AJ235

Thank you!

Hi all, Just after some advice on how to approach my employer to ask them to sponsor me for PR on the ENS. I am currently sponsored on a 457 and this is valid until 2018. I have been with my employer for 6 months. My husband and I have been living in Australia for 2 years next month and we would really love to stay here permanently. My job is on the CSOL so I cannot apply independently, however I do have a positive skills assessment. I have a very good relationship with my employer, however I want to have a good case to put forward before I ask them! Do they need to meet any additional requirements to have the nomination approved other than what they went through for the 457? Also, for anyone who has went through this before is they anything more beneficial to the employer to sponsor on the ENS rather than the 457 and do you think it would be better to go through a migration agent if the employer agreed? Many thanks AJ

Hi, I thought it may be beneficial to share my experience of the 457 visa, which is a very positive one. I fully appreciate that everyone has an individual experience and while it may not work out for some people, it is very successful for others. I would also like to point out that the 457 is up to 4 years and the employer does not have to offer the full 4 years. My husband and I moved to Australia in November 2012 and our first 457 visa was for 12 months. We took the risk and when I wanted to change employers I emailed some employers asking if they offered sponsorship and no one was negative. In fact, I changed employers and they have sponsored me for 4 years on a 457 visa. For some people they don't want PR and they are happy to be on a 457 visa. We have had a great experience in Australia and may go for PR in the future but for the time being we are happy on the 457. With regards to a dependent finding employment my husband had no trouble at all. The only difference is that he cannot be offered a permanent contract due to the visa, however he has a contract for the duration of the visa and when the visa was extended he just provided a copy of the new visa to his employer. In addition, we have had no problems obtaining credit cards and car finance. My husband required an operation and this was all covered on medicare. I can honestly say that the 457 visa has not felt like a barrier at all and we feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to live and work in Australia for as long as we have. If we want PR then I think Australia and its employers have the right to be picky - the 457 is very clear in the guidelines that it is a temporary visa. I am sorry that you have not had a great experience and I wish you luck in the future.

Hi there, My sponsoring company was already approved as a sponsor and the migration agent submitted the nomination and my application together on the 21st March 2014. We heard nothing back for a long time, not even that a case officer had been allocated. On the 7th May 2014 the visa was granted. My application was pretty straight forward as I was already in Australia on a 457 for the same nominated occupation but I was changing employers and my current 457 was due to expire. Good luck to all those still waiting.

Thats excellent news, ProudmuminUK. I bet they feel like a big weight has been lifted!

Hi ProudmuminUK, Thanks for the info - that's seems to be awfully long to be waiting! I fully know the stress they must be feeling! I received some good news today that the nomination has been approved and I am just awaiting my visa to be approved now. Hoping it won't be much longer. I'm sorry I can't advise on if the bridging visa replicates the whv, hopefully someone who knows can answer? I hope they hear some good news soon.

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any recent 457 time lines to share? Many thanks

I do have a TRN as it was on the payment receipt that the migration agent provided me with. I can't log in to see the status of the application as the migration agent has all the account details.

Hi Kkkk, My employer submitted their nomination and my visa at the same time on 21/03/2014 and we have not heard anything yet. The migration agent has advised that all we can do it wait. Sometimes they are quick and other times they take a lot longer. Hoping I hear soon, good luck with yours too.

Thanks MaggieMay24

Hi all, I did search and found a couple of threads similar to this, however I thought it may be useful for some people if I start a more recent one... I applied for a subclass 457 visa onshore on 21/03/2014 (nomination and visa application submitted at the same time). It has been completed through a migration agent and unfortunately a case officer has not yet been allocated. Just wondering what others peoples experiences are recently of the timeframes for 457 visas? Is there a backlog that DIBP are working through? My current 457 expires in July and I am changing employers. My new employer would like me to commence asap but of course I cannot do this until the visa is approved. Any recent experiences would be appreciated. Thanks AJ