Search the Community

Hi I am just looking for some advice. I am a radiographer from the UK and currently applying for a whv. Do radiographers qualify as critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sector? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hi Guys, Hope someone can advise - I'll keep it short. Qualified Chartered Accountant from Ireland, looking to move to Sydney in 2022. I want to travel and work during the first year, then settle down and work full time. I am aware I can go over on the Working Holiday Visa, which will allow me to do the above for 8/9 months until I will need to begin the relevant regional work for 88 days (I believe it has to be done within the first 12 months). Given my qualifications, is there an alternative VISA I can apply for, which will allow me the freedom to work and travel as I wish - without the requirement to do the mandatory regional work to obtain a 2nd year VISA? I hope you guys can advise or part with some experience Thanks Alan

HELP! Hello everyone, I have applied for my spousal 820 visa and everything has been submitted successfully. I am looking at sending form 1445 of for an extension from my WHV to my bringing visa. I have a 4 week gap. Can anyone tell me what email to send this to as it doesn't actually say on the form. I’ve looked high and low. Anyone that’s done this? And how quickly I’m i likely to hear from anyone.  Thanks :)

Hello everyone, I have applied for my spousal 820 visa and everything has been submitted successfully. I am looking at sending form 1445 of for an extension from my WHV to my bringing visa. I have a 4 week gap. Can anyone tell me what email to send this to as it doesn't actually say. And how quickly I’m i likely to hear from anyone. Thanks :)

Hello All I am on a working holiday visa at the moment and weeks away from sending my spouse visa applications off. However I am very settled in a job on my WHV and would like to continue with this job when I go from the WHV to a bridging visa when I apply for my spouse visa. I have read of applying for FORM 1445 to be allowed to work over the 6 mouths working rights. Has anyone done this? Is it possible. I am sending my application of in July and my WHV runs out in December. Thanks

Hello I am on the WHV and applying for the Spouse visa. Can anyone help me clear this up. When I apply and go onto the Bridging visa (BVA) what will my work rights be? ****Can I apply for work longer then 6months that I can only do at the moment on the Working holiday visa? Please help if you can, so many websites tell me different things All advice welcome Cheers

Hello all, can you please help me out. I am currently in Australia on the WHV. Fairly soon me and my partner want to apply for the spouse visa. Having done lots of research I’m still a little lost and need some help clearing things up. When I apply for the 801 temporary visa (spouse visa) after my working visa ends in December will I go onto the 801 or a bridging visa? Also after my WHV ends In December and the application has been sent for the spouse visa. What will be my working rights? Will I be able to apply for full time work under the spouse visa? And in that time while I am waiting am I able to leave Australia? If you have any information please help me out cheers :)

I went on my first working holiday in Australia in 2013-2014. This was back when volunteer work was valid as regional work towards your 88 days, and that's what I did - I volunteered for +3 months with three different HelpX hosts. According to the visa application form "volunteer work performed prior to 1 December 2015 will still be eligible to claim as specified work, even if you apply after this date. The change, including the need to provide pay slips, only applies to work performed after 1 December 2015." (Form 1150 p. 4) Two days ago I received the following reply in e-mail: The applicant did not satisfy the provisions of the Migration Regulations 1994. The attached decision record provides detailed information about this decision as it applies to this applicant. Review rights There is no right of merits review for this decision. As this letter was sent to you by email, you are taken to have received it at the end of the day it was transmitted. Questions about this decision We cannot consider your visa application any further. ... Evidence requested included: A completed ‘WHM Specified Work Questionnaire’ Payslips Bank transaction statement for the specified work period claimed A completed and signed Employment verification form 1263 Piece rate agreements Deduction agreements Employment contracts - 3 - Working Holiday Processing Centre Department of Home Affairs WEBSITE: www.homeaffairs.gov.au Payment Summary Tax Statement Superannuation Statement The applicant was given 28 days to provide this information to the Department. To date the applicant has not provided substantive evidence to verify they have completed specified work in a regional area as stipulated in Regulation 417.211(5)(a) for a 3 month period as stipulated in Regulation 417.211(5)(b) and they have been remunerated appropriately for this work completed as stipulated in Regulation 417.211(5)(c). Therefore, I am unable to be satisfied that the applicant has completed a 3 month period of specified work in a regional area in Australia. I am therefore unable to be satisfied that the applicant meets Regulation 417.211(5) in its entirety. As the applicant fails to satisfy Regulation 417.211(5), the applicant fails to satisfy Regulation 417.211 in its entirety. As the applicant does not meet Regulation 417.211, they fail to meet Regulation 417.221(2)(a) and thereby Regulation 417.221 in its entirety. Decision As Regulation 417.221 is not met by the applicant, I find the criteria for the grant of a Working Holiday (Temporary) visa are not met by the applicant. Therefore, I refuse the application by the applicant for a Working Holiday (Temporary) visa. ... I did submit my 1263 form with my application, but since I did volunteer work, OI naturally don't have work payslips or bank statements. Is there here who has been in the same situation? Is there anything I can do?

