From Ottawa, Canada to Abbey Road

Canadian student Ramera shares her experience of securing a Youth Mobility Visa (Tier 5) to study in the UK

Applying for a visa can appear complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Ramera Abraham joined our Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering in September after relocating from North America. She had a busy and productive 4 weeks before joining Abbey Road Institute. Applying for both our course and the visa at the same time then moving from Canada to London has put Ramera on the start of her new career path.

We met Ramera after a few weeks on the course to find out what the Visa application process was like.

Hi Ramera, can you tell us how you found the application process for the Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5) Visa?

Applying from Canada was relatively easy, but required me to go through a third party visa application center. Upon completion of my online application, I had to make an appointment to go to the centre with all of my required documents. So they could verify them, take my biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph), and send off the documents along with a printed application to the closest British Consulate General. The closest one to me was in New York. After sending the documents and my application to the Consulate General, you are expected to wait a period no longer than three weeks to receive an outcome via traditional post.The application process will differ depending on the country you are applying from. Some may require you apply through a third party company like VHS Global, and some may allow you to send your application yourself. 

When did you apply and when did you find out the outcome?

I applied for my Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa during the first week of August. I received my successful decision and temporary visa with my passport after two weeks! There was a time limit since I had only just discovered I was accepted to the Abbey Road Institute programme, so I was either going to quickly plan a flight to London or request to begin the course in March instead.

How did the visa application process work for you?

Overall, visa applications are very administrative and require a lot of time, proper documentation, and financial investment. My experience was smooth, despite the stress of waiting! You are not able to track your package or application. So the most difficult part is waiting for a decision, especially if you are under a time limit. Be prepared to put lots of time into your application and be sure you have all the right documentation before sending it out.

Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5) Visa eligibility criteria:

• You must be between the ages of 18 and 30
• Be from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Taiwan
• Applicants from Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea require sponsorship
• You must have £1,890 in savings
• There are some exceptions – you are unable to apply if you have children or already been in the UK under a ‘working holidaymaker’ scheme

Advice for students who are applying for a visa:

• Research the application process on the UK government website
• It sounds obvious, but ensure you meet all of the eligibility requirement 
• Give yourself as much time as you can to prepare your application
• Ask someone else to review your application before you submit it – they may spot something you’ve missed!
• Start researching to prepare yourself for the move to a new country and new culture, it’s a big change and takes patience and planning
• If you’re planning to study with us don’t forget to contact the team here at Abbey Road Institute for support

Apply now to start your studies in March

To be part of our Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering start your application now for our next course starting in March 2018.