VISA cancelled

[lz57s9]

Hi everyone, just though i would post this to let you know about my struggles!.

September - Left my job (IT Manager) in UK with a small payout
October - looked into being able to come to Oz, advised by Aus embassy to get an eVisitor visa (subclass business) which allows me to look for work in Oz for up to a year but only 3 months at a time.
December - Arrived in Oz and had a month of relaxing/sight seeing
January - Started looking for work in NSW Sydney, had a couple of interviews - nothing came of them
February - Applied for 10 - 15 jobs, had a couple of phone interviews and one interview - nothing came of them so far.
End of Feb went to Fiji for two weeks (mainly to reset my visa for another 3 months)
March - arrived back in Sydney and was interviewed by immigration who cancelled my visa as it was not designed for extensive stays looking for work! (gutted) He did inform me that i could stay a further 3 months but my visa would not be extended beyond that.
So here i am desperately looking for work with only 11 weeks left!

Is there anyone on here that came out to Oz looking for sponsorship? It seems impossible to me so far, most companies are put off even interviewing me because I require sponsorship!.

Anyway i have taken up enough of your time, would love to hear from anyone with some positive experience!.

[B1K3R]

Hi lz57s9,

I'm sorry you're passing through all the ordeal. Yeah, its a fact that it is hard to secure a job in you current situation....but its not impossible!

Back in 2004, I was in your exact situation...tons of interviews but no one wanted to employ me due to the visa status. However, a friend of mine was there too in my same situation and he had managed to secure 3 months contract and then they even sponsored him. He was in Sydney while I was in Melbourne.

I had family issues and had to leave, but if I had stayed another week, I would have gotten a contract too since someone had called me desperately to fill the post.

Well, this was back in 2005. Demand for IT was good. Not sure how it is now compared to back then.

If you want PM me...I'll get in touch with my friend in Sydney and will ask him for those contacts he used...maybe I'll be able to help, wont promise anything :)

Good luck mate!

Cheers
B1K3R

[Noodle]

Bumping up and thinking of you. x

[Gollywobbler]

HI lz57s9

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

I'm not convinced that your visitor visa was actually cancelled at the airport this time? My feeling is that it is more likely that the DIAC chap at the airport told you that the visa would be cancelled and that you would not be able to make a third entry to Oz in teh same way that was possible after your recent trip to Fiji?

It is important to sort out exactly what has happened. If the Aussies cancel a visa, they cannot permit entry to Australia unless they grant a different visa on the spot. Which they might have done. They could grant something called a Bridging Visa but if you are not familiar with the term then they are unliely to have done this, I suspect.
The reason why it is important is that although I don't know the exact rules, I am 99% sure that you cannot apply for any of the employer sponsored visas whilst your feet remain on Aussie soil if you hold a Bridging Visa.

My feeling is that the DIAC guy at the airport was willing to let you into Oz again - on your tourist visa - so that you can look for an employer sponsor but that if you succeed in finding one, it sounds to me as if DIAC plan to force you to go offshore whilst it is processed. If you are not in Oz then you can't make an audible fuss if an employer sponsored visa is refused, I suspect.

Could you try to be clearer about exactly what the story is with your visa, please?

Chers

Gill

[lz57s9]

Hi Gill, thanks for your post, the situation (as I see it) is that, like you say, I will not be able to re enter Australia using the visa I am currently using. They told me that if I did not find work and sponsorship within 3 months I would not be able to re enter using the eVisitor visa.

Would a call to DIAC clarify the situation re: if i would have to leave Oz whilst a 457 Visa is being processed?.

My immediate concern is to actually find a company willing to employ me.

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Gill, thanks for your post, the situation (as I see it) is that, like you say, I will not be able to re enter Australia using the visa I am currently using. They told me that if I did not find work and sponsorship within 3 months I would not be able to re enter using the eVisitor visa.

Would a call to DIAC clarify the situation re: if i would have to leave Oz whilst a 457 Visa is being processed?.

My immediate concern is to actually find a company willing to employ me.

Hi there

Is it convenient for you to visit the local DIAC office?

Australian Offices

Phone calls all go through to a National Helpline call centre thing - which seems to be manned by junior staff who don't know a thing, so calls to the free number are notorious for the fact that more often than not, the staff provide "advice" that is not accurate and not reliable. I would not be inclined to trust what they say.

However if you to go the DIAC ofice with your passport, they ought to be able to figure everything out and tell you exactly where you stand.

Cheers

Gill

[guest17520]

I came to Oz for the second time on a student visa. With this I was allowed to work 20 hours a week.

I applied for about 10 jobs on the Monday and found a company who had me working on the Tuesday and that was willing to take me on and “try me out” and then sponsor me. Which they did and I am currently in the process of applying for an ENS 856 2 years later.

I think it helps if you can work for a company as a trial with no strings attached. So they don’t have to go through the whole process of sponsoring you only to find out 2 weeks in to the job that they don’t want to keep you.

Have you thought about coming on a working holiday visa? you can work and stay up to 2 years without having to leave the country.

[lz57s9]

This story (like so many on here) has a happy ending! I was offered a position in late march, they processed my application via an Immigration Lawyer on 4th April, i have not filled one piece of paper work in, signed nothing had no medical, done nothing but enjoy the Sydney sunshine and Last Thursday 13th May my visa was approved.
A little over 5 weeks! Thanks Australian government!

Now i need to upgrade my living conditions and get a car!.

[theonetruechris]

good for you!! Nice to hear a happy ending....hope you settle in quickly to your new chapter

[juliemtaylor]

Good luck, now you can settle down to getting on with the job!

Julie x