Breaking News - 457 Visas Stopped

[VERYSTORMY]

This is going to sound harsh. But it is true. 

If you come on a 457 visa, you come on a visa that it is what it says on the tin. A temporary visa. It has never had an automatic path to permanent residence and big changes to the system are not uncommon. As a result, people posting on the forum have always been advised to treat it as a temporary move and that at the end of the visa you leave. 

On an average year there are over 1000 changes to migration law. Most will have consequences for some. 

[Agz15]

6 hours ago, VERYSTORMY said:

This is going to sound harsh. But it is true. 

If you come on a 457 visa, you come on a visa that it is what it says on the tin. A temporary visa. It has never had an automatic path to permanent residence and big changes to the system are not uncommon. As a result, people posting on the forum have always been advised to treat it as a temporary move and that at the end of the visa you leave. 

On an average year there are over 1000 changes to migration law. Most will have consequences for some. 

It doesn't seem fair on employers though, if they want to keep you but can't. 

[MaggieMay24]

On 22/04/2017 at 5:41 AM, dodziu said:

 

Cant find my occupation on any list on border.gov.au ( medium and long term, short term or removed) -Accommodation and Hospitality Manager (nec) 141999;looks like disappeared

Or maybe I am blind???

Is it possible that they removed my occupation without removing?

 

It's on the STSOL, so only eligible for the 2-year temporary visa.

[MaggieMay24]

35 minutes ago, Agz15 said:

It doesn't seem fair on employers though, if they want to keep you but can't. 

Fair is a relative term.  What's fair to one person will seem unfair to someone else.  And the government isn't making this change to be fair to employers, they're focused on Australian workers.  Well really they're focused on Australian voters, but they hope that's the same thing.

[Owl]

The reason of cheap labour is because 457 employers often make the employees pay back under table. If they go through the proper way, the cost is still high as they need to make up the business plan, pay migragion agent, pay market price wages and provide ongoing training.

No doubt certian industries have no choice but to look for employees from overseas. Sadly general public see this visa as a way for foreign chef/waitress/accountant etc to enter into Australia while the local with same skills are hunting for jobs. There is no perfect solution, but locals are/should be protected first hence this changes come in.

[Raul Senise]

15 hours ago, Owl said:

The reason of cheap labour is because 457 employers often make the employees pay back under table. If they go through the proper way, the cost is still high as they need to make up the business plan, pay migragion agent, pay market price wages and provide ongoing training.

No doubt certian industries have no choice but to look for employees from overseas. Sadly general public see this visa as a way for foreign chef/waitress/accountant etc to enter into Australia while the local with same skills are hunting for jobs. There is no perfect solution, but locals are/should be protected first hence this changes come in.

The percentage of employers doing the wrong thing is minimal. When they are caught  it is highly publicised and this is why many think the 457 system is a rort. You never see reports of how successful the program has been for Australia as that is not considered news worthy.

The reality is that the vast majority of employers do the right thing and there are measures in place to audit and punish the wrongdoers.

It is difficult to fill the positions with locals, if there are no locals with the requisite skills or experience for the job.

When applied properly, the 457 program is used to fill key positions that cannot be readily filled locally. This allows the business to grow and creates employment opportunities for Australians in other roles.

A sensible review and amendment would have been welcomed by most, however, the current  rushed through changes will only hurt Australian business, will not help Australian workers and will still be open to rorting.

 

[theveed]

On 4/22/2017 at 2:34 PM, Agz15 said:

Rubbish, this announcement has really messed up our plans.

Also confused about the one onshore renewal rule...maybe there will be options to renew or return if you apply offshore??

On a separate note - does anyone have any experience with the direct entry 186, partner would be at 3 years work experience point by jan/feb next year but haven't been able to find any info on if applications submitted before the March 2018 changes will only be applicable to applications submitted after that date. 

I'm curious about renewing another 2 years via offshore as well.. 

[theveed]

On 4/22/2017 at 11:24 PM, VERYSTORMY said:

This is going to sound harsh. But it is true. 

If you come on a 457 visa, you come on a visa that it is what it says on the tin. A temporary visa. It has never had an automatic path to permanent residence and big changes to the system are not uncommon. As a result, people posting on the forum have always been advised to treat it as a temporary move and that at the end of the visa you leave. 

On an average year there are over 1000 changes to migration law. Most will have consequences for some. 

Agreed, it has never been an automatic path, it wasn't before, it still isn't now. 

However, in the old system, you can still APPLY for a PR, now, as long as you're not in the MLTSSL, you're out; and a lot of the jobs in that STSOL aren't the usual ones that get abused by the low-income. mass-hiring job segment.

[ItchyFeet76]

On 22/04/2017 at 5:16 PM, Vic154 said:

Think as long as you apply before March 2018 you should be ok, but this hasn't been confirmed. My MA isn't even 100% sure.

