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chantille18:50 UTC26 Mar 2007

Hi There.
I've been living in Edinburgh for just over a year now and I've pretty much used up the 12-month allowance for working in the UK now. (as I'm sure most people here know: The visa itself is for 2 years, but I can only work for 1). Does anyone know what will happen if I work longer than the 12 months? Do they send nasty letters or will I be immediately deported? I'd really just love to stay for one more summer... I feel like this is my home now and just thinking about leaving makes my heart ache. --and I can't afford to stay if I can't work.
Any knowledge/advise on the subject would be of great help.
Thank you.

alanr22:59 UTC26 Mar 2007

You know that Hicks guy - he started off by overworking on his WHV and look where it got him

tony_b02:26 UTC27 Mar 2007

I can understand your feelings for Edinburgh - it's my favourite UK city. However, if you want to come back at some point in the future, it's best to keep things legal.

alanr04:36 UTC27 Mar 2007

Just to add, these days the fines for companies employing someone who isn't entitled to work are quite high. It probably would be a good idea to stay friends with everyone you know as the Home Office are desperate to bump up their Illegal immigrant expulsion figures and they aren't fussy on who they expel

billthehammer04:41 UTC27 Mar 2007

They even kick out Jamaicans who have children here.

dandtinoz05:47 UTC27 Mar 2007

If you want to stay so much (and I assume you have an employer who likes you) why not see if you can get a proper work visa by getting sponsored (or however it works)? As someone who is about to apply for a WHV to the UK I would ask that you not break the rules - it just makes it harder for those of us who want to do the right thing.

tessha_m07:24 UTC27 Mar 2007

its interesting we don't see this question more often.... why is that?

saoghalbeag17:02 UTC27 Mar 2007

It really does make it harder in future if you want to return. The couple of ppl I know who were silly enough to overstay/overwork thought they'd gotten away with it because they didn't receive any nasty letters or get chased through the airport on their way out but BOTH were deported when they attempted to return. One 6 months later and one over a year later. Cost them lots of dollars as well as stress - one was coming back to spend Christmas with friends and the other was heading back for a wedding and had been planning for ages. Best to work your arse off to get that work permit whilst you're still there. It's a lot harder to obtain when you're outside the UK.

pruengel18:12 UTC28 Mar 2007

Why don't you try the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa? If you qualify (and can afford it), you can work anywhere and as anything. And it doesn't matter what profession you are in. There is some more info about it here http://www.workgateways.com/working-uk-visas.html and also a lot of discussion about working travellers overworking their visas on the forum there

pruengel18:14 UTC28 Mar 2007

Also, you don't have to be specialised if you are getting a 'tier two' work permit. As long as you have a company who is willing to sponsor you, and you can prove that there is no other candidate in the EU who can do the job as well as you (your employer has to go through a process of advertising the position etc), then it is entirely feasible that you will get it. You just need to have the relevant skills and qualifications for the particular position. With the second tier permit, you do have to return to your home country to apply for entry clearance however - small catch!

richard_whitely14:12 UTC22 Jan 2010

Apply for a working visa, depending on what you do you may qualify, seek advice before applying.

scoodly17:13 UTC22 Jan 2010

It's coming up to three years since the OP posted Richard - problem solved or returned to Canada?

Over-working the UK holiday visa Country forums / UK & Ireland
chantille18:50 UTC26 Mar 2007	Hi There. I've been living in Edinburgh for just over a year now and I've pretty much used up the 12-month allowance for working in the UK now. (as I'm sure most people here know: The visa itself is for 2 years, but I can only work for 1). Does anyone know what will happen if I work longer than the 12 months? Do they send nasty letters or will I be immediately deported? I'd really just love to stay for one more summer... I feel like this is my home now and just thinking about leaving makes my heart ache. --and I can't afford to stay if I can't work. Any knowledge/advise on the subject would be of great help. Thank you.
alanr22:59 UTC26 Mar 2007	You know that Hicks guy - he started off by overworking on his WHV and look where it got him	1
tony_b02:26 UTC27 Mar 2007	I can understand your feelings for Edinburgh - it's my favourite UK city. However, if you want to come back at some point in the future, it's best to keep things legal.	2
alanr04:36 UTC27 Mar 2007	Just to add, these days the fines for companies employing someone who isn't entitled to work are quite high. It probably would be a good idea to stay friends with everyone you know as the Home Office are desperate to bump up their Illegal immigrant expulsion figures and they aren't fussy on who they expel	3
billthehammer04:41 UTC27 Mar 2007	They even kick out Jamaicans who have children here.	4
dandtinoz05:47 UTC27 Mar 2007	If you want to stay so much (and I assume you have an employer who likes you) why not see if you can get a proper work visa by getting sponsored (or however it works)? As someone who is about to apply for a WHV to the UK I would ask that you not break the rules - it just makes it harder for those of us who want to do the right thing.	5
tessha_m07:24 UTC27 Mar 2007	its interesting we don't see this question more often.... why is that?	6
saoghalbeag17:02 UTC27 Mar 2007	It really does make it harder in future if you want to return. The couple of ppl I know who were silly enough to overstay/overwork thought they'd gotten away with it because they didn't receive any nasty letters or get chased through the airport on their way out but BOTH were deported when they attempted to return. One 6 months later and one over a year later. Cost them lots of dollars as well as stress - one was coming back to spend Christmas with friends and the other was heading back for a wedding and had been planning for ages. Best to work your arse off to get that work permit whilst you're still there. It's a lot harder to obtain when you're outside the UK.	7
pruengel18:12 UTC28 Mar 2007	Why don't you try the Highly Skilled Migrant Visa? If you qualify (and can afford it), you can work anywhere and as anything. And it doesn't matter what profession you are in. There is some more info about it here http://www.workgateways.com/working-uk-visas.html and also a lot of discussion about working travellers overworking their visas on the forum there	8
pruengel18:14 UTC28 Mar 2007	Also, you don't have to be specialised if you are getting a 'tier two' work permit. As long as you have a company who is willing to sponsor you, and you can prove that there is no other candidate in the EU who can do the job as well as you (your employer has to go through a process of advertising the position etc), then it is entirely feasible that you will get it. You just need to have the relevant skills and qualifications for the particular position. With the second tier permit, you do have to return to your home country to apply for entry clearance however - small catch!	9
richard_whitely14:12 UTC22 Jan 2010	Apply for a working visa, depending on what you do you may qualify, seek advice before applying.	10
scoodly17:13 UTC22 Jan 2010	It's coming up to three years since the OP posted Richard - problem solved or returned to Canada?	11

Over-working the UK holiday visa