prude

My wife and I are soon going to Australia on a Labour Agreement temporary visa (457). Can we apply for permanent migration once we are out there, and do we leave Australia to do it??? If we do have to leave, for how long?

Thanks for your help.

Stephen

Jaj

You can apply for skilled migration even if you're physically in Australia but you
will have to send your application to an offshore office. And go offshore to collect
your visa when it's granted.

If your 457 were to expire before your permanent visa came through you would not get
a bridging visa because your application would be an offshore one.

If you employer wants to sponsor you for Employer Nomination permanent residence that
can be applied for onshore and you would be entitled to a bridging visa if necessary.

Jeremy

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Simon Fletcher

My current (two year long) temporary residency (457) visa only has three months let
to run. My original sponsor is in the process of applying for an additional period as
I wait for a decision on my permanent residency application.

I understand that I wont get a bridging visa while my permanent residency application
is being processed; I'm a Brit so it's being processed overseas. However, I need to
know if I get a bridging visa if my 457 visa extension is not processed before the
current one runs out.

Thanks, Simon

Jaj

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I'm not sure what being British has to do with the fact your PR application is being
processed overseas. Only New Zealanders and overseas students can apply for skilled
PR onshore.

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Your 457 extension is an onshore application and hence should qualify you for a
bridging visa.

Jeremy

Simon Fletcher

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It seems that I can apply while I'm here, but I've been told I have to lodge the
application with an overseas office.

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Well, that's good to know at least

Thanks, Simon