175 skilled independent visa - options

[hilltop1]

I was awarded a class VE 175 skilled visa in 2013, but I am still in the UK searching for the ideal job in Australia before I make the move (inc my family). The job I am looking for and experienced in, is no longer plentiful in Oz and I am becoming ever sceptical that I wont find a job before my visa runs out in 2017.

I am not prepared to move my family from the UK where I have a well paid secure job to Oz with no or little job prospect. In my opinion this is too risky.

Do I have any options to apply for an extension to my 175 visa in order to keep searching. Otherwise all the time and expense in getting the visa will all be wasted. I feel a little let down as Migration Agencies and the Oz government were all happy to take my money with no recourse after visa award. I realise no one guarantees a job after approval.

[Raul Senise]

I was awarded a class VE 175 skilled visa in 2013, but I am still in the UK searching for the ideal job in Australia before I make the move (inc my family). The job I am looking for and experienced in, is no longer plentiful in Oz and I am becoming ever sceptical that I wont find a job before my visa runs out in 2017.

I am not prepared to move my family from the UK where I have a well paid secure job to Oz with no or little job prospect. In my opinion this is too risky.

 

You will have much better prospects applying while in Australia. Not many employers will hire someone sight unseen, unless they are in a very highly specialised or sort after occupation.

 

Do I have any options to apply for an extension to my 175 visa in order to keep searching.

 

Once the 5 year travel facility expires, you need to apply for an RRV. To qualify your will need to meet residency requirements (lived in Australia for at least two years in the last five) unless you have close and continuing ties to Australia.

 

Otherwise all the time and expense in getting the visa will all be wasted. I feel a little let down as Migration Agencies and the Oz government were all happy to take my money with no recourse after visa award. I realise no one guarantees a job after approval.

 

The Government makes no claim of employment when applying for a visa. They are simply there to assess a visa application against the Regulations.

 

Unfortunately, many agencies make claims of securing employment but do not deliver. This is more prevalent with overseas agencies as they are not regulated in any way.

 

I would suggest you take leave from work and spend a month or so in Australia looking for employment as you will find job hunting very different when you are here.

[hilltop1]

Thank you for your reply. With access to job markets easily gained via the internet now, finding advertised jobs in my profession to apply for would be easy, if there were any!

Being in Australia wouldn't significantly increase that. I would be willing to fly over at a minutes notice for an interview if a position became available. I have friends already in the same industry leaving Australia for the same reason!

 

With all the general migration discussions regarding 'go for it', 'you'll never know till you try' etc etc. this just fuels a wreckless financially irresponsible attitude which could easily bankrupt any emigrating family.

 

Hence, although I am well aware that no-one offers guarantees of a job, why would anyone go to Australia with no or little chance of a job!! Unfortunately when I originally started my application in 2012 there were plenty of posts!! Maybe time has been quiet helpful here. Had I applied a few years earlier and emigrated I may have already found my self back in the UK!

[VERYSTORMY]

Thank you for your reply. With access to job markets easily gained via the internet now, finding advertised jobs in my profession to apply for would be easy, if there were any!

Being in Australia wouldn't significantly increase that. I would be willing to fly over at a minutes notice for an interview if a position became available. I have friends already in the same industry leaving Australia for the same reason!

 

With all the general migration discussions regarding 'go for it', 'you'll never know till you try' etc etc. this just fuels a wreckless financially irresponsible attitude which could easily bankrupt any emigrating family.

 

Hence, although I am well aware that no-one offers guarantees of a job, why would anyone go to Australia with no or little chance of a job!! Unfortunately when I originally started my application in 2012 there were plenty of posts!! Maybe time has been quiet helpful here. Had I applied a few years earlier and emigrated I may have already found my self back in the UK!

 

Pas someone who is in the position you describe - I am a geologist now having to leave Australia due to lack of work, I would say your reasoning is sound.

 

Later, if the market for your industry improves and the travel part of the visa has expired, you could try an RRV. It is a cheap visa and they will sometimes grant short ones where a person would not ordinarily pass the requirements.

[Raul Senise]

Pas someone who is in the position you describe - I am a geologist now having to leave Australia due to lack of work, I would say your reasoning is sound.

 

Later, if the market for your industry improves and the travel part of the visa has expired, you could try an RRV. It is a cheap visa and they will sometimes grant short ones where a person would not ordinarily pass the requirements.

 

If you do not meet the residency requirements for an RRV you need to show close and continuing ties to Australia. Immigration is getting much tougher on RRV applications and this is not a strategy I would recommend as there is a high chance of failure.

[hilltop1]

Thanks for the comments. I would assume that trying to get an RRV when I haven't lived in Oz only visited to validate my 175, would be nigh on impossible after the 5 years.

However should the job market pick up in a few years my visa would have expired and all the trouble and cost would have been for nothing, why couldn't they make it 10 years!?

I would guess there are probably a multitude of people in this position that have felt the whole process has lead to a dead end for Oz. This is an issue that is probably not being widely commented upon. Just unbridled advertising for 'lives down under' by many parties with their own interests at heart. As I mentioned, this can lead to massive disappointment and financial problems!

[Nemesis]

Thanks for the comments. I would assume that trying to get an RRV when I haven't lived in Oz only visited to validate my 175, would be nigh on impossible after the 5 years.

However should the job market pick up in a few years my visa would have expired and all the trouble and cost would have been for nothing, why couldn't they make it 10 years!?

I would guess there are probably a multitude of people in this position that have felt the whole process has lead to a dead end for Oz. This is an issue that is probably not being widely commented upon. Just unbridled advertising for 'lives down under' by many parties with their own interests at heart. As I mentioned, this can lead to massive disappointment and financial problems!

 

Actually a large number of peole do what has already been suggested. They fly to Australia and look for work. Many of us take work in different fields until we can find the job we really want. Beng in Australia does hugely improve your chances of getting a job - the employer can see you are here and can start work asap - its well documented on all the expat forums that being on the spot is better. And forums come into their own reporting on real life experiences of job hunting - which can bbe more down-to-earth than some agency that wants your cash.

 

Five years should be long enough to make a move - why make it 10? If you wanted 10 years before moving then maybe you shouldn't have applied so soon!

[VERYSTORMY]

Thanks for the comments. I would assume that trying to get an RRV when I haven't lived in Oz only visited to validate my 175, would be nigh on impossible after the 5 years.

However should the job market pick up in a few years my visa would have expired and all the trouble and cost would have been for nothing, why couldn't they make it 10 years!?

I would guess there are probably a multitude of people in this position that have felt the whole process has lead to a dead end for Oz. This is an issue that is probably not being widely commented upon. Just unbridled advertising for 'lives down under' by many parties with their own interests at heart. As I mentioned, this can lead to massive disappointment and financial problems!

 

I partially agree.

 

There are are plenty of people that make the move only to find they can't find work or find poorly paid work. I have seen plenty have to return because of it.

 

I disagree on on the ten years though.

[hilltop1]

I gained may 175 days before my 45 birthday from which date the doors would effectively have closed if I had not got the visa by then. I am an engineer in the oil and gas industry and have found adverts for my niche very few and far between in Oz (they use to be very common!). As I am currently in full employment in the UK, the full employment status trumps any move to Oz to sit unemployed or doing a job I don't like or can't afford for years! Its a shame but my visa will probably lapse without any gain.