Hi,
We're waiting on an offer from a company who said they will sponsor hubby and family for a 457 visa and then an ENS PR visa after 2 yrs.
We're wondering tho' whether we should ask if they will sponsor us for a RSMS instead as this is a permanent visa from the start.The place we will be going to is in one of the regions that need people I think.
Is it much different for the sponsoring company to do this visa instead or a 457? are the meds etc the same and is it much slower??
Grateful for any info!!

our 457 took about 8 weeks start to finish, PR visas are taking approx 9-12 months at present. meds for the 457=cursory, for PR more expensive.

An application for the grant of a permanent visa under the RSMS usually takes longer to process than an application for a 457 visa, but you are probably looking at 3 to 4 months from start to finish, not the longer periods associated with the general skilled visas.

The RSMS process involves providing broadly similar documentation to the 457, but with the RSMS you need to obtain the approval of what is called a Regional Certifying Body before you can lodge the Nomination and visa applications with the Department of Immigration. Each RCB is different, but usually I find they like to see evidence of the position having been advertised locally before they will stamp the relevant form.

Hope this helps - feel able to contact me if you would like to discuss the above more fully.

Best regards.

Yes but when you get here you'll still need the full medical to get your permanent visa and that will involve repeat x-rays even if it's only a couple of weeks after your originals.

And if you qualify for a skill assessment (or are being paid in excess of A$165k pa) then ENS can be even easier than RSMS as it cuts out the RCB stage. ENS is available anywhere in Australia, regional or otherwise.

A 457 could cost you personally a lot of dosh. Most sponsors are pushing the cost of medical insurance onto the visa holder and education costs can be very high. A 457 gives you the right to pay tax but little else, so it is less comfortable being on one of those - hassle factor and worry.

I would certainly try to convince them to go the RSMS route which is different altogether.

If he is already an approved sponsor there will be no costs to him sponsoring you on a 457. If not I think it's about AUD 325.
An RSMS Certifying Body can charge him a fee. One here charges AUD 600, another charges zero.
The cost to you for a 457 is about AUD 90 and an RSMS about AUD 1900. Believe me it is to your benefit to pay the AUD 1900 in the long run.
If cost is an issue you could volunteer to pay his costs.

I think you need to be prepared to "sell" the idea of an RSMS to the sponsor. Compare the obligations on each and try to put a positive sway on the RSMS.

He has to make out forms anyway. Doing an RSMS from the start saves doing another visa application later on. The RSMS form is not difficult. We went to the local Certifying Board without having advertised and discussed it with them. Approval was given. That of course depends on circumstances but I'm just pointing out it may not be necessary.

If he is worried about losing control of you then point out you are locked into him for 2 years on the RSMS. It is easier for someone to move companies on a 457 than on an RSMS.

Meds etc are different for these visas. An RSMS will generally take longer but not as long as general skilled visas.
(My 457 took 7 weeks. My onshore RSMS took 33 days)

You better check carefully if it is an RSMS area or not. Check here....
http://www.dimia.gov.au/employers/rsms_postcodes.htm

If it isn't you can forget everything I just said about the RSMS

thanks v.much everyone,really helpful stuff!!
I think hubby needs to talk to his company again and see what they say about a permanent visa from the outset,either ENS os RSMS(the place we'd be going to is in an RSMS region)
I suppose we need to convince them that we will be happy to show them our commitment if they will reciprocate!

Hiya

Just as a quick comment, I am in the same boat. Most companies (particularly large ones with rigid HR depts) will not deveate from the 457. This is quicker and has less hold on them over time as well as cost.

The company I am going with ONLY offer 457, you may find it is their policy for visa.
Good luck with persuading really hope you do as it'll be easier for you in the long run.

