Voyager 3

Hi

Me and my OH are beginning the long and paper collecting task of putting together an application for an offshore 309/100 visa.
I'm probably jumping way ahead of myself here but I just wanted to hear from other people who have applied for temporary visas, how easy/hard/frustrating/happy etc etc their experiences have been in working in oz (or their experiences in general as a temp resident.) I've heard rumours that its pretty difficult getting work as employers are not willing to commit to temp residents (especially with the current economic climate etc.)

Feel free to share your experience and ease some of my niggling worries!
Thanks,
V3

Sherlock Holmes

Hi there V3.

I think firstly, if you add your proposed future location, your current skills and what type of work you'd like to do, that would help those already here in the work place/labour market to give you more concise advice.

In terms of temporary status, I came here on an 820. The naggging doubt that there is a just a slight chance of the permanent visa not being granted is always at the back of the mind. But I think that bothered me more than anyone here. The reality is that if you meet the requirements, there is no reason why it should not be granted.

I live in a small town. I am now self-employed but I had many offers of work when I first got here.

Is your OH Australian? (I presume so) and which one of you will be the temp resident? Does the non temp have contacts where you are headed? If so, that will be a good start.

I can't say, "Don't worry" - but if you are worth hiring in the first place, I don't see major problems unless you want to work in an already oversupplied local work force.

Squaddie missus

Hi V3
This is my first post. I'm Australian and have a British spouse on a subclass 309 visa. We applied in 08 before the change to the temp/perm residency for spouses. We were together for 5 years before we applied (3 de facto, 2 married). Now we're 4 years married, so have been together for 7 years.

It's been tough, no doubt about it. My OH is ex-UK forces and I'm a junior lawyer (don't judge me). My OH is at uni now. He's brilliant at it, but it's not exactly been a 'willing' choice. Aus army woudn't have him (not a citizen despite the fact he has more operational experience than most Aussies), no other job would take him because of his visa, so uni it is. So I'm supporting him on $50k a year. He has a part time job but it was very difficult to obtain. Our house deposit saved in the UK went on his international fees. Our choice yes, but it was university with an aim of a profession, or jobs that were consistently unreliable and where he was readily expendable (temp visa issues, I'm afraid). We've been here over two years now and because the spouse permanent visas aren't a priority, his second stage processing could take quite some time. We could continue on the temp spouse visa here for months until the department get around to deciding whether we're 'genuine'. If it's not judged in time he will have to defer university next year until he's a permanent resident.

If you've got some sort of qualification recognised here, no doubt you're leaps and bounds ahead of us. My OH is an incredibly intelligent, hardworking person but just doesn't fit the mould (or visa requirements). So we're just keeping our heads above water. Having said that, I'm hopeful something will pull through and I'm sure our 'hard luck' story is but one a few - and no doubt, a minor glitch, compared with others!! But we do struggle. I do have family here to assist however. I do refuse to jump on the mummy and daddy gravy train (I survived my adult life so far including 5 years in the UK without) but things do get tough. I'm hopeful this place is still 'God's country', as they say and if we can make it work we will reap the rewards in the future.

I'm awfully sorry if this sounds quite downbeat - everyone's experience is different. At the end of the day, we've got to give Oz a chance. And one thing I don't notice on this forum is a mention that it's not easy getting visas and citizenship in the UK (another blog!). But in the immortal words of the NT tourism campaign, 'you'll never, never know, if you never, never go!' It doesn't help that as an Aussie I'm homesick for the UK! (Lord give us some decent pubs in the Brisbane suburbs!!) We know that in the UK in my line of work I probably wouldn't have had a job now and the OH's would have continued to go into war zones (but that's yet another blog!!) So while I can give ease your worries in one line, I can exacerbate them in another. Deep down, you probably have already made your choice (typical lawyer speak eh??) Good luck with your decision! Whatever it is, it is sure to be an adventure!

louie

It's too late to help the last poster, but it's worth knowing that you can apply for a permanent visa once you qualify for one. You don't need to wait two years temporary > permanent, if you qualify for a permanent visa before the two years are up. Yes you have to pay another visa fee, but if you are having difficulty finding jobs because you are on a temporary visa or are paying additional uni fees as you are not PR, it might be worthwhile. The rules for temporary v permanent are here and say:

"You may be granted a permanent visa without having to wait if you can demonstrate one of the following:

* at the time you apply for the visa, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for three years or more
* at the time you apply, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for two years or more, and there is a dependent child of your relationship
* your partner was granted a Protection visa or a permanent visa under the humanitarian program and you were in the relationship before the visa was granted and this had been declared to the department at the time."

JAJ

In that case you should have got a permanent visa straight away. Are you sure it was really 5 years, not 4 years and 11 months? And did you provide evidence of the 5 years?

lou1003

As suggested above, it would help to know more about the area you move to and your employment history/qualifications.

Just thought I'd throw a positive imput anyway -
I have been in Oz for 2 years, but on working holiday visas. This is probably one of the worst temporary visas with regards to work as you are limited to 6 months with each employer, and have only a year or 2 year visa.

