From reading my last post, you would have read that I JUST received my Working Holiday Visa to the UK.  You know the one I had to shell out $400CAD for? The one that let’s me work only 12 months out of the 24 its valid for?

NEWSFLASH!

As of November 27, 2008, the following changes have occurred to the UK Working Holiday Visa:

• new visa allows the participants to work full time for the full 24-month duration of their visa (whereas the old WH visa only allowed participants to work for 12-months of the 24-month visa) 

• new visa has dropped in cost to $210 (it used to be approximately $435 CAD) and SWAP will drop the registration fees to reflect this change.

Seriously?!?!

Can this not have happened 2 weeks prior? I would’ve had an extra ~$300CAD in my wallet to show for it too!  Why would SWAP not have said: “Anna, things are about to change if you wait 2 weeks.”

BAH!

Not that this is gonna deter me away from trying to work the full 24 months illegally, but I would’ve had a cleaner conscience because of it at least! (Not to mention some more $$)

Regardless, what’s done is done and I’m gonna have a ’smashing’ time.  Incredible Hulk pun not intended.

Its official. I have my UK Visa! WOOP!  See (really bad) picture to the left.  I also took the liberty of covering up my important information.  I know there are creepers out there! I’m watching you!

I was also given a guide to the UK.  It’s thick.  You can hurt someone with it.  For real.  It goes into setting up your National Insurance number, getting set up with a bank account, which hostels are good, etc.  It also mentions that non of these things are easily done.  And I quote: “…the NI offices are often very busy with not very pleasant waiting areas.  Take a good book!” *Sigh*  I have a feeling my first couple of weeks are going to be hectic just trying to settle in.  Not to mention there are still so many things to organize on this end.  Like reference letters, resumes, travelers cheques, bank statements.  All the small things that you don’t really think about or remember about until they all pile up and you have no time left to complete them.

Also, I am trying to find a Credit Card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.  Nomadic Matt recommended the Capital One MC.  Which is great, except that it doesn’t apply to Canada.  Boo.  I think my best bet will be to just set one up upon arrival.  Thoughts?

So, my Visa only allows me to work for 12 months out of the 24.  However, I’ve never been one to conform, so I’m just going to keep working until they tell me to stop. *Smirk*

Another thing that really freaks me out is finding my way around London.  I’ve never been too great with directions and have relied heavily on others for this sort of thing.  I see a lot of random alleyways and sketchy buildings in my near future. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best here.

Lastly, I want to extend a huge thanks to Geoff from Itinerant Londoner who has been sending oodles of helpful emails to guide me along my way! Thanks!

Biometrics.

As of Feb 2005, all those applying for a UK  Visa,  must get  fingerprinted and eye-scanned.

“Holy Crap!” That’s what I thought when I first found out.  Actually, my first thought was “Did they single me out, because they think I’m a terrorist?” But then I found out EVERYONE has to, and I felt better. *Whew*

I was pretty nervous going into the office last Friday to get all this done. You don’t even get to find out where the office is until you make the appointment! They email you the location.  Flashes of Mission Impossible and James Bond appeared before my eyes.  However, the Visa Officers were probably the friendliest people I’ve had to deal with thus far! No joke.  I was in and out in 30 minutes.  Impressive. Although they didn’t laugh at my terrorist joke.  Hmmm….

So I’m now officially “passport-less,” as they confiscated it to send to the British High Commission for my Visa.  I’m also officially “in the system.” At least my fingerprints and retinas are.  Now all those “Anna” imposters can just bite me!

I’m so close I can taste it!

OH…ANNNNNND… Further to my earlier post, Macbooks Are Sexy, its confirmed, there is going to be a new Macbook announced this Tuesday! WOOO!