I’m hoping to go to Australia this year for 2 weeks. I’m limiting myself to 2 weeks because I’m still currently studying at uni so can’t come out for an extended period of time. I have been to Australia before, back in 2013 was my first time, and although I’m willing to go out to Australia for 2 weeks on my own, it would be good if there is anyone of a similar age (I’m 23) that fancies jetting off and is someone who I can get to know before hand. I ask as currently none of my friends are up for it and it’s pretty daunting to go solo. Thanks

Hey Everyone, I'm new to these boards but wondered if you might be able to share some sage wisdom. This is my current situation: - I have just entered the second year of my WHV. I want to remain in the country at the end of this year. I live and work in regional Victoria and my parents are also citizens here (they moved 11 years ago, I have only just joined) - I am a trained social worker, but I have not yet applied for my qualifications to be assessed by AASW but i know there is a very long waiting list. - my current employer is willing to sponsor me for a TSS (482) visa. i am currently doing a role which is not full time and is wellbeing work in a school rather than social work per se. I have spoken to the DIBP contact centre and they have advised that my best course of action would be 482 medium stream, to give me enough time to do the EOI and application process for a 189 (if they should allow me to apply). So my current questions are: 1) do i have to apply to AASW for my qualifications to be assessed if I am already employed by my sponsor? 2) within that application, do I need to pay for the additional assessment of my skilled work experience, or can I just provide that documentation as part of the visa? 3) my employer has never sponsored anyone before (they are a large social care provider in victoria like Anglicare) is it a straightforward process for them? i have looked at the required steps online but just wondered about others experience. Thanks in advance everyone...

Hi All, I'm just wondering if anyone has ever had a 1445 application approved/denied and if so, how long it took for a decision? I can only find information online about people applying, but nothing around timelines, successes etc. Effectively, I came on a WHV whilst my partner's 457 application was being approved. His bridging visa came with no working rights, so we thought it best that at least one of us was working. Now with the 457 changes, we should be ok, but my 6 months with one employer is nearly up and we are still pending a decision. I have a bridging visa that doesn't kick in until November... So have applied for a 1445 on the basis of the 457 (or whatever it's new form may be called) being approved/denied. I'm in a pretty good job and obviously was employed on the basis of the 457 being approved. Obviously don't want to lose this job to then try and find another one with technically only 6 months to offer. I sent off my form with 4 weeks notice, so just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position and what your outcome was? Thanks!

Hey everyone, Just looking for any advice ...... I'm still as clueless as my first post in 2014! some things never change My partner and I have been granted our 2nd year working holiday visas. My partner is currently waiting for a date to complete his Vetassess skills assessment within the next month as he is a plumber and gas engineer and looking to do that type of work once we have arrived in Oz and completed appropriate tests/training. As much as my partner would love to just book a flight and arrive, I would much rather a plan! So looking for advice on renting and what to do when we arrive as we do not know anyone, would it be best to book a hotel and look at properties? What is the job opportunities like for his profession within WA and also Brisbane? any advice regarding the GAP training for his trade on arrival in Oz? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Thanks Melissa

