Dont know where to start!!!!

[GiJoe1000]

Hi all,

Im new to the forum so please go easy on me!!

Im looking for any advice people can give me to get me moving in the right direction.

I travelled in oz as a backpacker 10 years ago and fell in love with the place.... Back then i was offered the chance to stay but it came too late as at that time i had already booked my tickets home and got my head around the fact that my trip was nearly over..

So 10 years on and after a year working and travelling on NZ i got in touch with the guy that offered me sponsorship all those years ago and again he offered to sponsor me..... Not a hard decision really, Sydney...... or London in a recession?????

So i now find myself on a 457 visa (+ girlfriend/defacto) in Sydney, a city i love, but in a job that i hate.

I took my old employer at his word when he offered me this sponsorship and it seemed like a great opportunity but it seems that by sponsoring me all he has done is guarantee himself cheap labour for 2 years. Hes underpaying me, giving me the S%&T work that noone else wants to do and failing to provide the tools and resources i need to carry out the job properly. I received an improvement notice today from a contractor i was working for, this was due to the condition and lack of testing of some of his safety equiptment. I should by rights refuse to use this stuff but his attitude is that if i dont like it i can..... and i quote..... 'F**k off' At least that was his attitude towards me when i asked for more money....

Ive had a look on the net and if he chooses to cancel my visa then it seems ill have 28 days or possibly 3 months (found conflicting info) to try and find alternative employment in line with my visa category. At this point im pretty fed up with it all and am thinking it might be for the best to head back to the uk but i might stir up some **** for him and make sure i make the most of anything im entitled to......

Ive read that as he sponsored me he is obliged to foot the cost for returning me and my girlfriend to the uk on a standard 'reasonable' economy fare plus the cost of getting to the airport.

Also ive hard that he has to pay me for the 28 days after i stop working for him?

Anyone have any experience in this situation?

When i did the visa application i paid all the fees to an immigration consultant. I think it was equivalent to £1500, maybe au$3000? Ive learned since that this isnt the norm?

Also, as yet ive not seen any sign of a contract from him.

He is a complete cowboy but as yet i dont think he knows how unhappy i am, im still working for him and 'biting my tongue' as it were! We are signed up to a 6 month lease on our flat which expires in August so i figure ill hang it out till then, enjoy the mild winter, build up a little case for myself then sting him for a months money and some flights home?

Unless anyone has any better ideas?

Thanks in advance...........

[nottinghampom]

you can move sponsors, i know a few people here who've done it. get it lined up before you tell the current boss, then you've got 28 days to do the switcharoo before your visa expires.

Would be a shame to waste your effort in coming to oz just because the job sucks.

[GiJoe1000]

Hi,

Yeah i know switching sponsors is a possibility but i think itll be very hard for me to sort out. Better option might be to see if the other half can get sponsorship through her job and for me to go defacto on her visa. Whatever happens i cant stay working for this guy much longer. I think a call to Diac to clarify my situation might be in order.

Further research has suggested that he will at least have to foot the bill for return flights if the whole thing doesnt work out. Thats something at least i suppose!

[byrned]

Hi,

Yeah i know switching sponsors is a possibility but i think itll be very hard for me to sort out. Better option might be to see if the other half can get sponsorship through her job and for me to go defacto on her visa. Whatever happens i cant stay working for this guy much longer. I think a call to Diac to clarify my situation might be in order.

Further research has suggested that he will at least have to foot the bill for return flights if the whole thing doesnt work out. Thats something at least i suppose!

Hi yes give diac a ring, tell them the situation, you will have your visa number so they will give you the information, when you are armed with the facts tell him to f*# right off, why should you have to put up with being treated like **** just for a visa, is it worth loosing your self esteem and dignity for, these aussies that sponsor people promising them everything and then when you get here treated like that, i have heard it time and time again, grown men and women that give up everything to come here, excited and then have to put up with ozzie jobworths piss me off, keep calm until you get all your facts together, and screw him for what you can.

[GiJoe1000]

Hi yes give diac a ring, tell them the situation, you will have your visa number so they will give you the information, when you are armed with the facts tell him to f*# right off, why should you have to put up with being treated like **** just for a visa, is it worth loosing your self esteem and dignity for, these aussies that sponsor people promising them everything and then when you get here treated like that, i have heard it time and time again, grown men and women that give up everything to come here, excited and then have to put up with ozzie jobworths piss me off, keep calm until you get all your facts together, and screw him for what you can.

Thanks for the reply,

Obviously goes on fairly often then, the annoying thing is that i worked for this guy 10 years ago an a working holiday visa and he was a great boss back then. He currently has 3 other guys on sponsorship who are all at the point of getting PR and i dont want to upset the applecart until they are sorted. The way i see it they have put up with his s**t for 2 years so they deserve to get something to show for it and id hate to get Diac out to audit him and them to find things that might scupper theyre chances for PR after everything theyve had to go through.

Luckily i didnt put all my eggs in one basket so to speak, i still have property back home and a good job to go back to should i need it but i really pity anyone in this situation who has sold up everything to make a fresh start out here only to be faced with having to make things work with a boss like mine. This guy should never be allowed to sponsor anyone again, he makes his money from the blood, sweat and tears of hard working lads who are looking for a better life.

Does anyone know if i can phone Diac for advice anonimously??? I wouldnt wish to give my visa number just yet as technically he has got me in breach of my visa conditions by employing me in a job that is not in keeping with that of the job im sponsored for....... Which obviously puts me in a very precarious position.

Dont get me wrong, i hate the job and the working conditions are rubbish but there are other people to consider here and there is a possibility that the OH could get herself into a role that would allow her to be sponsored and therefore free me up to stop living this lie.