Jossy

we're in middle of applying for RSMS - well end I hope - we've applied beginning of July and expecting answer any day now and hope to be in the job 2nd week of October .

happy to let you know our thoughts, process etc just pm me.

wouldn't go for 457 in our view but suits some and didn't really fit the bill for ENS.

x Jo

Hi, we came to Aus on a 457 visa, as this was what the employer offered. I am on a three year contract and therefore a three year visa. We then saw a case of someone having to leave the country (against her wishes) as her three year contract was up, and the employer could not renew her position. She couldn't find another employer who would sponsor her before her visa expired. Like me, she didn't have enough points to qualify for independent skilled migration. I didn't want to end up in that situation so I asked if they could sponsor me for an RSMS.

I got info from my migration agent who said that I could apply if I had at least two years left on my contract and current visa, my employer could sponsor me for RSMS. For ENS, the position had to be a permanent job, which mine isn't. I had to put the case to my employer that I understood that sponsorship for RSMS was NOT an indication that I would be offered employment after my contract expired.

However, in their favour, it meant that I would have to stay in the region for the next two years and not look for work in Brisbane, Melbourne etc where there are plenty of jobs going in my field. So it was in their interest to sponsor me if they wanted me to stay. Luckily they agreed! I also offered to pay all the costs so again, no skin off their noses.

Coming on a 457 meant we got here relatively quickly (although with a few hiccups along the way). Our RSMS application took a fair while to get together including the skills assessment, employer nomination application and repeat of the x-rays and medicals. Also we had far more info to get together that we didn't for the 457 e.g. police checks which took a while. It has has now gone in and we are now waiting to hear the decision! We're a bit nervous as we had a problem with the medicals last time and got in on an appeal, but fingers and everything crossed!

If your position qualifies for ENS then obviously that would be the best route, but I would get it firmly in writing before you leave if you do come in on the 457!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Cheers,
Cat

Have you thought of finding another employer instead?

Some "rigid" HR departments may change their policy if they realise the prospective employee will not agree to any deal without a permanent visa being included. Of course, to negotiate like this you need to be prepared to walk away from the job offer if necessary => better to do thise before resigning existing employment or selling house.

We have thought about that, but the prospective employer is an ideal Company, it is hard in the market I work in (a specific area of software to government) to find companies who I want to work for. They are offering amazing pay, great prospects a permanent role (to extend 457 once there). Also assistance with settling money to transfer etc etc.

So all in all it outways the 457 issue, as there are not loads of companies that do the work with the software that I do.

Would have been a great option if there was more opportunity or it wasn't such a specialist market

Thanks for the comment though in most situations I would have been saying that same to people

Jossy

I'm not sure if you understand that nothing is permanent when on a 457. You can spend 20 years in Australia on a 457 and then you have to go home if you haven't got PR in the meantime.

Also be aware that if the job doesn't work out as planned, you will be in a very difficult position on a 457 visa. Any new recruitment of an employee is based on mutual trust, and it's hard to see what "trust" they are extending towards you if they insist you stay on a temporary visa.

If it's such a "specialist market" then doesn't that give you some bargaining power too => if you walk away from the offer, then it's not necessarily going to be easy for them to find someone else?

Following our reccie in April, hubby was offered a job with a 457 visa attached. He said he would love the job but would only consider an RSMS visa because of the security it gave us as a family with young children. They agreed and the process has been ongoing since the end of June.
SA immigration website offers a timeline of 1 week to certify the nomination, 1 week to process nomination and 2-4 months to process visa. In reality, Adelaide Business Centre (DIMA) has since said 7-10 days to certify, 4-6 weeks for the nomination and 3-6 months for the visa.
We and the employer are all starting to get a bit twitchy now as the job starts mid-October and nomination not granted yet! :scared:

I suppose at the end of the day it depends on how quickly the company wants you, and how quickly you can sell up and go...

Vera.

Thanks Vera, I think thats where we are really, the Company wants someone in weeks not months and we just want to go.

We are in aposition to move very quickly and they need someone now, have a feeling if they had to wait months it would not be available, although will be ensuring they are willing to sponsor on RSMS after 2 years

Take Care

Jossy