My partner and I have been advised it's better to go over on a whv as we are still of the age to apply for one. I plan on going to Australia in October, two weeks before I turn 31. If I leave Australia when I'm 31 can I still re enter Australia even though I'll be 31? Thanks

Tasmania is affected by Australia's reputation for backpacker exploitation resulting in a shortage of fruit pickers this coming season. http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5162215/fruit-pickers-give-tasmania-the-flick/

Hi all, My partner and I are moving to Oz Feb 19th 2018 with our WHVs and are looking for advice on travel and health insurance. We've been looking at the Medicare Reciprocal Health Care Programme and wondered if anyone has had experience using it, and if it is adequate enough as health insurance cover for the year? We've also been looking at combined travel/health care with colombus direct (recommended by the visa bureau), which is priced at £495. If the Medicare cover is enough, do people recommend a basic 'gadget' travel insurance for our cash etc, rather than getting the combined insurance (which has rather large figures!) Thanks Megan

Hi, ive been a member on here for a while now and I'm seriously considering travelling to Australia. I'm willing to go alone however it would of course be lovely to have a travel companion and gain a new friendship! if anybody is interested in going to Australia from the UK please message me so we can discuss! im from Cheshire, UK. thanks

Hi everyone. I am in my first year working holiday visa and it's due to run out on the 9th of February 2017. I don't currently have plans to apply for a second year but I do have an issue that requires me to stay longer than my visa will let me. My mum is planning on booking a flight to come see me in Australia, after my visa runs out, she would change her dates but due to work commitments and prices of flights this is the only option for her. I've heard that you can apply for a bridging visa hat allows you to stay 28days later than your visa end date. Would this reason be enough for that to be granted? If not what else would allow me to stay an extra 2 weeks? If I am able to apply for a bridging visa how do I do it and when should I do it? I don't want to leave it too late and then my mum have to come to Australia on her own. I obviously have no intention of staying in the country illegally that's why I'm trying to find how to do this lawfully. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

Hello, I’m looking for some advise on the 2nd working holiday visa. I’ve now been waiting for 9 weeks on my application, my boyfriend and I lodged them at the same time and his got approved in 4 weeks! We did everything correctly, supplied ALL documents, got paid enough, worked on a farm for 96 days etc etc. I did get asked to provide more information with a form all about the farm which was about a month ago and I’ve heard nothing. I just don’t know what to do, I’m freaking out and wondering if anybody else’s 2nd year visa is taking this long? Is this normal? I’m in limbo here and losing my damn mind

