tonic83

We applied end of Feb through a MA - nomination and visa just a day apart. This was in Perth so does this mean the processing will be done in Perth too? I just thought it was one big immigration department that checked them all... hope to hear something soon!

Where can you see the immi update that says they are processing Januarys applications?

Hi guys, we applied both with nomination and our application through an agent in Perth end of February. Has anyone else heard anything from applying in Feb? Our agent told us we couldn't track our application online....

how long did yours take? do you have PR now?

Hi all, Just wondered if any of you have used an agent to lodge your applications? Have you found the processing any quicker? Thanks

Does anyone know if you can track the visa process through your immi account?

Well we've been with the same employer since nov 2011 so we though we could apply for pr not 2013 but turned out cos my partners job role changed August 2012 we couldn't apply until August 2014 cos he had to be in the same job role for 2 yrs. he is a multi skilled engineer so not on the skills list really, looked at changing his UK certificates to aus but seemed way easier to go down the sponsorship option.

If we looked for another sponsor though wouldn't that mean we would have to then work for another 2 yrs with the new sponsor before we can apply for PR? Can we even get a 2nd 457? Heard mixed answers on that also.

Better check that then! Thanks!

Thanks nicolo, we haven't even signed the papers/payment authorisation forms as yet as the employer still hasn't handed in all their forms (been waiting since sept!). As far as we are aware we are paying for our application and the agents fees but I can't see any fees for the employers nomination itself. We have agreed in writing to the employer that we will be paying but didn't even consider at that point if the actual nomination got refused. Surely we wouldn't be forced to pay the agent fees if the nomination got refused though. Fingers crossed nothing gets refused but who knows these days!

We just want to work closest to the expiry date if we have to leave for good. I've heard that employers can be tricky with giving out the worst/cheapest flights home which I won't be looking forward to! Feels like the employer isn't making anything easy for us at the mo!

But if we're going through an agent won't they just send both things in at the same time to get a quicker response. Yep were also paying for the agent which includes dealing with the employers papers too!

Yeah I always find it hard to get a straight answer from the department. Just if we decide to leave early we are the ones cutting off the sponsorship of the 457. All a bit confusing. We are trying to get PR but it's all working too slow and the employer hasn't even put their nomination in yet either so we're just weighing up other options.

If we as the visa holders of a 457 have agreed to pay for the costs of the 186 visa applications and the application is then refused because of the nomination are we entitled to claim the money back from the employer?

Hi all, new here to this! Can anyone please tell me when our 457 visa ends in Nov 2015 do we have to be out by the expiry date of the visa as technically we can work up until this date. So if we can work up to the expiry date yet have to leave on that date too doesn't give us much time to sell stuff etc. Does anyone know if there is a grace period for this type of scenario or would we have to apply for a tourist visa? Any advice would be great Thanks!