Originally Posted by Dawson AKJ (Post 8811049)

Do you have any contact/email address for BGC and what line or field of employment are they involved with. Thanks

Originally Posted by paddyo (Post 8815063)

Total rubbish.

I have had no hassle, no uncertainty as I came here knowing its only Temporary, and in the long run I value a 'try before you buy' approach.

Also, PR may not be available for all so in that case if 457 is an option that is a good foot in the door.

Originally Posted by Amazulu (Post 8815153)

Total rubbish.

I've worked with/know loads of people who have been f**ked over on a 457.

Lets agree to disagree because this topic is something that I really don't give a shit about.

Originally Posted by paddyo (Post 8815072)

Wrong, if you do not know the right answer please do not mislead others. You are NOT tied to anyone for any time at all and where did you get 2 years from?? I suspect you had a 'payback' clause inserted in the contract which is normal.
Like any role you accept if it is not for you then you can leave at any time. The difference with 457 is that if you do so then you need to get another 457 sponsor ASAP. The rules state 28 days but a colleague of mine was extended for 3 months. If you have not settled and want to go back to UK you can at any time, however the cost is to yourself and you MAY have to reimburse the companys original costs to bring you over, however, in the 5 instances I have witnessed this it was not done.
As for 'missing out', yes you do not get family allowance, school books claims (???) etc, but, you are eligible for LAFHA which can be worth about $2000 in your pocket if worked out correctly.
Also, why assume they will put you forward for ENS??? It is not a given by either party that you will stay and really the whole purpose is purely to temporarily fill a gap that they have. Once they have in country skilled persons then they no longer require you. Thats how it works and I for one totally understand that.

Originally Posted by NiknAid (Post 8815874)

Well excuse me for having an opinion!! I am purely giving my opinion based on our experience and advising the OP to take everything into consideration. My husband worked for a small family firm so LAFHA was not included, we did not mind as we were grateful for the opportunity to come here and yes financially we were worse off than we were in the UK which is something that the OP should consider. Unless you are able to go down the permanancy route on your own without your employers help then you need to have worked for them for 2 years prior to applying for ENS. I would suggest that most people who come here on a 457 are hoping to acheive permanant residency eventually and that is why I advised the OP to apply for permanant residency if he was able to rather than the 457 as it is not guaranteed.
I appreciate that you MAY be able to find another sponser but this would depend on the sector that you work in and the availabilty of jobs. As others have suggested it is generally the higher end jobs that are offered on this visa not welders, boilermakers etc. and therefore it makes it a lot more difficult to find alternative sponsors.

To the OP, the job that we applied for was direct and not through an agency.

Originally Posted by Dawson AKJ (Post 8811049)

Do you have any contact/email address for BGC and what line or field of employment are they involved with. Thanks

Originally Posted by Mike 3G (Post 8817625)

I
ps try Downer EDI they are always busy in Geelong Vic

Originally Posted by >Trigger< (Post 8817860)

Read the Wiki article...457 depends on a lot of different things

1. You can only work for your sponsoring employer.....If you are laid off, you have 28 days to find a new employer (plus sponsor) or leave Australia.

NSW..you'll pay school fees,if you have kids that will be reaching 18 and want to go to Uni...they will be classified as overseas students and it's bloody expensive,trust me I know


457's are good for people with no or few commitments..not so good for familys..

457 time for me was 3 years of total uncertainty, all in the past now,but stressful at the time


http://britishexpats.com/wiki/457_Visa_Restrictions

Originally Posted by man_called_Horse (Post 8817728)

I would agree with Paddyo nothing wrong with 457 as long as its not abused by either party, it might be the case that in the future it could be used as the main stepping stone to getting PR.

Don't knock it it too much you might be glad of it someday.

Originally Posted by paddyo (Post 8817881)

I have a family and am totally happy with my 457. Why shouldn't I be? To me it is a temporary move for a different work and life experience, still have house and job back in UK so if I have to leave early (already been here 2 1/2 years) its no drama.

Yes the school fees can be hard, unless you have your employer pay it for you :)

Originally Posted by paddyo (Post 8817892)

Exactly, almost a case of 'try before you buy'.
For my circumstances it is a cost effective way of seeing if we like somewhere away from traditional family and friends without committment. If we want to stay permanemtly then the positive of that is your employer now knows you and would be more inclined to sponsor you for ENS.....conversely, if they think they have seen enough of you then they may not!!
I think people are seeing the possible negatory ENS or PR options here as part of the 457 issue and it shouldn't be. I see it exactly for what it is and purely temp cover for shortage skills in Oz. When they have enough of those skills in country, then bye bye 457 for that trade/profession.