There was an article in today's paper about the shocking condition of accommodation for backpackers and other migrant workers. Now don't get me wrong some backpackers can be lazy and love a good whinge and moan, then you have others who are so desperate for money or a 2nd year visa they will resort to anything. So what type of accommodation should you expect? In this article we will look at Hostels, Share Houses and Shared Rooms. Most of the backpackers will stay in a hostel when doing fruit picking, these hostels often don't know the farmers personally and never liaise with them. The hostel owners are usually contacted by a third party agent who ask them to promote the Farm Work as it will provide them with income from the accommodation. I can't speak for all but I know a couple of these agents receive a kick back from the hostel owners (usually a percentage of the weekly room rate). Most hostel owners don't care about you, they have no idea if you will get Work, how many hours you have to do or what rate of pay. These "contractors/agents/middle men" are often quite shady, they invoice the farmer for the full award rate but then pay the backpacker a piece rate. Along with the money from the hostel owner they have a very cushy number. Some of these contractors are said to earn over $1million a month. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-11-01/exploitation-or-slavery-of-tongans-malaysians-in-horticulture/9102676 ) Now like everywhere you may find good and bad. Some hostel owners may work directly with the farmer, it is in their interest to get you work and keep you there. Look for recommendations and feedback from locals and other backpackers. Shared Accommodation Now there are two types of shared accommodation. Can you remember that shady agent who is taking a huge chunk out of your pay just for him to sit in a chair and watch or drive you too and fro... well unfortunately the horror stories don't just stop there. Another way these "agents/middle men" make money is by taking out a rental somewhere in the closest town. As most of these places are rural rents are low and it may cost them around $350 a week for a 4 bed house. What they then do is trail all the classified sites and find free furniture, beds, camp beds, stained mattresses, some backpackers are only provided with a blanket. He then says you have to stay in this house or there is no work. He will insist on a bond before you get accepted for the job and usually payment upfront. Some backpackers have been asked to pay up to a $1,000 in advance. This "contractor " has no intention of ever giving you that bond back. Once you arrive at the property you will find lots of other backpackers/seasonal workers living there as well, the most we have heard of is 60 in a 3 bed house, so that's 20 people in one room, in this property there was no beds just a blanket provided. Each of these people were being charged $150 per week rent, their initial outlay was a month up front non refundable. So immediately this "agent" has $36,000 ($600 bond x 60 workers). Remember what I said earlier, you will not see this money again. The accommodation will be so bad that you will want to cut your losses and run. Here you can find the minimum requirements and space for shared accommodation in Victoria http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0012/565689/Standards-Rooming-Houses.doc Here is an extract from a backpacker who contacted one of these "contractors " on gumtree. We had sent our flight details to the girl on the phone so they knew what time to pick us up and they assured us they’d be there. We arrived in Mildura at 11:25am yet never got picked up until 1:30pm. It was the contractor, Don, who picked us up. Before he even drove us to our backpacker accommodation, we had to sign a form saying that the money we pay the contractor was for a “job search” and not for rent. He drove us straight to a cash machine, where we had to withdraw $900 to pay upfront. This was actually for two weeks rent each, plus a bond. He then drove us straight to our accommodation which, to our surprise, was a house with about 30 people living there (4 bedrooms). After having a strict talk from the ‘head of house’ (who had been there for four weeks) about the rules of the house and respecting Don (otherwise he would kick us out without question