debbie lawrence

hi just to let you know we're here on a 457 visa, my husband put his cv on the internet when in the uk as he had no work there and we were approached by an agent, they didn't charge us anything (but did go through the migrant agent they said for the visa), think we could have done it ourselves but it was never a dream of ours to come to australia so didn't really know what we were doing, and i think they charged the company (like a normal recruitment agency would). my husbands job is on the skills list so that obviously makes a huge difference, they would have also been willing to sponsor us for PR but we're too old (51), but are happy to sponsor us for another 4 years, i have a permanent job with SA health and they don't seem to be fazed by the temporary nature of the visa, i think all in all we've been lucky, i can only go by our experience but please feel free to ask any questions and i can let you know what happened to us and what i would have done differently. Debs

thanks for the information everyone.

Hi guys, wonder if anyone could help with some general advice, if your on a 457 visa and get offered another job with an approved sponsor, is it easy enough to get it transfered, what would be involved and would there be any costs ? thanks for any info.

thanks everyone, thats what she's going to do, go to Europe and apply for the 2nd year when she's ready to come back. thanks

Sorry I didn't thank you sooner, we've been away, I will let her know, it'll probably be better for her to apply when she's away in Europe/uk, thanks a lit for the reply it will hopefully mean she won't waste any of the 2nd year by being out of the country thanks

Sorry thought I replied - not sure what happened lol. Yes she has done it and the forms all signed

Hi everyone wonder if anyone can help, my daughters here on her first year whv which is up in September, she's going to apply for her 2nd year but is going backpacking round Europe with her Aussie boyfriend, if she applies does it run straight after this one runs out, is she better going to Europe and then applying for the second year? They have already booked flights to Madrid for the end of this visa. Thanks for any advice

Hi not really in your position as we're here temporary on a 457 but we are in Adelaide and loving every minute of it, so when you get here make contact, Poms in Adelaide site and we can try to make you feel welcome and help with the transition. All the best and enjoy a traditional cold christmas - that really is hard to get used to !.

Hi just to let you know, that she applied on Sunday (using my bank account to pay for it as it was in AU$) and it showed on my bank account straight away, she didn't need to attached any passport copies, and when we checked the next morning (monday) it had been approved. So she'll be flying back with us in September to do a bit of travelling around. Debbie

Hi thanks for coming back to me, it looked like a few people had done that, wow that was quick with the visa, fingers crossed hers is like that. Thank you

Hi would someone who's applied for a Working Holiday Visa lately be able to help please, my daughter is applying and i believe you need a certified copy of your passport but i've also seen people saying that they have just uploaded a copy but its not been certified, would it be refused it it wasn't certified or do they just ask you to get it certified. Also how long did it take to get the Visa ? Thanks in advance, its just that we're doing this quickly as we're visiting the UK next week and coming back on the 22nd September and she would like to come back with us. Thanks Debbie

hi my kids did there visitor visa online last year - one came for just under 3 months and the other just over, and it took seconds, before they'd even had chance to tell me they'd applied for them (as i was worried how long they'd take) they got the confirmation back. Think the visitor ones are a formality as long as you have no convictions or restrictions on your passport, have a good holiday, word of warning its raining in Adelaide at the minute. Debs

Please stop knocking Adelaide, having never visit Australia before, I now live here and there is always stacks to do, just having a dip in the pool after a lovely 31 degree day - no humidity, fringe show tomorrow, waterskiing on the murray river the weekend, wine tasting in the Barossa, you can do as much or as little as you want, we're here for a more relaxed way of life, housing is affordable, and to be honest if i wanted to work to live i'd have stayed in London, different places suit different people and while it may not be everyones cup of tea its now my home and I love it. Most people haven't even visited here, so please everyone respect everyone elses choices or maybe come to Adelaide and see what its all about Debbie

Hi my husband didn't need a skills assessment for his 457 as a panel beater but bear in mind if you decide when your here to go for Direct Entry 186 before the 2 years you will need one so make sure you bring all your paperwork with you.

thanks for that, was hoping we could use the original ones, unfortunately have checked it out and definately not on high salary and the exemptions don't apply, but we're happy to stay on the 457 and always plan to go back, we could have gone for the 186 if we'd got here a year earlier, but thats the way it goes, do you know if its as quick to get a second one (original one only took a week when it had been submitted, or how soon we can apply before this one runs out.

