Why do employers offer subclass 457 visas rather than permanent residency?

[Alan Collett]

Why? I'm a happy glass half full kinda guy ... :-) :-) ... albeit one who should probably spend less time on discussion forums!

Best wishes.

[kevin'n'dawn]

We applied for a 134 visa (permanent) in may 07 ,OH was asking around about the jobs and was asked to apply now, so we did after a few emails saying we hadn't got our visa yet.

Anyway to cut a long story short we came out on a 457 as they wanted us here 8 weeks after arriving our permanent visa was ready to be granted so we ran around like headless chucks arranging flights etc. Before we wnet OH went to see a woman at the SWDC and she enquire why they were only handing out 457 when they could give out the others,apparently they are not really aware of the other options of visas.

If they had known we might have saved a lot of money and time

[Alan Collett]

Seriously though, it concerns me that employers may be "exploiting" (maybe innocently) the desire on the part of many to move to Australia and are offering a visa pathway that can be far from ideal.

It is fair enough if all avenues and consequences are considered by employer and employee, but I sense they aren't.

Best regards.

[Cellefrouin]

I agree...we are all just so desperate to get over to OZ we overlook the basics. I will definately be doing my homework on the 457 Visa issue. Your advice is much appreciated Alan....and I was only joking about you being scary (he! he!)

Caroline.

[fatpom]

Migrant workers on 457 visas appear to be getting a better deal than expected.

They are earning an average of $15K more than their Australian counterparts it says.

Migrant workers scoring top pay | The Australian

Whilst still suspicious of the original intent of the 457 if you just want to do a 4 stint in another country with the possibility of staying on (try before you buy) then a 457 seems to be a win-win for both the Australian economy and the individual migrant?

[ali]

I think it probably boils down to the fact that an employer offering a 457 will get someone for 2 years - where if they offer PR I'm assuming but don't know - that the employee could say thanks very much mate for getting me in Oz - now I'm off down the road 'cos they're offering more money.

Ali

[Alan Collett]

Noted Ali, but employers can introduce financial disincentives into an employment contract such that an ENS or RSMS sponsored employee can be required to reimburse costs if they leave within a specified timeframe.

Best regards.

[fatpom]

Originally Posted by ali

I think it probably boils down to the fact that an employer offering a 457 will get someone for 2 years - where if they offer PR I'm assuming but don't know - that the employee could say thanks very much mate for getting me in Oz - now I'm off down the road 'cos they're offering more money.

Ali

A 457 visa holder can do the same. Of the six who started at my place three did exactly that within 3 months of arriving because the job simply wasn't what they'd been told it was. Two went back home and one stayed because they offered him a promotion to do so.
The company was a bit peevish about it for the first bloke by deliberately slowing the visa transfer process down but it made the difference of only 2-3 weeks anyway.

All you have to do is find a new job first which will take you on with a 457 and then process the paperwork with immigration.

[leanneandmark]

We are waiting for (hopefully) future employer to let us know what visa route they go down. So if they say 457... are we better of sticking with the SIR??

[ali]

So what is the best route to go down then? Perhaps a good thread would be a pro's and cons of the visas ... mmmm you'd be pretty good at that Alan lol

Ali