Non too bright for a MENSA member, is he?

Well this was an interesting read.

I did note the reference to border security. The Malaysians where sent home due to the proof they where looking for Fruit picking work. They where not looking to be sponsored for fruit picking work.

There is a subtle difference. There was another case where a eastern european guy was found with certs for something but he was just cliaming to be on Holiday full stop. Also not the best route.

What I would like to know is has anyone been asked at Immigration reason for visit and replied "I am here for a holiday and to see if I can get sponsored for a 457"?

Personally I reckon its not that big a deal as you are not working without a VISA and you are still in Oz spending your sterling on living expenses.
In fact the penaltys for failing are pretty steep
3-6 months living expenses in Oz,
4 flights over and back,
3-6 months lost income in the UK.
3-6 months mortgage/rent in the UK

This all is pretty steep considering the processing costs for my 136.

Its a back door as well as a big gamble. Best of luck

Have to agree with you Zambia its a grey area, the majority of sponsorships would be from the Working Holiday Visa where the visa holder can legally work for 6 months.

What would happen if the employer insisted on a 3 month trial before committing to sponsoring, if you were Desperate (as in the title of this thread) then would you be more inclined to break the conditions of your holiday visa?

And me... I came here on a Tourist visa 4 1/2 years ago and haven't been back yet... Had a good look for 5 months, liked what I saw, applied for a different visa class (had to nip over to NZ a couple of times) and no problems...

It's 1-2 years.

Ah but during the first year you can only work with one employer for 6 Months.

The second year is dependant on 3 months working in regional areas during the first year.

My 457 did not work out in time for our move. I came over on one way tickets, me with with a Business 3 months and the family travelled with me on tourist visas. Our worldly good were on route in our 40ft container.

We put an application in for the 457 after arrival which was accepted a few weeks later for three of us and refused for my daughter. It took another few months (I think about 6) for this to be all sorted out after appeal.

We had a full separate PR application in at this time under my husbands skills which was eventually granted a total of eight months after we landed.

It was a very fraught and hectic time and we would not recommend this course of action but for us it proved the only way in. I did not break any laws and had I been asked would of answered at customs that my intention was to work with a longer term view of staying in the country legally.

Looking for work on a holiday visa is not unlawful, doing work is hence why I had the temp business visa but even this has restrictions which need to reviewed for the type of work you will be doing.

Good luck to the OPs

Fair enough.

No, you didn't. But you also applied for the business short stay visa so you could legally look for work. I'm surprised that the shipping company would have put your stuff on the boat at all, since every one we asked for quotes wanted to see a copy of the visa before they would put anything in the container.

Agreed, copies of your passport and visa go with your shipment.

Every shipment i have done (five to date) has asked for a copy of my passport, but I have never had to supply a copy of my visa. Varies from company to company.
It is NOT illegal to LOOK for work while on a tourist visa. It IS illegal to actually work. There is a huge difference.

I wasn't implying they were the same - it was just an example of someone being turned back as the OP hadn't seen any......

My bad did not mean that the way it came out.

I wasn't looking for work - I was arriving to sort out my 457 application which had not been lodged at that time. I was defintely working. I would have been happy to come on a tourist visa if I was only looking for work, though would obviously not then shipped my stuff

My company paid for the shipping no doubt this was why I did not get asked for visas.

Many many people arrive here on reccie trips and are also advised many times by people here on BE to come and have a look around and see what it is like for themselves. The obvious step on these trips is to scout out the possibilitiy of work and possibly have interviews if the opportunity arises. I only see that the OPs have extended that reccie trip and trying a bit harder to make a job opportunity happen.

The main difference I am seeing is that if they have no intention of staying in the country illegally there is no issue really is there?

A 457 is a stepping stone for many of us and a perfectly legal one whether you sort it out one side or the other. Whether that is likely to happen on a holiday or not is a different question entirely. But as I said IMOP good luck to them for trying.

No probs!