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

[Alan Collett]

Having seen a number of posts on this forum (and others) since the weekend expo in London it perplexes me why so many employers persist in looking at the subclass 457 visa as a means of sponsoring individuals when there are more attractive visa permanent residency visa outcomes available - ie the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Why would an individual uproot him/herself (plus - usually - family) with no certainty of a permanent residency visa at the end of the day?

I appreciate there are tax benefits available to 457 visaholders, but this doesn't seem to be a reason that is being cited.

Comments appreciated from those who attended the expos.

Best regards.

[fatpom]

Originally Posted by Alan Collett

Having seen a number of posts on this forum (and others) since the weekend expo in London it perplexes me why so many employers persist in looking at the subclass 457 visa as a means of sponsoring individuals when there are more attractive visa permanent residency visa outcomes available - ie the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Why would an individual uproot him/herself (plus - usually - family) with no certainty of a permanent residency visa at the end of the day?

I appreciate there are tax benefits available to 457 visaholders, but this doesn't seem to be a reason that is being cited.

Comments appreciated from those who attended the expos.

Best regards.

A multi-national I was working for several years ago sent a mgr over to London to recruit engineers on 457 visa's.

I heard that the Gov put the company up to it because they were complaining that they couldn't get engineers... of course don't know for sure if its true about the gov involvement or even which gov it was.

I've also heard that the Gov likes temp working visas because it gets skilled people for free without being saddled with the end of life costs associated with PR.

This makes sense to me if they can get x thousand 457 visas on a rolling basis with only a certain percentage eventually applying for PR then there's a net gain in skilled guest workers.

[shariliz]

Alan
So annoying; I know from personal experience how annoying this is! We came over on a 457 and would discourage anyone from going on it if you can go for the PR ones!! Far better to wait that bit longer though the process has prob changed again since we went through it!!
The 'draw' of the 457 when we applied- 3 years ago now- was that it was purported as a 'quick' visa, cheaper and we needed less cash when we got here. (i.e. we could get here quicker!!). From my bosses POV, they said it's because- and, prepare yourself, I quote "...if you're rubbish, we don't want to feel obliged to 'stick with you'..." (NOT that that applies in my case because I'm just too darned good at my job!!). Yup, that's true. Actually said to my face!
I'm not entirely sure what the tax benefits are either, extra to anyone else i.e. Aussies........maybe I've been fleeced in that regard!! Employers don't always- and aren't obliged to- offer the LAFH etc. Now I'm wondering whether I've missed out!
PR every time I'd say!

[adey]

We were told it was the quickest route at the time and Migration Agents told us it could take up to 18 months on a skilled visa or permanent visa as the rules were due to change during our application. Our 457 only took 2 to 3 months to be granted and we moved over here in October, however, our employer has said that they will look into sponsoring us for a permanent visa when OH has been employed six months.

We would like to go permanent just to make us feel more secure and not have the worry that if the employer doesn't like you then its bye bye Australia unless you can quickly find another sponsor.

[Alan Collett]

As I have said already on other threads, the irony is that 457 visa applications are taking longer to process in some business centres than ENS or RSMS applications ...

For ENS and RSMS applications we lodge the nomination and visa applications together - in Parramatta (Sydney) our ENS applications have been assessed in 4 weeks.

Best regards.

[Gollywobbler]

Hi All

Please see this thread:

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/jobs-c...espersons.html

Cheryl says that the employer specifically wants to offer only 457 visas to start with because the jobs are not based near a big city, so he is not sure whether people will want to stay either with him (or necessarily even stay in Oz, I suppose.)

Alan - if everyone else is confused as I am about when a 457 is the only route and when PR immediately via ENS or RSMS might be possible instead, it would be no end of help if you could either point us to an article that you have already written about this or if there isn't one, perhaps write a new one?

Also, are you able to give timescale comparisons for all 3 options because I frequently hear that the 457 visa is supposed to be processed much faster than the other two?

Why do all the hospitals seem to offer nurses 457 visas to start with?

It could be that people's perceptions of processing times may not be accurate?

Many thanks

Gill

[shariliz]

[quote=Alan Collett;205203]

For ENS and RSMS applications we lodge the nomination and visa applications together - in Parramatta (Sydney) our ENS applications have been assessed in 4 weeks.

quote]



We're still waiting for our RSMS, lodged in Nov 07 direct and by hand to Adelaide!!!!!! And that was nomination and visa appns together as it was "supposed to be quicker this way". So annoying.

[Alan Collett]

Gill,

I will prepare a news article in the coming days on this subject - I think it might be timely.

In recent months we have have spent some time discussing employer sponsored migration pathways with representatives of State and Local Governments. To be open with you, I have found their knowledge of what is do-able poor (to be generous). There is little understanding of the visa opportunities that would allow employers to market themselves to intending migrants, and yet these people are funded by the taxpayer.

I have recently had cases where a Regional Certifying Body asserted that Labour Market Testing was still required in the context of RSMS applications "as we have been advised by the Department of Immigration." LMT was abolished as a visa requirement several years ago.

Another State Government had signed off on a RSMS nomination, told us it was still in progress, and 10 weeks after signing off on the nomination the same person who advised us the nomination was still undecided advised us it had in fact been signed off - with no apology.

I could go further, and regale you with more tales of the downright incompetent, but I ought not do so on a public forum.

And where do employers turn when they seek advice on where to go to fill their skilled vacancies? Often to these same people. It makes me very angry, I can assure you, and we are doing what we can with our relatively limited resources to build a network so employers can take some competent advice. I would prefer that our representative body (the MIA) also took some initiatives in this area, but they appear to have better things to do ...

Onwards!

[Alan Collett]

[quote=shariliz;205213]

Originally Posted by Alan Collett

For ENS and RSMS applications we lodge the nomination and visa applications together - in Parramatta (Sydney) our ENS applications have been assessed in 4 weeks.

quote]



We're still waiting for our RSMS, lodged in Nov 07 direct and by hand to Adelaide!!!!!! And that was nomination and visa appns together as it was "supposed to be quicker this way". So annoying.

What reason have you been given for the delay?

It is quite possible staff in the Adelaide Business Centre are being diverted to the Skilled Processing Centre ...

Best regards.

[Cellefrouin]

eekkk! (hides behind fridge!) Is anyone else on here just a little bit scared of Alan?