Zoot

If the age issue comes up again - they have lifted the cut off age to 50 now so no longer 45 and there are other changes coming down the line with regards to the 457 visa which I think will make it easier to apply for PR and not make you reliant on an employer sponsoring you for PR (if that makes sense?). Keep at it someone out there must need someone with your set of skills and experience.

I think you are going on the 475 visa which is the "provisional" state sponsored visa - I assume the visa you are talking about is one where you have to live in a regional area for 2 years and then at the end can apply for PR? Regarding whether you can get permanent work or not - there is no official restriction on you getting permanent work but whether employers will offer it to you is another question. The different working visas with the different restrictions confuse employers so they rather go OK you got PR - I know that means you have the right to work and no restrictions - full steam ahead. There is a letter that DIAC put together which outlines the 475 visa and stresses that you are entitled to work which you could include with your applications to ensure that employers understand that your visa is a legitimate one. I would think that WA having so many people moving in especially with the mining boom will be very familiar with the different visas. The thing to stress to any potential employer is that you have NO WORK RESTRICTIONS!!!! Dont get into the details of the visa cause that only complicates things. There will be jobs which say reserved for citizens or PR but many more have no such restriction. Can also depend on the industry you are in as to whether employers are willing to take provisional (NB not temporary) visa holders or not. Good luck and sure you will be fine.

If they are not returning your calls now and you havent even signed with them...... bad sign!! Dont risk it rather contact one of the agent who come highly recommended on this site at least you know their advice is right (some agents will promise you the sun and moon and the deliver nothing leaving you out of pocket and possibly ruining your chances of getting a visa especially if points or requirements change to your detriment). I have heard of agents who go out of business (with all your money), dont forward documents either to you from DIAC or from you to DIAC, have consultants who leave and there is no back up so it is only when you shout to find out what is happening that anyone bothers to look into the situation etc etc. Like in any industry there are dodgy characters so easiest to ensure that the info you are given at the outset is right and not just wishful thinking. There is no obligation to actually use an agent eventually but an initial consultation is definately worth it even if just to get your head around what you need to do.

The Vline ticket from Pakenham is the same as the regular Metcard so you can use it without paying any extra.

Parking in the city is about as scarce as hens teeth and you will pay through every orifice for it. Most companies do not offer parking unless of course your job requires you to drive all around as part of your job. Trains from Officer to the City are very regular and pretty reliable. Officer is on the Pakenham line so trains run very frequently during peak hours and not as frequently after hours - typically. It is a very busy line and the trains stop at all stations after Dandenong so at least you know the train will stop at your stop (lesser stations are skipped by some trains during peak hours). A 10 x 2 hour ticket to the city for zones 1 and 2 is about $50+ dollars. I think a day ticket for zones 1 and 2 is about $12. But if you use your 10 trip ticket twice in one day the second expiry time is 3am the next morning so essentially you get a day ticket out of it (if that makes sense?) Travel to the city is probably the best part of an hour's journey - peak hour the trains are absolutely crammed from the city so can seem a lot longer Another alternative for getting to the city would be to take the train a stop down to Pakenham and pick up the Vline express train to the city but of course that doesnt run that frequently. Some people also drive part of the way - park at a station nearer the city which then reduces the time spent on the train and avoids the issue of parking in the city.

Might help if you put where you were located :biggrin:

Personally would wait for PR (just double check processing times). So many more jobs are available to you and if things go wonky with one employer nothing to it just find another. Whilst on the 457 visa it is great to have the job offer but if the employer suffers financial hardships and you lose your job you have 28 days to leave the country or find another employer to take over your sponsorship. Also if you get there on a 457 and the employer turns out to be dodgy or if the job is not what it was made out to be you are stuck with them unless of course you find another employer to take over your visa or can convert your visa to a PR one. That said is there any likelihood of one of those companies who have offered you a job having a branch in Victoria that way you could still have a job but PR or can the companies who offered you the job not sponsor you right away for PR? It is just that with all this talk of another financial downswing I would be reluctant to accept anything that involves such a major change on such a temporary basis.