Advantages of having PR?
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,048
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I was forced to pay a small fortune for health insurance by the employer while on a 457 visa. Despite being entitled to medicare I was told that the insurance was necessary for covering other things, such as that if I was too ill to work the insurance would pay my employer to hire someone else.
Once I got PR I switched insurance to one which was a quarter of the price!
I also saved about $30 on my car insurance when I switched to an Aussie driving licence.
Another financial advantage is that it puts you in a much better position for negotiating a pay rise at work, since you can start applying for better paid jobs and scare your boss that you may leave.
Once I got PR I switched insurance to one which was a quarter of the price!
I also saved about $30 on my car insurance when I switched to an Aussie driving licence.
Another financial advantage is that it puts you in a much better position for negotiating a pay rise at work, since you can start applying for better paid jobs and scare your boss that you may leave.
#32
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I was forced to pay a small fortune for health insurance by the employer while on a 457 visa. Despite being entitled to medicare I was told that the insurance was necessary for covering other things, such as that if I was too ill to work the insurance would pay my employer to hire someone else.
Once I got PR I switched insurance to one which was a quarter of the price!
I also saved about $30 on my car insurance when I switched to an Aussie driving licence.
Another financial advantage is that it puts you in a much better position for negotiating a pay rise at work, since you can start applying for better paid jobs and scare your boss that you may leave.
Once I got PR I switched insurance to one which was a quarter of the price!
I also saved about $30 on my car insurance when I switched to an Aussie driving licence.
Another financial advantage is that it puts you in a much better position for negotiating a pay rise at work, since you can start applying for better paid jobs and scare your boss that you may leave.
#33
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Advantages of having PR?
Yes, I think that's on our list of advantages too
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 175
Re: Advantages of having PR?
We have been on 457 for nearly 2 yrs and only now are we ready to apply for PR. Firstly, we didn't realise how expensive Australia was and despite my OH's good salary we have been struggling. We really couldn't afford to lose the LAFHA benefit - plus, you lose LAFHA as soon as you apply for PR and considering the length of time it takes to get PR (up to 2 yrs) it just hasn't been an option for us. However, we now feel like we want to make Perth our home, at least for the foreseeable future and we would like to buy a house. We figured that you lose the LAFHA as soon as you buy so thought we'd kill 2 birds with one stone and apply at the same time. We are fortunate as we can fast track through OH's work but financially a salary rise and me putting the kids in day care and working full time will just about cover the loss in LAFHA.
I suppose what I am saying is that unless / until you are sure that you want to be here for the long term you may as well stay on the 457 IMHO. For us, the 'lifestyle' aspect of moving here will change with the loss of the LAFHA, however we like the place enough to sacrifice the finances.
I hope this makes sense!
I suppose what I am saying is that unless / until you are sure that you want to be here for the long term you may as well stay on the 457 IMHO. For us, the 'lifestyle' aspect of moving here will change with the loss of the LAFHA, however we like the place enough to sacrifice the finances.
I hope this makes sense!
#35
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I do hope somebody can confirm this one way or another, once and for all. I've read the above on BE since before we moved here, but we have just applied for PR and my husband's HR department says it is not the case. They're still paying it, and I'm hoping they're right.
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
#36
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I do hope somebody can confirm this one way or another, once and for all. I've read the above on BE since before we moved here, but we have just applied for PR and my husband's HR department says it is not the case. They're still paying it, and I'm hoping they're right.
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
#37
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I do hope somebody can confirm this one way or another, once and for all. I've read the above on BE since before we moved here, but we have just applied for PR and my husband's HR department says it is not the case. They're still paying it, and I'm hoping they're right.
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
(Although I'm not fussed enough to google it, obviously. Lazy, I am. )
#38
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Advantages of having PR?
We have been on 457 for nearly 2 yrs and only now are we ready to apply for PR. Firstly, we didn't realise how expensive Australia was and despite my OH's good salary we have been struggling. We really couldn't afford to lose the LAFHA benefit - plus, you lose LAFHA as soon as you apply for PR and considering the length of time it takes to get PR (up to 2 yrs) it just hasn't been an option for us. However, we now feel like we want to make Perth our home, at least for the foreseeable future and we would like to buy a house. We figured that you lose the LAFHA as soon as you buy so thought we'd kill 2 birds with one stone and apply at the same time. We are fortunate as we can fast track through OH's work but financially a salary rise and me putting the kids in day care and working full time will just about cover the loss in LAFHA.
I suppose what I am saying is that unless / until you are sure that you want to be here for the long term you may as well stay on the 457 IMHO. For us, the 'lifestyle' aspect of moving here will change with the loss of the LAFHA, however we like the place enough to sacrifice the finances.
I hope this makes sense!
I suppose what I am saying is that unless / until you are sure that you want to be here for the long term you may as well stay on the 457 IMHO. For us, the 'lifestyle' aspect of moving here will change with the loss of the LAFHA, however we like the place enough to sacrifice the finances.
I hope this makes sense!
#39
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Advantages of having PR?
Cheers folks. It's an MNC and we're not the first to go through this process so I would hope they'd know. They certainly wouldn't intentionally do anything that would get any of us in trouble.
It's not a huge deal as we expected to lose it when we applied, but paying it back in a lump sum would be a bit of a bummer.
It's not a huge deal as we expected to lose it when we applied, but paying it back in a lump sum would be a bit of a bummer.
#41
Re: Advantages of having PR?
Am i the only person who is MUCH worse of on a 457!!! We don't get any LAFHA, and just manage to scrape by! If we had PR, which we will get next Jan, we would currently be entitled to $400 a fortnight from centrelink, PLUS medicare, PLUS money off childcare!
#42
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Advantages of having PR?
I guess it depends on your circumstances. We do get LAFHA, we have no kids, and we have a good joint income so no benefits whatsoever would come into the equation.