For the past two years, the British government has required that all Canadian youth wishing to participate in their Youth Mobility Scheme must undergo biometric screening as a part of the process for applying for the visa. Only five (5) Visa Application Centres have been established in Canada and the closest one of these to Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is in Halifax.

This means that all NL applicants must arrange to get to Halifax (and back) well in advance of their proposed departure for the UK and flights are the best option for most. Unfortunately this additional cost (approx. $500) has caused a huge drop off in the numbers of NL youth working in Britain over the past two years.

However, the Division of Co-operative Education at Memorial University, in concert with SWAP Working Holidays and Travel CUTS, has secured the agreement of the British High Commission that a mobile biometric unit can visit St. John's on two separate dates in 2010. This will save NL youth the cost of booking a return flight to Halifax and thus make the concept of working in Britain far easier and cheaper.

We must have a minimum of 25 young people to attend each session so we are asking NL youth to let us know their interest in this opportunity. If you are interested, please advise us immediately by email at swapinfo@swap.ca . For more information on this Youth Mobility Scheme and on the actual biometric requirements, click on:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf28pbsyouthmobility#3885854

For more information on SWAP services, click on www.swap.ca

NOTE: The British Government is charging each candidate for this mobile processing a fee of $70.00CAD. Specific dates for these mobile sessions in March and July will be established shortly and based on how you are responding. All we need to know right now is IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. All of those who write in will be contacted within a few days.

THIS OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN TO ALL NL YOUTH AGED 18 TO 30. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT ONE BE A STUDENT OR BE REGISTERED ON SWAP WORKING HOLIDAYS (even though that's a smart idea!! And registered SWAP participants will get a small discount on this $70 fee). Memorial University, SWAP and Travel CUTS simply want to even the playing field" for young people from NL who want to work in Britain in 2010.

If we cannot get a minimum of 25 people for each of these mobile sessions, it's back to flying to Halifax. So please spread the word among your friends so that any and all young people in NL interested in working in Britain will hear about this new, cheap, fast-track arrangement.