gridlocker1981

I have a valid 457 visa with close to three years left on it. I got made redundant and I am now on my 90-day period in which to find a new job. The good news is that I have found a job that has previously sponsored employees under the 457 scheme. They have said they will provide a letter to say they want to employ me, but they said the application is down to me. I have been through various different sponsors before and never had to make the application myself before. Are they right saying all they need to provide is a letter? Or do they need to set something up with the department of immigration? It seems weird that I would have to do all the chasing round on their behalf (they're a big company). Any advice would be much appreciated, many thanks.

Thanks Maggie, what would you suggest as a better course of action? I of course want to stay in Australia and I want working rights. My de facto application is robust and I don't see any issue with that ultimately being approved. I just don't want to find myself unable to work for up to a year or more whilst the de facto application is sorted out. Is there any action I can take during this 90-day period? I would ideally like to get the 457 cancelled earlier and get myself a bridging visa with working rights straight away. As for finding another 457 sponsor, I really don't think that's going to happen - there just aren't many jobs in my field. Thanks

Does it have to be applied for after the 90-day period is up or can I put in application beforehand? Also, upon getting the Bridging Visa E, how would I go about getting working rights? Thanks

Thanks for the replay Raul, the person I spoke to said I would be contacted by the Case Officer close to the time of expiry of my 457 (90 period) and at that point I would need to go into their office to meet with a case officer to determine what bridging visa I would be issued.

I am currently on a 457 visa and was made redundant by my previous sponsor. I am currently on the 90-day period before my 457 expires. My partner and I have lodged a de facto application (she is an Australian citizen) and in making the application I was granted with a Bridging Visa with working rights. I have been offered a job by a company that does not have sponsorship rights and I don't think they would want to go through the process. So today I called the Department of Immigration, assuming that I could get them to cancel my 457 and put me on the Bridging Visa I was granted whilst my de facto application is processed (which I understand is close to a year and a half). I was told that they cannot do this. Instead I have to either find a new 457 sponsor within the 90 days, or wait until the 90 days is up then go and see an Immigration Case Officer and see if they will grant me a bridging visa with working rights. The person I spoke to on the phone said it was very much on a case by case basis whether or not a bridging visa would be granted, and whether it would have working rights. Just wondered if anyone has had similar experiences? The industry in which I work is pretty competitive and I think finding a new sponsor would be very hard. I really had hoped they would just cancel my 457 over the phone and let me use the bridging visa I already have, but no, she said the bridging visa I have will only come into effect if my 457 ran out naturally (i.e. after the four years). Any ideas, suggestions much appreciated. I clearly don't want to find myself with either no bridging visa or a bridging visa that has no working rights.. Thanks in advance.