I'm currently living in Sydney on a 457 long-term business visa, and I hope to be granted my permanent residence visa (138) next month. Immigration requires that "offshore" visas be issued outside Australia, so have I leave the country to pick up the visa - crazy really, but that's how it works.
Has anyone does this, and if so, where did you pick up your visa? The popular choices seem to be Fiji (Suva) and Auckland, NZ. I have heard that Auckland has long waiting times, and that there is no guarantee how long it will take to issue the visa.