I'm on my second 457, haven't managed to get PR due to changing jobs and the 2 yr rule. I'm hoping to get my TRT app in before March, if something goes wrong and I can't get PR and have to leave after 457 expires, that would mean I've been in the country for 8 years, working constantly in a good job, paying taxes, settled down and still not allowed to stay. If I then do the short stay work visa twice (4yrs) then it's 12 years total been here and no right to stay! Then add to that the 4yrs to get citizenship if/when get PR. This is seriously messed up but am optimistic it will work for me and majority of us surely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Could you not apply via the Direct Entry route, like us? We applied after three months and hope to have it by December ?

[ItchyFeet76]

On 19/04/2017 at 9:08 PM, ItchyFeet76 said:

that!

It's going to really affect the IT Security industry because, as of next March, they'll only be able to hire people on the short-term visa because it's on the STSOL and not the MLTSSL. Very few people will be willing to move over here temporarily with no hope of PR and won't be prepared to move their lives over for just a couple of years (or 4 at the most, if they renew once). The 457 may be a temporary visa but you're not telling me that most of us don't come over here with the hope or expectation of getting PR and staying; we simply wouldn't do it if we thought there was no chance of making it permanent!

There aren't enough Aussies to do this job so it may push up wages (not complaining there!) and it'll definitely leave a sour taste in the mouths of leading cyber security companies, that's for damn sure... ?

Edited April 24, 2017 by ItchyFeet76

[Vic154]

Could you not apply via the Direct Entry route, like us? We applied after three months and hope to have it by December [emoji120]

Fingers crossed for you, hope you get it by December!

I could apply for DE, but I foolishly didn't earlier as skills assessment process was laborious for my field and my current company said they'd sponsor me in the TRT steam when time comes anyway so I never saw the mad rush. Stupid in hindsight I know....

My MA told me the other day I may as well
wait for for the 2 yr mark, as it's coming up soon in July, and apply under TRT stream then.

The irony of all this is I would've had PR by now if I had not been headhunted by an Australian company whilst I was almost 2 yrs into a 457 with another company. I took the gamble to take on new job and start 2 yr clock again as was good opportunity and they wrote in my contract they would do PR for me. And now the Aussie government is saying I don't have the skills to stay long term! Despite the only reason why I don't have PR, and almost citizenship, like most of my friends do, by now is because an Australian company wanted my skills & experience and actively pursued me. Very frustrating but it is what it is....hopefully I'll get there before March.

[MarshallR]

Well I've been browsing several forums and the immigration website and not been able to found an answer.....

balBsically my current 457 started 25/10/16,  however I manage to find a new employer who is an approved sponsor and I believe the application for change of sponsor was started 07/04/17. I have noticed my job is now on the STSOL list but from my understanding this won't affect current 457 visa holders as I'm not applying for a new 457, this shouldn't affect me right? Or will it? 

Also, if this does gets rejected or if I wish to withdraw this, would this affect my current sponsorship and it will just stay the same?

 

thank you 

[Agz15]

23 hours ago, theveed said:

I'm curious about renewing another 2 years via offshore as well.. 

I feel like there is more to come on this...that's why they specified "onshore" only. They seem to have no idea what they're doing!!

[Working Visa]

Senator is worried about Turnbull's irrational and unfair ban of permanent residency

http://sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-inquiry-probe-governments-457-visa-changes

[Pwood]

So finally spoke to our migration lady (she was on holiday) even though my hubby has a sponsor (floor finisher) looks like its not gonna happen for us (yet) he's still going in June as the company has paid for him to go over and see how they work and they are hoping it'll somehow workout as they really want him. They can't find people for all the work they have booked in with the games coming up. Hopefully he'll go over, love the way they work and as soon as it comes possible that somehow we can go we will. Ill just keep saving and pounce if they ever change the lists. So sad that for now we cant plan to move. I was all ready to pack up and go...so where the kids. 

[bella1458]

2 hours ago, Pwood said:

So finally spoke to our migration lady (she was on holiday) even though my hubby has a sponsor (floor finisher) looks like its not gonna happen for us (yet) he's still going in June as the company has paid for him to go over and see how they work and they are hoping it'll somehow workout as they really want him. They can't find people for all the work they have booked in with the games coming up. Hopefully he'll go over, love the way they work and as soon as it comes possible that somehow we can go we will. Ill just keep saving and pounce if they ever change the lists. So sad that for now we cant plan to move. I was all ready to pack up and go...so where the kids. 

 Sorry to hear this, hopefully you'll figure something out for the future. What about your profession? If yours is on the list maybe you go in on a skilled 189 / 190 as main applicant? Longer and more pricy option but so worth it x good luck

Edited April 26, 2017 by bella1458

[jess6]

On 23/04/2017 at 8:20 AM, MaggieMay24 said:

Fair is a relative term.  What's fair to one person will seem unfair to someone else.  And the government isn't making this change to be fair to employers, they're focused on Australian workers.  Well really they're focused on Australian voters, but they hope that's the same thing.

