2nd Working Holiday Visa

[Ghost]

Quick question, has anyone on here applied for working holiday visas from the UK more than once? If so on the second time (after previously having one) was it accepted and if it was denied what happened?

I have heard of a few people having 2 (and even 3) working holiday visas even though the rules state you can only have one. I had mine 7 years ago now and am thinking of applying for another one but I want to know what the risks are and if I am unlucky and get refused what the consequences be. Unfortunately I have a very very uncommon surname so if they decide to look my name up on their system and Im still on it it will be very easy to spot me on there. I know the states can apply for more than one WHV but the UK are sadly stuck with a one per lifetime limit

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Quick question, has anyone on here applied for working holiday visas from the UK more than once? If so on the second time (after previously having one) was it accepted and if it was denied what happened?

I have heard of a few people having 2 (and even 3) working holiday visas even though the rules state you can only have one. I had mine 7 years ago now and am thinking of applying for another one but I want to know what the risks are and if I am unlucky and get refused what the consequences be. Unfortunately I have a very very uncommon surname so if they decide to look my name up on their system and Im still on it it will be very easy to spot me on there. I know the states can apply for more than one WHV but the UK are sadly stuck with a one per lifetime limit

Not really an answer, but I had two rounds of working holiday visas. Now, the caveats. I'm not from the UK, but Australia. My first was in 1987, the very first year of the program, when it was only open to us, Canadians and Japanese, who could only extend the six month visa once, where the gaijin could do it twice (for a total stay of 18 months). My second working holiday visa was 1990-91, and nobody ever mentioned a thing, though I was still using the same passport. It's 20 years-plus since then, but the program is a lot looser now than it was in the old days, but who knows?
I recommend you contact the Japanese Embassy in London, or another consulate somewhere in Britain. Tell them the situation and ask what options are available to you. If they say you can't do it, ditch your passport, get a new one and I'm almost certain you'll have no problem getting back in, with the lifetime restriction more likely to apply to documentation rather than people.

[Ghost]

Well last time I called the Japanese embassy which was about 2 or 3 years ago I was told that it is once only and that was that, my only options were a student visa or a work permit if I had a uni degree. They seemed to be very strict on it even though they never use up their allocation within the year (which was back then and has been doubled since). So if I apply Im going to have to say I have never had one, as I said it has worked for a few people but I just need to know what the likely outcome would be if they refused it.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I figure you should get yourself a different passport, put in an application and suck it and see...you'll probably be all right. You are, after all, going to be dealing with Japanese government employees.

[GomiGirl]

I figure you should get yourself a different passport, put in an application and suck it and see...you'll probably be all right. You are, after all, going to be dealing with Japanese government employees.

I know somebody who did this and they got a second WHV but that was a few years ago. ]quid pro quo[/I]) system and there are many more Japanese people who apply to go to Canada, UK, Australia, NZ etc than kids from these countries wanting to come to Japan, so as long as you don't have two heads or a criminal record, it is the easiest visa to get to enter Japan.

Standard rule of thumb when dealing with Japanese "rules". Don't ask beforehand if you can do something as you will probably get a negative reply.. just go for it and make apologies later on if needed.

If you do ring the consulate beforehand, don't give your name.