A new visa regulation that comes into effect in April is threatening to shatter the dream of working in Britain for thousands of Australians.
The new rule states that Aussies working in the UK need to be earning at least £35,000 per year (around $72,000) in order to remain in the country.
The change to the visa law will no doubt impact the number of Australians keen on spreading their wings and spending some time working in the UK.
Under the new regulations, the numbers of non-European skilled workers settling in Britain each year will drop from 60,000 to 20,000. Australians make up one of the top nationalities that are given work visas in Britain, along with the likes of Indians and Americans.
The visa rule threatens the unique bond between Aussies and the Brits, and will potentially make the UK a less appealing destination for Australian travellers. It will also hurt the UK’s image down under.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has apparently ‘made representations’ to the British government about the new rule. A petition that has been lodged with the British Parliament against the change has so far generated more than 70,000 signatures. However, it will need to reach 100,000 signatures if it is to be debated in Parliament.