or delay-which he has done many times before), we then got shown to our room….the garage, with 6 bunk beds in it and no heating. At this point I was feeling very uncomfortable, unwelcome and very homesick. We got told to go and buy some food for the week and some clothes/shoes suitable for the job. This rinsed us of all of our money. We had nothing left. “The Working Week Begins” We started work the next day at 7am, it was freezing and after a very cold night, we weren’t feeling ready at all. We turned up to a farm full of rows of dead vines, no fruit. We were vine pulling. We could only afford thin gloves and we spent the whole day until 6pm, pulling old vine branches off the wires. It was extremely hard work, time consuming, getting whipped all over our bodies and across our faces every two minutes from the vines. We had to count how many vine trees we had pulled by the time we got picked up and it got written down. We were then told we got paid about 15c a vine. In a full day we earned max of $30 each a day. “Rent” was $150 each a week. If we worked 7 days a week we’d earn max $210 each, leaving us with $60 a week for living essentials. Unfortunately there are a large number of cases like this. It isn't just backpackers who take on fruit/Farm Work but migrants from third world countries who take this as being the norm. In fact they thank Australia for this wonderful chance. At Robinvale's Weir Caravan park, Malaysian migrants reveal how they can let themselves be ripped off. Three young Malaysians say how happy they are to be working here, the kindness of Australians, and the chance to earn money and learn English. They describe vegetable picking work in rural Malaysia as harder, for less money. Below are some links to other articles on these "contractors" http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/charges-laid-over-rogue-hostels-20110408-1d804.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-11-03/robinvale-seasonal-workers-and-modern-slavery/9104440 If possible you are best contacting the farmer yourself for work and organising your own accommodation. Ask for recommendations from fellow backpackers. Private Shared Accommodation Now there are a number of Australians who live in shared accommodation and they come from all walks of life. The majority are usually students or nurses but you could also find yourself sharing with a lawyer or doctor. Most advertise on airbnb, flat mates or gumtree. Obviously you still need to be wary of scams, for example paying a deposit without viewing the property, however, if we remove scammers from the equation you will find shared accommodation good value for money and better living standards than most hostels. Depending on which area you are in you can pay anything from $80 per week to around $250 if you want to be in Sydney close to the city. If you want to If there are two of you then you can usually share a room starting from $50 a week. Always confirm whether the accommodation is a "Shared house" or a "Shared room in a house" if it is a shared room, check how many other occupants there are. When you look at what you can get for your money compared to staying in a hostel I think a shared house is definitely worth looking in to. However, check if they require a bond, if they are permitted to sublet and if they have a minimum length of time you have to stay. Hostel in Sydney $525 a week House Share in Sydney $250 a week, includes utilities and internet. So to summarise DO NOT use these dodgy contractors. If you are asked to pay a bond make sure it is registered with the RTA or other state body. Also make sure you get a tenancy agreement, even if you print out your own and take it for the owner to sign. Details and example below. https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/Renting/Before-you-rent/Types-of-tenancy-agreements/Rooming-accommodation-agreement Most councils require a boarding house to be registered and a copy of this can be found online an example is http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Accommodation_registers.page? Do NOT be afraid to report unscrupulous accommodation providers. You can do this through through https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/helping-the-community/campaigns/national-campaigns/harvest-trail-campaign This post has been promoted to an article

