Student visa and 457?

[ally/nigel]

Hi All,
My OH and I are currently looking into going to Oz on a Student visa. We've already looked at Skilled migration and have been scuppered by the TRA (TWICE!!). My OH wants to goto Uni to complete the formal education she needs for her TRA but, i need to work full time. If we went to Oz on my OHs' student visa, could i then be sponsered by an employer whilst out there (on a 457 for eg)? We want to go ASAP but, don't want to make any mistakes or find that we have to come home after a couple of years.. Any help is greatly appreciated..

Nigel

[suzy+1]

Hi, i was reading the immigration dept. website last night about student visas, there is one that allows you to bring a dependant but it is only valid for 18 months, although this is renewable after that time if still studying. I know there is a limit of working 20 hours p/wk during term time-not sure what it allows the dependant to work.

[Gollywobbler]

Hello Ally & Nigel

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

Please see these links:

Higher Education Sector: Temporary Visa (Subclass 573) - Assessment Level 1

Higher Education Sector: Temporary Visa (Subclass 573) - Assessment Level 1

It seems that Ally would have to study for a Masters before you would be able to work full time?

If somebody offers you a 457 visa (or better) once you get to Oz, there is no reason why you cannot switch onto a 457 visa leaving Ally on the Student visa if she wishes to continue to study full time. Alternatively, she could switch to a 457 visa as well but would still be able to study according to this link:

Higher Education Sector: Temporary Visa (Subclass 573) - Assessment Level 1

That said, you might be able to negotiate for immediate PR on an RSMS visa (depending on your employer's location.) If so, I would expect that you would want to include Ally in the RSMS visa. Pease see here:

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 119/857)

I've heard of a couple of people recently who have been caught out by the closure of TRA Pathway d - as you are. Both have been offered jobs and employer sponsorship in South Australia. I'm not sure about the second guy but the first guy told me that he was offered a 457 visa to start with. He pushed and said he wants an immediate RSMS visa instead. That was readily agreed to by his prospective employer, I gather. The other chap will also be applying for an immediate RSMS visa but I don't know whether that was offered up front or whether he asked for it.

Please consult the relevant Information Booklets as well, which are here:

Information Forms and Booklets - Applications & Forms - Visas & Immigration

Another possibility for you might be to undergo a workplace assessment in the UK leading to the Australian AQF III qualification, to bring you within TRA Pathway E. I've heard that the cost of doing this in the UK is £3,750 and I don't know whether you need to add VAT.

Please see the following links:

http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonl...tember2007.pdf

ACTS UK | Welcome to Trade Train

Don't be put off by the idea that they seem only to be involved contriction related trades because they also doAQF II assessments for Chefs, so they might actually be able to cover everything on the MODL one way or another. It would be worth enquiring if you want to investigate this possibility.

A fourth possibility is that Go Matilda are looking at arranging for certain tradies to go out to Oz to have the workplace assessments done by TAFEs out there, meet possible local employer-sponsors whilst there etc. Please see this link:

Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News

As far as the 457 visa/RSMS visa idea goes, whereabouts in Oz are you hoping to live, what is your exact skill and how old are you please, Nigel? I am wondering whether you could organise a 457 or RSMS visa before you leave the UK? Please consider the following links:

Welcome to Hire A Migrant (Ask for Jamie Smith)

Global TradeSearch Recruitment - assisting trades people and professionals obtain work placement in Australia (Ask for Sandy Coates)

Complete Migration Solutions

Find a Job in Oz (associated with Go Matilda.)

It seems to me that there are several potential possibilities for you besides a Student Visa.

Best wishes

Gill

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Gill,
Thanks for your reply. You've given me alot to think about there.. Will get stuck in to some of those links immediately.. We're looking ideally for the Brisbane area as we have family and friends there but, it's not essential. I (would've) come under the Electronic Equipment Tradesperson on SOL & MODL and have been working as a Security Systems Technician for the last 6 yrs. OH needs approx another years formal training for Child care Co-ordinator, but is currently training as a Hollistic therapist in UK. I'm 36 and OH is 41 so looking to get something sorted soonish.. It's good to get some feedback on some of these issues as there are so many options and routes to look down that it can get a bit mind numbing sometimes..(Especially when the goalposts keep moving).. Thanks again..

Hello again Nigel

I've copied your response on Lisa 32's thread onto here so that we do not confuse the two threads and also to avoid hi-jacking Lisa's thred.

From what you say above, the student route sounds unnecessarily expensive and long-winded to me.

Only one of you needs to be under 45, remember, so you have more than enough time in hand.

Family and friends in a particular area is always a promising start because they can help to collate lists of local employers who might consider you and so forth. (Plus cheap accommodation if you decide to do a rekky trip to try to drum up some interviews.)

As you are interested in Brissy, have a chat with Workforce Solutions as well, and with the Sunshine Coast TAFE, I would suggest:

Workforce Solutions UK Website

In the UK, you want a guy called Richard from Workforce Solutions. He is in touch with their HQ which is in Brissy.

PomsInOz Forum - View Profile: WorkforceSolutions

Richard does all the posting on Poms in Oz for WS, so an e-mail sent via PiO will reach him. Or you can contact him thus:

richardt@workforcesolutions.com.au

WS are unique in that they could sponsor you themselves. They are the only recruitment agency in Oz at the moment who can do this, I gather.

Richard did tell me that they insist that anyone they recruit on a 457 (the only visa they themselves use) must have a positive skills assessment. At the moment that is a potential glitch for you because of the Pathway D thing, but the Brissy base of WA may be able to help to arrange for a workplace assessment in Oz, if not via the TAFE then perhaps via somebody else. TradeTrain maybe but there may be other companies like TradeTrain as well - I don't know.

Have a look at the Sunshine Coat TAFE as well. It never hurts to pick up a phone and ask questions, I reckon. At the minute I can't get the link to work but just Google Sunshine Coast TAFE and it will come up.

If WS sponsor you for a 457 visa, they would hire you out to an end-user. In the longer term you would be looking for the end-uer to sponsor you via an ENS visa probably.

But if you can get your claws on a positive skills assessment, you could probably get a skilled independent visa subclass 175 or 176 anyway. The way I can envisage this for you might be:

1. Go to Oz on a 457 Visa.
2. Get a positive skills assessment via TRA Pathway E. (No reason why you cannot do your own private deal with the TAFE, TradeTrain or whoever about this.)
3. Get an ENS or RSMS visa if someone makes you an irresistible offer.
4. Get a subclass 175 or 176 visa if not.

Given your particular skill an RSMS visa would not be your only route to PR, I feel sure.

Also I'd be looking to do this on your own skills rather than via worrying about Ally's age, given that she does not yet have enough experience as a childcare co-ordinator.

Best wishes

Gill