Working Holiday Visas, Aus and NZ

Why is it that people always feel something is unfair when it affects them personally but never question something when it only affects other people?

The WHV is intended as a means of allowing YOUNG people to be able to visit and work in countries that support the program. So no, it isn't unfair or ageist. It's what it is. Why don't young people get Senior's discounts?

Programs that give preference based on age, be they special discounts, be they special visas, sure, they are ageist. In the case of governments rather than private businesses giving preference to young people, it seems especially unfair, since governments should not be in the business of promoting bias. In the defense of the various governments, however, they undoubtedly benefit more from attracting young, healthy workers than from attracting middle-aged workers, because it's a statistical reality that we folks in our forties and up are more likely to have any number of illnesses that would be rare in the younger worker. I'm not sure of the right and wrong of it. As an American, I can't really work legally anywhere outside my home country without great difficulty, so I do sympathize. I'm not wanted for my looks and talent, I'm wanted for my (increasingly laughable) American dollars.

If you are serious about considering a legal challenge, it is always better to consult with an attorney than with the internet. I too admit to being curious if anyone has mounted such a challenge. I almost hope not. The likely result, I'm guessing, would be to shut down the program for the younger people, rather than opening the program to the middle-aged.

My dad was able to work temporarily in Australia in his 70s. However, he had exceptional qualifications for the job in question. Any government will welcome the highly qualified engineer, scientist, doctor, or nurse. Not so much the gifted bartender. Even if the gifted bartender is equally or more essential to human happiness!

It's a tough argument to make when you're not a citizen and have no standing to petition that government.

Older australians also have the same trouble the other way round in Britain. Perhaps you copuld try to challenge the british to cahnge and maybe we will reciprocate. Being older myself I realise how frustrating it can be. If you arre particularly skilled now however you can apply from britain for a special visa on your skills. We need skilled workers so when you return then try it. OZ HAS NEVER BEEN KEEN ON CHANGING VISDA CONDITIONS WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY ENTERED THE COUNTRY.

WHV arrangements, indeed most visa restrictions are reciprocal. The exception tends to be the USA which is unabashedly exclusive (for good reason, half the third world wants to move there).

The rules exist to maintain life style and standard of living, social coherence etc in countries which are attractive places to live.

Personally I accept them as necessary to maintain our way of life.

It is possible for an employer to sponser you to get an appropriate visa but you will probably have to get the job and then leave Australia to do it

It used to be easy for British people to work in Australia and vice versa. However in more recent years it has become extremely difficult. I am not sure which country first started tightening up and it doesn't much matter. As an Australian I looked into every possibility to move to UK some years ago and eventually gave up. Short of being sponsored - and that was unlikely given I have no particular skills not shared by many millions of EU citizens or the HSMP which had (has?) very long waiting lists, it was just not doable.

Interestingly we have a number of British friends who find all this very surprising.

What I find surprising is that we have since got long term residency visas in Spain but there is no equivalent in UK.

I guess it cuts both ways.