What an interesting (if slightly OT) thread...  I am in the lucky position of having had an English Grandfather, which qualifies me for something called "Patriality".  Basically entitles me to a three year work visa (as long as I apply before I am 28 - better get a move on!!), but more importantly entitles me to work in the field in which I am trained, something the 2 year "standard" visa does not allow.  New Zealand is still recognised as a British colony, so they look after us!!!

Cheers,
Aidan


__

aidan schurr  b.m.l.sc
section head, histology
hutt valley district health board
lower hutt
new zealand

aidan.schurr@hvh.co.nz
++64 4 570 9173 (direct)
++64 4 570 9214 (fax)

>>> Bebhinn Treanor  21/06/2002 >>>
Just to clarify-members of Commonwealth countries do not have unlimited 
working rights in other Commonwealth countries.  Most Commonwealth 
countries offer a working holiday visa to members of other Commonwealth 
countries which is valid for usually 2 years and only allows part-time 
employment.  In addition, these visas are usually only available to people 
under the age of 26.

Obtaining a work visa is extremely difficult (at least from the UK) for 
members of other Commonwealth countries (or any other country for that 
matter).  In order to get a work, the company in Britain must prove that 
there is no British citizen able to do the job.

Bebhinn
(A Canadian living in the UK)
University College London

At 09:09 20/06/2002 -0600, rueggp wrote:
>Patsy, while your comments are valid for a person from the US to try to
>work
>in the UK you might be interested to know that the Commonwealth
>countries
>have work agreements that allow people from member countries to work in
>other Commonwealth countries. Their education systems and work
>requirements
>are similar so they all travel around working their way around the
>world. In
>fact, for someone like Aidan from New Zealand, it is fully expected that
>
>they will go to other countries to work. The call the Big OE, or
>Overseas
>Experience. You would be surprised at how many of these techs have
>worked in
>places all over the world.
>
>Tim Morken
>Atlanta

Bebhinn Treanor
Research Technician
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology
University College London
Gower Street, London
WC1E 6BT
phone: 020 7679 3904
fax: 020 7679 7316
email: b.treanor@ucl.ac.uk