There was an article in today's paper about the shocking condition of accommodation for backpackers and other migrant workers. Now don't get me wrong some backpackers can be lazy and love a good whinge and moan, then you have others who are so desperate for money or a 2nd year visa they will resort to anything. So what type of accommodation should you expect? In this article we will look at Hostels, Share Houses and Shared Rooms. Most of the backpackers will stay in a hostel when doing fruit picking, these hostels often don't know the farmers personally and never liaise with them. The hostel owners are usually contacted by a third party agent who ask them to promote the Farm Work as it will provide them with income from the accommodation. I can't speak for all but I know a couple of these agents receive a kick back from the hostel owners (usually a percentage of the weekly room rate). Most hostel owners don't care about you, they have no idea if you will get Work, how many hours you have to do or what rate of pay. These "contractors/agents/middle men" are often quite shady, they invoice the farmer for the full award rate but then pay the backpacker a piece rate. Along with the money from the hostel owner they have a very cushy number. Some of these contractors are said to earn over $1million a month. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-11-01/exploitation-or-slavery-of-tongans-malaysians-in-horticulture/9102676 ) Now like everywhere you may find good and bad. Some hostel owners may work directly with the farmer, it is in their interest to get you work and keep you there. Look for recommendations and feedback from locals and other backpackers. Shared Accommodation Now there are two types of shared accommodation. Can you remember that shady agent who is taking a huge chunk out of your pay just for him to sit in a chair and watch or drive you too and fro... well unfortunately the horror stories don't just stop there. Another way these "agents/middle men" make money is by taking out a rental somewhere in the closest town. As most of these places are rural rents are low and it may cost them around $350 a week for a 4 bed house. What they then do is trail all the classified sites and find free furniture, beds, camp beds, stained mattresses, some backpackers are only provided with a blanket. He then says you have to stay in this house or there is no work. He will insist on a bond before you get accepted for the job and usually payment upfront. Some backpackers have been asked to pay up to a $1,000 in advance. This "contractor " has no intention of ever giving you that bond back. Once you arrive at the property you will find lots of other backpackers/seasonal workers living there as well, the most we have heard of is 60 in a 3 bed house, so that's 20 people in one room, in this property there was no beds just a blanket provided. Each of these people were being charged $150 per week rent, their initial outlay was a month up front non refundable. So immediately this "agent" has $36,000 ($600 bond x 60 workers). Remember what I said earlier, you will not see this money again. The accommodation will be so bad that you will want to cut your losses and run. Here you can find the minimum requirements and space for shared accommodation in Victoria http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0012/565689/Standards-Rooming-Houses.doc Here is an extract from a backpacker who contacted one of these "contractors " on gumtree. We had sent our flight details to the girl on the phone so they knew what time to pick us up and they assured us they’d be there. We arrived in Mildura at 11:25am yet never got picked up until 1:30pm. It was the contractor, Don, who picked us up. Before he even drove us to our backpacker accommodation, we had to sign a form saying that the money we pay the contractor was for a “job search” and not for rent. He drove us straight to a cash machine, where we had to withdraw $900 to pay upfront. This was actually for two weeks rent each, plus a bond. He then drove us straight to our accommodation which, to our surprise, was a house with about 30 people living there (4 bedrooms). After having a strict talk from the ‘head of house’ (who had been there for four weeks) about the rules of the house and respecting Don (otherwise he would kick us out without question or delay-which he has done many times before), we then got shown to our room….the garage, with 6 bunk beds in it and no heating. At this point I was feeling very uncomfortable, unwelcome and very homesick. We got told to go and buy some food for the week and some clothes/shoes suitable for the job. This rinsed us of all of our money. We had nothing left. “The Working Week Begins” We started work the next day at 7am, it was freezing and after a very cold night, we weren’t feeling ready at all. We turned up to a farm full of rows of dead vines, no fruit. We were vine pulling. We could only afford thin gloves and we spent the whole day until 6pm, pulling old vine branches off the wires. It was extremely hard work, time consuming, getting whipped all over our bodies and across our faces every two minutes from the vines. We had to count how many vine trees we had pulled by the time we got picked up and it got written down. We were then told we got paid about 15c a vine. In a full day we earned max of $30 each a day. “Rent” was $150 each a week. If we worked 7 days a week we’d earn max $210 each, leaving us with $60 a week for living essentials. Unfortunately there are a large number of cases like this. It isn't just backpackers who take on fruit/Farm Work but migrants from third world countries who take this as being the norm. In fact they thank Australia for this wonderful chance. At Robinvale's Weir Caravan park, Malaysian migrants reveal how they can let themselves be ripped off. Three young Malaysians say how happy they are to be working here, the kindness of Australians, and the chance to earn money and learn English. They describe vegetable picking work in rural Malaysia as harder, for less money. Below are some links to other articles on these "contractors" http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/charges-laid-over-rogue-hostels-20110408-1d804.html http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-11-03/robinvale-seasonal-workers-and-modern-slavery/9104440 If possible you are best contacting the farmer yourself for work and organising your own accommodation. Ask for recommendations from fellow backpackers. Private Shared Accommodation Now there are a number of Australians who live in shared accommodation and they come from all walks of life. The majority are usually students or nurses but you could also find yourself sharing with a lawyer or doctor. Most advertise on airbnb, flat mates or gumtree. Obviously you still need to be wary of scams, for example paying a deposit without viewing the property, however, if we remove scammers from the equation you will find shared accommodation good value for money and better living standards than most hostels. Depending on which area you are in you can pay anything from $80 per week to around $250 if you want to be in Sydney close to the city. If you want to If there are two of you then you can usually share a room starting from $50 a week. Always confirm whether the accommodation is a "Shared house" or a "Shared room in a house" if it is a shared room, check how many other occupants there are. When you look at what you can get for your money compared to staying in a hostel I think a shared house is definitely worth looking in to. However, check if they require a bond, if they are permitted to sublet and if they have a minimum length of time you have to stay. Hostel in Sydney $525 a week House Share in Sydney $250 a week, includes utilities and internet. So to summarise DO NOT use these dodgy contractors. If you are asked to pay a bond make sure it is registered with the RTA or other state body. Also make sure you get a tenancy agreement, even if you print out your own and take it for the owner to sign. Details and example below. https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/Renting/Before-you-rent/Types-of-tenancy-agreements/Rooming-accommodation-agreement Most councils require a boarding house to be registered and a copy of this can be found online an example is http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/Online_services/Accommodation_registers.page? Do NOT be afraid to report unscrupulous accommodation providers. You can do this through through https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/helping-the-community/campaigns/national-campaigns/harvest-trail-campaign

