jt spark

Thanks everyone for the posts so far,my employer is paying for all costs involved with PR although I will be checking the small print to see if there's any conditions tied on with it,we both took career breaks for 3 years from our jobs and kept our home just in case,my employer is great to work for in every other way apart from the hours,we've come this far and I don't want to regret heading home and maybe realising later we should of stayed and got PR and then maybe try and change jobs/cities. Its definitely not much fun at the minute and I don't want to ruin my health or relationship!

Hi PIO,myself,wife and two kids (12&10) moved to Sydney from Ireland in Jan 2015 on a 457 visa,we had a great first year settled into jobs and schools etc and we're loving life in Oz. This year has been the opposite,the company I am sponsored by have been struggling for staff and I find myself working somewhere between 12-18 hour days during the week,and always a full day on a Saturday,Sunday's are lost usually cos I'm shattered and just want to sleep,at first I was told it was only temporary but that was 6 months ago,I've only had 5 consecutive days off from last January and if I ask for anymore than two days off I'm told were to busy,I'm not having a go as my colleagues also do similar hours including the boss,but life is short!! My wife and I have had loads of chats about what we should do,I love my job but I love my family more,we own our own home back in Ireland and have no mortgage etc and are renting it out at min,my wife and son would leave here in the morning if they could,my daughter and I love Oz but my job limits my time drastically. Ive spoke to the company owner about all of this and they want to help us get PR in January 2017 and want us to stay,but we know we will probably never own a home in Oz and will be stuck in rentals and I will always be doing crazy hours 4am starts etc,were not sure what to do,our current tenants move out of our home in a months time and the kids school starts back in September,should we just tough it out to we get PR and then rethink what we're going to do as we can give ourselves more options and maybe try a different City. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated PIO.

I am in the process of seeking a 457 employer sponsored visa,just been checking on the costs involved and want to know if I have to pay for all the costs of visa or is it down to employer,or do we split costs between us,any information would be appreciated.

Hi Mad Cow,what's involved in the skills assessment?Is it costly?What time scale is involved? Sorry for so many questions.

Ok thanks for that,will check out web site to get further info.

Just wondering what is involved in getting PR when on a 457 employer sponsored 4 year visa,do you have to wait 18 months etc & what are costs involved?

Thanks for the replies,I have also heard of a couple whose 2 kids were claimed by a relative on PR in oz and had no school fees to pay,not sure of the details except they were from NZ.

Hi just wondering do most schools want the money up front before kids start school in NSW,or do you pay in installments over the school year,thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers Quoll for the advice,also should add that on top of my basic salary I have the potential to earn an extra 20k before tax,but I prefer to work off my basic salary for finances,we are renting out our house also just in case things don't work out.

Thanks for the replies,we have set aside 10k for kids education so hopefully that's covered,and living rent free should also help for a bit,in the UK we are mortgage free & enjoy a good but not extravagant lifestyle,most free time @ beach surfing etc & in all weathers,but spent 6 weeks in oz in 2012 & decided we like to try living there especially as we had family there.In the UK we average around 42 k before tax.

Hi we are a family of 2 adults & 2 (8 & 9)kids moving to Sydney in January,we hope to have a combined income of around 100k on a 457 visa,we are staying with relatives for a few months so this will help on costs,just read the posts and am beginning to get doubts if we are doing the right thing as the cost of living seems astronomical,going to have to rethink finances etc....

Thanks for the advice,have checked sol list and my electrical trade is listed.

Hi, I am commercial catering equipment technician working on a range of gas/electrical appliances,I am looking to make the move to oz with my wife and kids,I have over 20 years experience in my field of work,just wondering what the chances of sponsorship are.cheers

Just what we didn't want to hear northshorepom,the costs of our move to oz keep going up and up,thanks for posting info.

Just a bit of an update,I have decided not to accept the 457 sponsorship, after much research into school fees,cost of living etc 70k in Sydney for a family of 4 was never going to cover everything,thanks for everyone who posted with their comments and advice cheers.