wendym

Hi all, I called the help line and they said you need to just consider the last 10 years (I guess this is only helpful if you are over the age of 28). They said to just remember as much as possible and estimate dates if needed, and that they would contact me if they had questions.

Hi hannah, Just wondering if you got an answer from the helpline on this. On the paper form it states to only consider the past 10 years, so that cuts down some of this... but because of the wording on the penal clearance I thought they were just looking for travel since living in Australia. Thanks!

Thanks for your replies, very helpful!

Many thanks for all your helpful comments and kind words. After some research next week the 189 seems the best route - but WOW is it expensive! Here we go again with the paperwork... Skills Assessment and IELTS test here I come! Also, does anyone know if my husband will also have to do the IELTS test (he has a British passport and is a native English speaker), or is it just the main passport holder to get you enough points? Thanks again!

Hello, Can anyone suggest any decent bike bags for air travel that are affordably priced? Thank you Wendy

Hi all, Just looking for a bit of advice really. I got a job in Melbourne as a secondary school teacher a few months ago, and the school agreed to sponsor me on a 457 visa, to start at the end of January 2013 in time for the new school year. My husband is coming along with me as a dependent on that visa, and he doesn't have a job yet. (He is a teacher as well but qualified through the GTP route, which, as any teachers will know, does not qualify you to teach in Australia). I was hired on in a permanent role, but when my visa came though this week it stated that the expiry date was in December 2013 (the end of the school year). I queried this with my CO and she said that was the date the employer put on the nomination application. I then went back to my employer, who confirmed that my role was a permanent position, not a 1 year contract. It turns out that the girl at the school who filled out my nomination application put the date in by mistake, instead of putting in the maximum length for the visa, which would have been 4 years. My CO says they cannot change the dates of the visa as it has already been granted, and I will have to reapply again next year. That wouldn't be such a big deal, as it's just a bit of paperwork (and money!) but I am stressed that now my husband will have a hard time getting a job as his visa is tied to mine, and so employers will probably not want to hire someone who may have to leave the country in less than a year. Although I have no doubt he would be happy to be a "house-husband", financially this is not a great option (as I keep having to remind him, haha) I am wondering if, once we get there, I should go down the PR route, as my job is on the SOL list (we didn't do this originally as I would not have got the visa in time to start the school year). Does anyone have any experience with this who could offer some guidance? Or any words of advice around this problem in general? I was SO excited and relieved when the visa was granted and now am back to feeling stressed and anxious about the move all over again! Thanks Wendy

Hi PositivePixie, Does this include the passport biodata page? I have just applied for a 457 visa and uploaded a colour scan of my passport page but it has not been certified so am unsure if it will be ok or not. Thanks!

Ok that's what I thought - thanks!

Congrats! May I ask what type of job that was for? Did you need to complete a skills assessment in advance of the application? Thanks!

Hi all, Just thought I'd introduce myself as am new to the forum (although I've been reading it for the past few weeks picking up some good advice!) I'm a teacher, I've been offered a job in Melbourne and sponsorship on a 457 Visa so just starting to go through all the forms... what a minefield! My (soon-to-be) husband will be coming out with me as a dependent on my Visa. He is also a teacher but unfortunately qualified through the GTP route which means it is unlikely he will be able to teach in Victoria. We are a bit nervous about him finding a job - he has done a lot of football coaching and has qualifications in that so he is looking into coaching as an option as it is still working with children. Anyway, we are really excited about the opportunity and can't wait to move - my job starts in January but we may come out a bit earlier to enjoy the summer! Wendy

Hi all, I've been offered a job teaching at a secondary school in Melbourne. The school has offered to sponsor me on a 457 Visa - they've done it before and seem to think it will be a straightforward process. The only thing I'm not clear on is if I need to get my skills assessed. In the Visa information it seems to imply that it is only Trades that need their skills assessed but it isn't very clear. Has anyone got a Visa for teaching through this route that could help? Thanks!!