general travel Keyword
UK Working Visas
Applying for an Australian Working Visa from the UK is laughably easy, according to most of the UK backpackers I’ve spoken to. I’ve heard reports of pommies applying online and being told within hours if they have had their Visa issued.
The process is not nearly as easy for Aussies headed to the UK, as I found out.
Here’s some handy hints I’ve picked up from my experience for Australians applying for a UK Working Visa.
- Expect delays
Applications take around 25 days to process apparently, but it can take longer. Don’t leave it till the last two weeks before you leave. Give a few months lead time. - You WILL have to surrender your passport
I thought this was a mistake on the website, but you will have post your passport to Canberra. I never let me passport out of my sight, and the idea of sending my passport through the absurdly unreliable AusPost completely confounded me. But, it needs to be done apparently. As I am leaving for Japan in 2 weeks I can’t give up my passport, so no Visa for me. - The cost of applying is refundable UP TO A POINT
If you choose to give up on your application do it BEFORE the consulate take your biometric details. Anytime after that and you’ve lost your money, no exceptions. This would have been handy for me to know before they took my fingerprints. - You can only get a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa from inside Australia
Pretty much says it all. You can’t get it issued outside your home country. Not even if you’ve started the application and its all over apart from the the shouting. - TWO WEEKS?!
You have only two weeks from starting the application to when Canberra need to receive your documention. Don’t expect that you can start it up again in a few months, or in a years time. You WILL have to pay another $280 bucks and go through all this shit again.
I hope these tips help anyone looking to apply for a UK Working VISA. They sure would have helped me! At this point I have no UK working Visa, and my Italian Citizenship is still lost in the thick forest of red-tape, slackness and bureaucracy that is the Italian Immigration System. Looks like I’ll be funding my entire trip out of savings.
Monopoly
Last night was my last night at the Railway YHA with my new friends and I got to do something I have been hanging out to do for ages: Play Monopoly! I love Monopoly. I brings out the best and worst in people. It shows you how people think. How they reason. Something that can be difficult to discover when there is a language barrier. I met some more Canadians during the game which by the way, was very entertaining. For dinner we made Burritos and then had a few send off drinks down Sidebar. I woke up on the couch in front of an episode of Carnivale at 4am. It was a great end to an awesome 3 weeks at the Railway.
I’ll miss my new friends, but I am looking forward to getting know the new group of people I am staying with at Whynot Street in the West End of Brisbane. Tegan set us up the Shed, and everyone has been very welcoming. I have about two weeks here then head back to Sydney to head to Japan.
Max & Pascal
Yesterday I said goodbye to a couple of new friends, namely Max and Pascal. Ever the party animals these two brothers from Quebec have been traveling around causing a ruckas and breaking the hearts of ladies all over the shop. They are two of the biggest stoners you’ll ever meet. I am glad to have got to know them these past couple of weeks as their antics always brought a smile to my face.
Viva Quebec fellas, enjoy your road trip to Melbourne with Jeff, Alban and Anrie and I’m sure I’ll meet you again in my travels.
Manly
With everyone recovering from the huge night that was my Birthday, we decided to head to Manly yesterday. Getting around 10 people together and moving as one is a big enough ask at the best of times, but stick a bunch of wayward, hungover backpackers together, most of whom speak broken English and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Our aim was to hit Manly around 11am. We didn’t leave the hostel till about 12 lunchtime, and then took close to an hour to walk from Central to Circular Quay. All this was in good fun, and we did finally make it. I spent a while on the beach, then headed to the pub for a couple of quiet brews while the others sunbaked.
We capped off the night with an impromptu barbeque on Shelly Beach with some great entertainment provided by Jamie’s massive cooking effort. Later I watched the stars and contemplated the infinite of space alone on the lookout at the Heads. At least I got the last ferry back to town, which cannot be said for the rest of the crew.
Lazy Days
Sometimes the days when you plan to do next to nothing turn out the best. A walk to find a guitar turned into a relaxing trundle through Sydney, stopping at a few bars for happy hours and quiet drinks. I said goodbye to my new friend over dinner and then hit the Three Wise Monkeys for dancing with some of the backpackers from my hostel. I got into the YHA soaked in sweat and exhausted. It was a roller-coaster of a day emotionally, but fulfilling.
I still don’t have a guitar though…
Saying Goodbye
One of the things I will never be able to get used to with traveling is saying goodbye. So seldom do we meet people with whom we form a strong connection with in our lives that to say goodbye is quite daunting. This effect is amplified in the arena of travel, where you have only days, and sometimes just hours to get to know a person. They breeze into your life, tidy up the place, rearrange the furniture, maybe paint a few walls, put up some art and then suddenly they walk out the door with the smallest of waves never to be seen again. You’re left staring at the paint drips on the carpet and the shattered glass they knocked over on the way out and your heart soars.
To all my traveling friends, where ever you are now: Thank you.
Australia Day Shenanigans
It started with goon at 10am, and ended with sliding through Sydney soaking wet when the skies opened up and nature dealt a dud hand.
I’ve never been so sopping wet in my life, and yet enjoyed every minute. The day saw me drinking in Hyde Park, our group receiving the title “The Goon Boys” from the cops then walking to Cockle Bay for another free concert in the rain. The whole while I had the Hottest 100 in my ear, which made me a lot of new friends and had me dancing in the streets; which didn’t go down so well with the cops, even though they were closed. I guess the man doesn’t like those who dance to the beat of their own drum…
Video and Photos after the break.
Morning Sydney, well… afternoon
I had a bit of a sleep in today, I think I deserved it. Last night I had a couple of quiet drinks at the back packers and then to the Side Bar to enjoy $6.80 pints of Heineken and to enquire about work. I think I will apply next week.
Today I am heading into town to meet up with John, my old work friend for lunch. He’s just up in Darlinghurst, which is handy, because I need to catch up with Adam from Birds to get a BDO ticket, and he’s also up there.
After that I need to find a camera, coz using my phone camera just ain’t gonna cut it. Any suggestions? I am looking at getting something reasonably small, shove in your pocket style, with half decent picture quality and ease of use. Needs to be durable too.
Alright, now to start the day.
A Storm is a Brewing
Now that I’ve had a chance to relax, I can ponder the more wonderful things of my day.
I left Perth stressed out. I had people telling me what to do, when to do it, how do things and basically filling me with doubt. I started worrying about accomodation, visas, transport, money, all the things that normally “take care of themselves”. My first step onto the plane wasn’t filled with joy, but with frustration and concern.
And then, the fasten seat belt sign came on, and instantly I was free.
The roar of the engines seemed to frighten off my demons and clear my head and I was only left with good memories of those I am leaving behind. Quite a bizarre feeling.
Anyways, from the metaphysical to the minutiae: I finally checked in at about 1.30pm, had a shower and about half an hours sleep. I then went shopping and for dinner I made myself field mushrooms cooked in garlic butter, with fresh crunchy brocolli and chutney, topped with blue cheese and almonds. I topped it off with a beer while watching a storm roll in over the city.
I’m currently reading “The Beach” by Alex Garland, and listening to, as always when I am on holidays, Sigur Ros.
I might down a couple more beers, and if the storm has passed, swing over to the Side Bar to see if anything is going down, but for now I’ll just enjoy the thunder.