for me to get the visa because there are over 5000 spots kept each year for Canadians.
So now I will share with you how to apply for the Tier 5 Visa with dual citizenship. This was a difficult part for me and I tried to find as much information online as possible, but not many people were in the same predicament as I was.
Some things to note first:
- I am using my Canadian passport to apply for Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa
- I am also a Taiwanese citizen with a Taiwanese passport
- I was living/working in Macau while applying for the visa
- I am going to attend the biometrics appointment in Taiwan (I’ll fly back).
I won’t add information such as who can apply and what you need to prepare. You probably already know all of this so there is no point in repeating it all again. You’re here because you are like me, you have dual nationalities – what to do? Let’s begin.
Part I: Visa Application Form
Step 1: Begin filling out basic information
- Go onto https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-youth-mobility/apply and create an account. See step by step instructions below:
- You can always come back anytime to finish your application. You can spend a few days writing your application. It’s quite long and some parts do take some time.
- From this point on, I won’t continue with the step by step instruction. Most of the information you need to fill out is self-explanatory. Such as your residence.
- However, I have complied a list of Q&A’s for this section in case you do not know how to fill out a particular section.
What is your date of planned travel?
Be careful when you answer this question as it will affect when they give you a visa. This date should be the date you wish to enter UK. You cannot change this date after you submit your application.
What is your accommodation in the UK?
Be truthful here. If you do not have an address in the UK then say so. You can say you will first find an airbnb in the first week while you look for a place to live. You can also state you will live at a friend’s house and provide their address as well too.
Do I need to write down visits made from the application passport or from both passports?
I wrote down trips I took overall which included trips from both passports. I went for the “more is better” policy. It is better to write more than less.
There is no more space to write down all my visits in 10 years.
The same happened for me. They will tell you to write it down on a sheet of paper and submit it when you go for your biometrics appointment. DO NOT do this. At the biometrics appointment (I WILL mention later) they do not accept any forms of paper/ notes/ whatnot other than your passport you are applying with. if you wish to write more dates, you can upload it as one of the supporting documents (At a later stage). For me, I didn’t bother and it didn’t affect my application.
What do I write for “my planned employment in the UK?”
Be truthful and write None (if you don’t have a job yet). In the reason/description you may write you are in the process of looking for a job. In the salary field write 0.
Documents showing required maintenance funds?
You do not need to provide the document at this stage however you need to decide right now which bank institution you wish to provide. Also, the type of document. “Statements from a bank or society” is the best option. For the name of Bank Institution write the full name. Don’t write ABBREVIATIONS.
Step Two: Make your Declaration
At this point, you need to declare that the information you have provided is truthful and correct. Continue to the next step.
Step Three: Pay your Immigration Health Surcharge
This is your last chance to re-check all your answers. Once you have paid for the health surcharge, you will not be able to change your answers anymore. This part of the visa must be paid right now. The IHS fee for two years is £ 400* 2 years = £ 800. *Note, the Immigration Health Surcharge has nothing to do with the visa application fee.
- Submit your application form and pay for your health surcharge online. You can use a credit card for this step. Collect those credit card points because that is one hefty amount to pay!
- After submitting the payment you should receive a IHS Number designated for YOU. This will automatically be included onto your application. There is no need for you to write it down or anything.
- You will receive a confirmation email so keep that in hand if you ever see a doctor in the UK.
- You are NOT done with your application yet. Do not leave and do not think that the process is over. Remember there is still a visa application fee to pay?
Step Four: BRPs and pay for your application fee
- Select the location you wish to pick up your BRPs. You need a postcode to search up a location so I suggest going onto Google and finding a post office near the place you will be staying.
- After providing your location, you will need to pay for the second part of your application fee- this is the visa fee!
- After paying for your visa fee, you will receive a “Payment successful” page and a reference number. Congratulations, you have spent almost over £1062 ($1344 USD) already and you are finished Part I of your application.
- Part II consists of entering a third-party site, VFS Global and providing them with your application number as well booking a biometrics appointment at one of the designated locations across the world. Yes, and there’s another biometrics fee as well. So if you were thinking you’re already broke, well, you aren’t even finished yet!
- I’m separating the second section because using VFS Global’s website gave me such a headache and always technical errors I have lots to talk about them.
Don’t worry about not finding this page later on. Every time you log onto your account, you will come back to this page because it reminds you what you must do in your next step- Part II: VFS Global Biometrics Appointment This deserves it’s own section so I am going to write a separate post for this section. Otherwise, below are some Q&A for those that have questions:
This is the end of Part I: Visa Application. The rest below are Q&A’s. To continue to Part II: VFS Global Biometrics Application
I made a mistake on my application form, should I refund?
I came across this question numerous times. People always make mistakes and I realized long after I submitted the application form I made a mistake at two separate areas. The first part was i wrote an international travel twice with different # of stay dates (Duplication). SEcond was when I was writing my spouse’s name, I MISSPELLED one section. I decided not to refund because it would just mess up the whole process as well as – how long do you think you’ll get the money back? also the health surcharge? I would highly not recommend refunding unless there was a huge major mistake on your application form- such as MISSPELLING your name, or a passport number, or country of residence
I reside in a country that needs a TB test- Do I need a TB test?
I reread the “Do I need a tb test” over and over again until I came up with this conclusion:
1. My application passport is Canada – does not need TB Test
2. Country I reside in- Taiwan – does not need TB test
3. Country I was working long Term in- Macau- needs TB test
You need a TB Test based on the “country of residence” you wrote when on your application form.
Should I book my biometrics appointment now?
This is not mandatory. You can book it anytime you want. For me, I finished my part I application end of March, and then booked my BIO METRICS appointment in May. Note: leave some time to book an appointment as the VFS Global website constantly has problems and if you come across a technical error, it may affect you from making an appointment. So leave yourself PLENTY of time to attack the VFS WEBSITE.
The checklist says if I had a UK visa before I need to bring the old passport in, I can’t find my old passport?
I read this section too and I had an old student visa on my Taiwan passport. The passport was old and not used anymore. I found it and brought it to the Biometrics appointment. Apparently they do not collect any paper documents/things/passports from you. They only take one passport from you- that’s all. If you had any documents or old passports to give them, don’t. you should upload them as supporting documents on VFS Global (part of Part II of the application). Since I didn’t and I didn’t know if I should include a copy of it, the agent said she could help me scan the passport on the spot for a fee ($12 USD). After deliberating, I said NO, since the visa was on my old taiwan passport and not my old Canadian passport (the passport of application).