457 Visa - A Warning

[Alan Collett]

" ... and those on 457s can only be hired if no equivalent Aussies or PRs are available ..."

 

=> Not so for the secondary applicant. In fact the Labour Market Testing requirements are pretty straightforward to satisfy these days, even for main applicants:

http://www.immi.gov.au/FAQs/Pages/Is-advertising-in-social-media-channels-such-as-Facebook-an-acceptable-form-of-labour-market-testing-for-the-subclass-457-v.aspx

 

Best regards.

[ramot]

Exactly. For example, we were told that my spouse could work while here on a 457 visa. That sounds to me like she can go get a job, like anyone else. But guess what ? Aussie employers always ask for the applicant's residency status, and those on 457s can only be hired if no equivalent Aussies or PRs are available. So in actuality, your spouse pretty much has to find a 457 sponsor just like you did, just like any foreigner has to.

 

Employers natuirally paint a rosy picture of work and conditions here in Oz - and let's face it, that's not difficult to achieve. But be warned ! All it takes is for your employer to finish a contract and need to drop headcount....and if you're a 457 in a department of Aussies, you're automatically closest to the door. Especially if the Aussies are all mates. Then all of a sudden it's cheers mate see ya and you have 90 days to find another sponsor or leave the country. Obviously this is less of an issue for those with widely-employed skills (tradies etc), but for those of us who are specialised, it can be a huge issue. People being asked to come here on a 457 may well be giving up a permanent position to make the move. It's only right that they are given the full picture as to just how temporary a position they may be getting in exchange.

 

I know people who have demanded PR upfront, or a commitment to sponsorship for PR after 2 years. If you feel you may have enough clout to swing it, give it serious consideration.

 

I post this message with the intention of warning and helping others.

 

have to to mention that not every one on a 457 visas is automatically given the push in a downturn. Certainly wasn't in my daughter's case. She was 1 of only a handful kept on, when several Australians lost their jobs, she wasn't much more qualified than the Australians were who lost their jobs. So although it sadly happened to you it certainly isn't always automatic.

Also want to point out that it isn't easy for lots of people who aren't on PR visas to get a job.

My son studied here to MBA level in his 30's and was on a bridging visa after qualifying for 3 years. It took over a year to get a job and he lost count of rejections after over 400, but he persevered, but it took guts.

He worked in a service station to make ends meet, as any job was better than none.

hope things get better for you.

[marta]

Exactly. For example, we were told that my spouse could work while here on a 457 visa. That sounds to me like she can go get a job, like anyone else. But guess what ? Aussie employers always ask for the applicant's residency status, and those on 457s can only be hired if no equivalent Aussies or PRs are available. So in actuality, your spouse pretty much has to find a 457 sponsor just like you did, just like any foreigner has to.

 

Employers natuirally paint a rosy picture of work and conditions here in Oz - and let's face it, that's not difficult to achieve. But be warned ! All it takes is for your employer to finish a contract and need to drop headcount....and if you're a 457 in a department of Aussies, you're automatically closest to the door. Especially if the Aussies are all mates. Then all of a sudden it's cheers mate see ya and you have 90 days to find another sponsor or leave the country. Obviously this is less of an issue for those with widely-employed skills (tradies etc), but for those of us who are specialised, it can be a huge issue. People being asked to come here on a 457 may well be giving up a permanent position to make the move. It's only right that they are given the full picture as to just how temporary a position they may be getting in exchange.

 

I know people who have demanded PR upfront, or a commitment to sponsorship for PR after 2 years. If you feel you may have enough clout to swing it, give it serious consideration.

 

I post this message with the intention of warning and helping others.

 

Sorry to say so, Blewyn, but that's just plain wrong. This misunderstanding might also be where your confusion stems from initially about the 457 visa as such.

 

I'm in the same situation as your spouse, and I can work for any employer in Australia without needing sponsorship! I've got sponsorship through my partner. That's the idea of being the dependant person on a 457 visa. True, my partner (basically my sponsor) cannot change employers just like that as he would need to find a new sponsor. But I'm free to work for how long and for whom I want. It's true, even though it might be trickier for 457 people to get work, it's not impossible.

 

Look, I've written so many applications. I've done two internships working for free. I've done menial tasks Aussies wouldn't do. But I've found a job doing this at the end of the day and that's all that counts. It took a while - that's true. But it's okay, because I've done it. You know, I could walk around complaining but that doesn't help anybody. I've got a PhD and several other degrees which my co-workers don't, but it's fine. I knew if I do nothing then I won't get anything. It's the decisions we make in life.

[Blewyn]

Thanks Alan....maybe we've just been unlucky.

[Alaska]

I was a spouse on a 457 and the visa type wasn't even an issue.

I did some voluntary work, then got casual work and it led to a contract. They were only concerned that I had work rights - not the visa type. They photocopied my visa and passport and did some check I believe, and that was the end of it.

 

Certainly not impossible.

I think a lot of it is who you know and proving your worth. I think that the "lack of local experience" can be a stumbling block rather than the visa type.

[Pumpkin]

I was a spouse on a 457 and the visa type wasn't even an issue.

I did some voluntary work, then got casual work and it led to a contract. They were only concerned that I had work rights - not the visa type. They photocopied my visa and passport and did some check I believe, and that was the end of it.

 

Certainly not impossible.

I think a lot of it is who you know and proving your worth. I think that the "lack of local experience" can be a stumbling block rather than the visa type.

 

Agree. I work in a large organisation and it has had some restructuring whilst I have been there, I am in the management level and so have been one of the decision makers in terms of redundancies. Visa type has never come into those conversations, not once, just not on the radar. We treat all the employees as equals with equal rights. I had somebody reporting to me and was not even aware they were on a 457 as a dependent (they had been there longer than me). This person was never at any risk as she is a great worker.