new to this and after some advice x

lana06 · 21-09-2008, 10:13 PM

hey all. stumbled across this by chance and just wanting a bit of advice. heading to Oz for the first time ever on the 5th of January and i'm unsure as to what kind of visa i should apply for as I am staying with a good friend who is quite happy for me to stay as long as I want and i have seriously considered staying on longer than a month and finding some part time work to help fund my stay, but there again i'm unsure as to whether or not i should just go as a holidaymaker for 4 weeks, come back and re-arrange another trip towards the middle of next year for 12 months ...... I have looked at the visas but it's so confusing

Jamland · 21-09-2008, 10:20 PM

Hello! I'm fairly new to this myself but I think it's pretty straightforward to get a visa that lets you travel/work/tourist for 12-months. I've tried looking on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship site but can't spot which one it is I'm trying to explain... but... I know that my workmate recently applied for it on a Friday and got it by the next week and she's heading out there with her back-pack in 6weeks for 12months! I'd advise you to go for it.. one out there you probably won't want to come back after a month!!! Good luck and ENJOY!!!!!! :-)

lana06 · 21-09-2008, 10:57 PM

thanks ever so much for your reply

i'm swaying more towards staying out there a bit longer i think to see if it could work out there for me because i am almost set on being out there permanenty by the end of 2009/beginning of 2010

Jamland · 21-09-2008, 11:14 PM

You go for it!!! If you're circumstances allow (i.e. home-owner, job etc. etc.?) then just go for it and check the place out for as long as you can. I think you'd have to come back to apply for an immigration visa or you could try once out there which may be easier because you'd be able to approach potential employers etc. I really am new to this myself and confused by all the visas but there seems to be plenty of options to get people like us out there some how!!!

paulhug · 21-09-2008, 11:51 PM

hi Lana
Was talking to a lad the other day who was over here on a working Visa. He has to work for 3 months picking fruit, then he can apply for another 12 month Visa. He was saying that he wished he'd come originally on a tourist Visa, then gone on to get the working Visa. That way he could have stayed for 3 years, not 2.
Personally, I don't understand all this Visa nonsense, it's just a thought. Might be worth looking into.
Anne