Coming from America, I thought in a very cocky sort of way that I would be allowed to live and work anywhere especially in Europe. Man was I wrong....
My first experience applying for an internship involved this whole visa process...and no I don't mean the credit card(I have been asked that). When I applied for my internship one of the first questions I was asked once accepted was, "So do you have a work permit to work in England?" Well obviously I had no idea what he was talking about. So I started researching thinking, okay this will be simple, I'll fill out a bit of paperwork, maybe pay a small fee and that will be finished with and I can get on a plane!
Definitely not. Here is some advice from me...a person who made every mistake in the book. When applying for an internship, especially if it is paid, you need to do your research.
Check out the UK Border Agency website and read the rules of coming to the United Kingdom (Remember you are coming to another country with a whole new set of laws)
Take a look at BUNAC, which at the moment seems to be the only agency you can apply for an internship through...apparently the governments of both wonderful countries are working on an easier solution.
Make sure you have a passport.
You really want to keep your nose clean...and what I mean is don't become best friends with your local police.
Make copies of everything. You want to protect yourself because applying for this visa will cost you a little bit of money and you don't want to waste it by applying incorrectly.
Ask for help! If you know anyone who has done this before, ask them for some advice. They may know a few helpful tricks to make the process easier.
Do not lie about anything! This is the government you are dealing with, do not withhold any information or alter any documents.
Finally, Do not Stress! Yes this internship may be the most important step towards your future as a CEO of some corporation, but remember it is not worth stressing over because you will only make mistakes.
Don't let the fact that you need the visa get you down. The excitement of the internship should stay with you, just be cautious and take your time.