Hi wonder if anyone could help, we will be thinking of applying for a new 457 (with the same employer) when this one runs out, (still got 2 1/2 yrs to go and if everything carries on as it is) will we be able to use the original work references plus the one for the 4 years in australia or do we have to get them again? Also how long before it runs out should we apply. We can't apply for any other visa due to age so the permanent route unfortunately isn't for us Thanks Debbie.

unfortunately he's definately not on the high income bracket, employer is willing to sponsor but dont think he'll up his wages to do it !!. I'm the same age but i just work in admin so unfortunately can't apply myself as no specific skill, just a jack of all trades in an office.

Hi Alan, thanks i have checked out these options but can't find anything about the 4 years just working the 2 years, we were thinking of trying to get another 457 after the 4 years as both these visa's say about applying before 50 and as far as i was aware the 457 doesn't have an age restriction.

thanks for replying, thought that was the case, but it was worth an ask, you never know they might up the age before we end up leaving !

Hi does anyone know if there are any PR visa's that you can apply for when you have already reach the grand old age of 50, we're here in Adelaide on a 457 (been here nearly a year), husbands skill is on all the lists. The original job offer came out of the blue and after having no work in the UK we upped and came out here so hadn't done done any research but just wondered if there are any avenues open to us, or if anyone has any experience of this ? Thanks for any information Debbie

Hi we got 30kg each on a 457 from IOM in December which was more than the 20kg for normal travellers, thought this was the most you could get Debbie

Go for it, I lost my sister in law a few years ago (aged 41) and a best friend last year (48) and it brought my life back into focus, the silly bickering with my husband was so pointless in the whole scheme of things so we made a momentous decision to move out here on a 457 (leaving our 2 kids back in Uni in the UK) and give our life another go, it has bought us closer together and as i sit writing this in the garden having my morning coffee with the sun shining (in the middle of winter) and my kids here on a 3 month visit, I realise that life is far too short, give everything a go, don't live with 'what ifs'. Your young with a good job to fall back on, enjoy your life now and coming to Oz on an adventure would be a fantastic tonic. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do x

the forms geared up to someone being in the UK and if i fill it in as pounds it looks like i'm working there, i just wondered if anyone else had filled the forms in in this situation and could maybe give me a bit of guidance

Hi wondered if anyone can help me before I totally tear my hair out. Bit of background We have moved over here on my husbands 457 visa in January this year, our kids are still in england at university, we are trying to fill in their student finance forms and supply our financial details. I have the figures from our P45 from when we left our jobs and the rental income from the house we are renting out back there but do i need to declare our earnings from over here, I can't find anything on the forms to fill it in in dollars or do i just leave it blank as its not income as i'm not based in the UK. I can't seem to find any help anywhere and wondered if anyone else has been in this situation or know what i need to do. Thanks Debbie

we're here on a 457, my husband is a Panel Beater and had been out of work in the UK for quite a while, over here in Adelaide he'd not seen so many body shops and his boss said that they can't keep the young people so have been recruiting from the UK, we can't apply for PR due to his age but thats not a problem as we've seen the 457 as a temporary mid life crisis lol, I've had work for a temp agency which i think suits them and me as you all say things can change very quickly, I don't think we should have all the same rights as citizens and wish the UK had the same sort of strategy as maybe he could have still had a job there. If your coming here on a 457 you need to understand the restrictions and I must admit i was surprised that I was even allowed to work, I don't blame bosses for being wary of employing someone who may have to leave at any time, especially in this economic climate, they h ave to look at the long term for their businesses. So we're going to get on with enjoying the next 3 and a half years out here and then see what the future holds.