We will see pretty quickly on how positive this changes will be on the Australian job markets. 

[Alan Collett]

3 hours ago, jess6 said:

We will see pretty quickly on how positive this changes will be on the Australian job markets. 

What's the odds that this change has no identifiable downward impact on the unemployment rate?

Pretty good, I reckon.

We shall see!

Best regards.

[ItchyFeet76]

21 minutes ago, Alan Collett said:

What's the odds that this change has no identifiable downward impact on the unemployment rate?

Pretty good, I reckon.

We shall see!

Best regards.

Certainly not from the IT security industry as there aren't many Aussies qualified to do the job my husband does!

Am curious as to whether the new PR rules (job on MLTSSL from 01.01.18) will affect the 186 TRT stream as well (as the DE stream)? Don't think I saw this mentioned...? ?

[theveed]

http://www.straitstimes.com/business/career-plans-thwarted-lives-uprooted?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10#link_time=149370642

It's now a topic in Singapore, wherein a large proportion of foreign students come from. 

[Pwood]

On 26/04/2017 at 7:04 PM, bella1458 said:

 Sorry to hear this, hopefully you'll figure something out for the future. What about your profession? If yours is on the list maybe you go in on a skilled 189 / 190 as main applicant? Longer and more pricy option but so worth it x good luck

Thanks so much.

Im not on the list. We used to have a flooring business so i worked there til i had our second baby (took the first one to work with me everyday lol) second one had hip problems so we sold up so i could look after both kids. Shes had the all clear now ( thank god). Its a nightmare. We just want to move, work and pay tax and give the kids a bit of a different life. We've been to australia 5 times and love it. Typical when the times right, everyones well, we have the money and a job offer but still cant go. Hopefully we'll make it in the end. Keep looking for jobs to maybe go back on...well thats what we're hoping 

[Ferrets]

On 23/04/2017 at 5:46 PM, Owl said:

The reason of cheap labour is because 457 employers often make the employees pay back under table. If they go through the proper way, the cost is still high as they need to make up the business plan, pay migragion agent, pay market price wages and provide ongoing training.

No doubt certian industries have no choice but to look for employees from overseas. Sadly general public see this visa as a way for foreign chef/waitress/accountant etc to enter into Australia while the local with same skills are hunting for jobs. There is no perfect solution, but locals are/should be protected first hence this changes come in.

It's an odd one - I think that the 457 has been abused to the detriment of the IT industry, where a $120k job is advertised at $60k, no local applicants and then foreign workers brought in.

But...I work with a number of ex-Chefs (all Australian) and even they have said that it's a real struggle to get Australians who want to work in a kitchen.  Not talking about burger flippers, but guys who have run kitchens serving 200+ covers a session.  The worst one is any sort of public holiday - the guys are all getting frantic calls to moonlight back in the kitchen at inflated pay because no one wants to work them.

The McDonalds burger flipper story was just media frenzy - the number of 457s issues for them was less than 0.5% of their workforce and included managers.  That is perfectly normal for any multinational to move people around for experience and training, including I understand staffing branches in WA during the mining boom (not after).

What really needed fixing was ensuring that jobs were advertised at an appropriate market rate - then if no local applicants then onto the 457.

 

[theveed]

“In this industry in particular, there’s not exactly an unemployment issue – there’s an enormous skills shortage. So the last thing we need is more laws and regulations that’s going to hamper fulfilling the jobs that are available,” he says.

“Without getting too political, to say ‘hey we’re going to abolish the 457 visa’ … it just seems like a populist political move for an election. But what you’re really doing is messing with the safety and security of businesses – you’re messing with our financial infrastructure. That’s what it feels like at this stage."

https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/food-and-drink/article/what-does-457-visa-abolition-mean-australias-hospitality-industry

[theveed]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/04/27/i-dont-know-if-ill-be-here-in-a-month-startup-worker-in-lim_a_22057654/

Those that are affected are not just the McFlippers people complain about, unfortunately. 

[Phoenix16]

I have a question I hope someone can answer..! We have good friends currently here on a 457 (so grandfather rules apply), however there is a 99.99% chance he will move to another company shortly, i.e transfer of 457 to another company and I am wondering how the new rules may affect this.  Background info is they are here on a 457 and have absolutely on aspirations to progress to PR, they are loving their 'adventure' here but under no circumstances do they want to stay permanently, however, another 18-24 months here would be their dream. He has a very specialised role that remains on the 'long term' list (sorry not sure of its proper name) his salary is in excess of $250K per annum, the issue is that whereas until a few weeks ago the 457 transfer would have very likely been simply a minor admin process, I am asking if the recent new rules could affect that? As I said, for their own personal reasons they do not want to move to PR, the new rules actually suit them, they have maintained their home in the uk and fully intend to resume their life there within the next few years, they are just enjoying their time here right now and are hoping for another year or so before they tour OZ in a camper van then go him with amazing life long memories!!