fourgolds,
Just to add.
Three years ago, the United States gave Britain 13 months to comply with the digital data readable passport system. If at the expiration of the time given a Britt attempted travel to the U.S., the individual/s would be denied entry.:uhoh:
All this was before the visa waiver system. Loop holes are been closed in the name of Homeland security regardless of which country may be concerned.
I bet in the near future, they'll come up with something else to stop their dear Allies the British from entering the U.S. without some sort of documentation.
I'm still looking for the link to back this up.
When i do, I'll paste it.:ok:

LJT,

'Twas not just UK, the USA required all visa waiver country passport holders to have a machine readable passport incorporating an electronic chip with biometric information on entry. Since last month all travellers from visa waiver countries are also required to have an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation - Online ESTA Application)

agreed boys and girls. after the second drug bust of SAA crew. the SA government have now shown blatant incompetance. if you cant even search 14 crew ( with an advisory in place). you are clearly incapable of outsmarting organised crime/terrorism. after all my support to the saffers ( and I do feel for the good folks there). I can now not blame these governments for taking action. sadly i feel its going to get even more restricitive for them.

screw the tourist visa etc. Nothing special.

What sucks is that SA govt doesn't wish to reciprocate 'youth working hols visa' as UK immigration system changes brough up the requirement for reciprocity, so the WHV (UK version especially for SA nationals) for Saffas ends because SA govt wouldn't reciprocate.

IF they did, it would mostly benefit South Africans as most Europeans go to SA for casual travelling and occasional shift in bar or hostel could be option, not lifesaver.. Unlike it has been so for SA guys going to the UK - also taking advantage of changing to former 'HSMP' visa. The wording's different now.

So those few of us who'd benefit from having work permit for some instructing in SA etc, no easy way this way.
I'm bit 'old' for the early 20s FT Uni student gap year/fresh grad programme with SA I could do in the past thanks to other passport.

I'd swap WHV eligibility to NZ for SA. Oh, well.

Maybe if there's some sort of backlash (dream on) from people who are shafted by not being able to come to the UK on WHV, reciprocity would revive it.. Very, very maybe.