Hi all I have now been waiting 8 weeks and 4 days for my 417 working holiday visa to be granted and still no answer. The travel agent I purchased the visa through has chased DIBP twice for me and still no response, I have also been in touch with the processing team via email and chased them twice however no response. There is a number you can call on the DIBP website which is 0061 131 881... you usually have to hold for approximately 40 minutes to speak to one of the team. I spoke with a gentlemen called Alex last night and he tried calling the processing team in Queensland however there was no response, he sent them an email and asked for them to email me an update - I'm mindful that they have never responded to any of our emails and that they never will respond. Its a really tricky situation as I've missed my flight, lost out on a job and also lost money on an Airbnb. The process shouldn't take this long and I HAVE NOT been asked for any medical tests, I don't not have any criminal convictions and I hold a British passport (born in the UK) Is anyone else experiencing serious delays here??? any advise on what could be going on and who I could potentially call? its driving me insane no hanging around in limbo Thanks Nima

Hi, I'm very new to the forum and looking for some advice on visa's. I'm currently in Australia and have been here since Mid June on a working holiday visa, but now I would like to make the switch to a PR visa if possible but I'm worried about the processing times. I am an accountant with 70 points (provided English test goes well) and will hope to lodge my EOI by November, delay as it takes 4 weeks to get a date for the Pearson English test and then another 4 weeks to get my skills assessment so I probably wouldn't be ready until then. Although I would be applying to get this visa as a single applicant it seems like the current wait time for someone with my points is somewhere between 9-12 months, purely based on this forum. But as I'm with an employer now and there is potential to get sponsored by them, would it be possible to continue with the 189 on my own even if being sponsored? As ideally I would like to be free from the hold of any employer. It may sound bizarre but I would like to sort my own PR asap so I am free to move jobs if I wish to. Does anyone know if I could continue to await my EOI if I were sponsored? As I am only allowed work for one employer a maximum of 6 months, I would need to be sponsored to stay on with my current employer beyond the 6 month period. Also if I wasn't sponsored and didn't get my EOI before June 2018 when my working holiday visa is up, is it possible to return on once my EOI is released? I know I would automatically go on to a bridging visa if I were to receive my EOI during my working holiday visa but with the current wait times for EOI, it may not be possible to remain in Oz. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sam

Hello everyone, hope you are doing great in Australia. I arrived in Adelaide a month ago with my WHV. I have been applying for some posts of casual/ agency RN. Madness begins.... was turned down even I got the RN licence from AHPRA. Does anyone have any suggestions/ similar situation?

Hi everyone, So I went to Australia in 2014 - 2015 on a cultural Exchange Visa. I did some volunteering through a UK organisation. I am planning on applying for WHV I will be 29 when I apply. I know if you do farm work for 88 days you can get a second WHV if I applied for second WHV I would be 30 years old. Would I still get accepted as I would be under 31? My second question is in order to get permanent residency do have to live in Australia for 4 years. So if Im right in thinking if I got my second year WHV I just need to find another visa for 1 year. Your help is much appreciated.

Hi everyone, Just looking for some advice and hoping someone can help me with income tax while on a 417 visa in Australia and how it works. I understand there is information online but it can be quite unclear so I wanted to see if someone can help me- I have started working for a company and get paid monthly. I received my first pay last Friday, but I was taxed more than expected. My understanding is the income tax for people on WHVs changed in Jan 2017, and we are now taxed 15% on every dollar earned, until we have earned $37,000 total and then the income tax increases to around 32%. The payroll at work said my tax was higher than expected because they put me down as a 'resident for tax purposes' and overlooked what I had actually written on the tax declaration form. They are now telling me I should in fact be taxed more than I have been already, as they said the 417 tax is split throughout the year so are saying because they will eventually be paying me over $37000 total, my tax is not 15%. I was under the understanding that it isn't worked this way, and it is a flat rate 15% tax UNTIL you have earned $37,000? Please could someone help clear this up for me? I'm quite sure I am right however payroll are now ignoring my emails after saying it will be set up how they have suggested (which I believe is incorrect). And it's a few hundred dollars different for me so can't really afford to wait until next tax year end to claim it all back Thanks NB: I have called ATO as my employer wanted an exemption letter (I'm sure this isn't necessary as it's not an exemption- it's how the tax works?!) but the ATO said they can't supply this and that they cannot help anymore as it's personal tax advice