However, I have still managed to find work. I have no particular occupation, trade or specialist occupation. Before I came to Oz in Aug 08, the only work experience I had was hospitality as I graduated uni and came straight to Oz.
In the 2 years I have been here, the most I have had to wait for work was 2 weeks. Every other job I have picked up in a few days. 2 have been temporary office jobs, 1 was a hospitality job, and my current job was offered on a permanent basis and they were going to sponsor me (until I found I wasn't eligible).

Point I'm trying to make is that I believe there is work out there if you're not picky to start with. All of the jobs I have had have been fairly well paid.
There is always temporary work to get you by until you are able to find something more long term for you.
Just trying to point out that there generally is work out there, even if it is temporary.

There are temp agencies like at home. I have had little trouble finding work on a temp visa. But obviously, it depends on the work you look for, the attitude of the employer etc. Explain your situation in your cover letter for an application and explain that you are commited to a job and have little doubt over the security of your visa status and if you get to interview, reinforce this (e.g. have 2 years until permanent status, are happy in the nature of your relationship etc).
Other people may disagree, but I've had a good experience.
Maybe I've been lucky! Would be interesting to hear other thoughts as I hope to apply onto a 309/820 soon too.

Buzzy--Bee

I was astounded to discover that the Irish receptionist at an insurance company I use was here on a WHV. I didn't even realise that kind of job was open to WHVers, I thought it was just bar work and fruit picking.

This just shows that work is really not that hard to find if you apply yourself.

BB

Squaddie missus

Hi there - no, we definitely had the 5 years. It doesn't matter now, what's done is done. We're waiting on the second stage and hopefully it comes through soon.

I also want to point out that I absolutely agree that there is work out there to be found. We just found that a lot of jobs were temporary in nature and when the work dried up hubby would find another temporary job and so it went on. A lot of the online job applications for permanent positions want to know your visa status and as soon as you hit 'temporary' I don't think the application gets read! Hubby now works permanent part time at a bottle shop which fits in well with the studies and we know when he's working, and how much gets put into the account at the end of the week.

I suppose the issue I particularly had is that I like security, I like being able to plan and budget and the transient nature of the jobs he had put a lot of pressure on our ability to do so. Things are looking up for us though! The permanent visa is around the corner, and that comes with domestic tuition fees! I found the process a lot tougher than I expected simply because of the uncertainty. I never expected it to be a walk in the park but perhaps I was being naive in thinking it would be a bit easier.

Squaddie missus

Sorry - I should also point out that he just didn't do online applications. He used agencies, scanned local newspapers, printed off CVs and went around industrial estates on foot looking for work, you name it! I didn't want anyone to think we just thought the computer would do it all!!

LINZI

Its all in the visa name isnt it temporary thats all you are really while here on that type of visa, we came on a 457 - 4 year visa and i am pleased to say it helped us to get here i dont think we would of got here with out it We have been lucky with the company they have sponsored us for pr hubby is happy in his job and has been with the same company the whole time of being here.
The advantage for us was that he had a job to come to so instant pay and not being out of work for any length of time and the disadvantage was if it had not worked out like it does for some people you need to get another sponser or leave
I did come across alot of people in Mackay Queensland that had not even heard of the visa.
Good Luck

Pollyana

I came out on the temp spouse visa 7 years ago (well originally as Pros Marriage, followed by temp Spouse) and I've got to say that while I had to fight for a long time to get the work I actually wanted, I didn't find it hard to get work of some kind. I had no money, my Aussie partner had even less, and I had to hit the ground running spending even my very first day here job hunting. I had a job within three weeks - sorting mail. It was an absolutely sh*tty job but it brought in money and got an Aussie employer on my resume., and the only advice I would give anyone in the same position is to take whatever work you can find. You can get fussy later, but getting a start is what matters.
I wanted to work for the government, and in Qld they will only employ you on a temporary basis while you are on a temporary visa, so thats what I did finally, had temp contracts with them for the first three years. And I came from a background that gave me no particular skills, no trade, "just" admin experience.
There is work out there, but you may have to settle for less than perfect at first. Also for those on Spouse Visas remember that you should get the chance to explain that due to being married to an Aussie your visa does become permanent after 2 years - much better off than people on other temp visas who don't have that conversion and have to actually apply for another visa. I found that whenever the subject of visas came up as long as I explained what a Spouse Visa is, and how it works, I was fine.
It certainly wasn't easy as many of my posts on here at the time will show, but its not a disastrous position to be in.

JAJ

You need to know that, if you provided evidence of 5 years together at time of application, that the case officer definitely 100% made a mistake and should have given the permanent visa. You should have challenged it at the time (or even later if you had found out) and insisted that the permanent visa be granted.

Voyager 3

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your replys-they've all made good reading and its good to know that as long as you put in the effort you'll be rewarded eventually.

I'm aiming to do alot of research before I head out there and try and organise voluntary work before I get there too so I have something to start with.
Some of you asked about my qualifications/area of interest and the place I'm hopefully heading to-I have a degree in Environmental Geography and I currently do voluntary Ranger work which I'm hoping to do in Sydney and its suburbs (Hornsbyshire area.) Dream job would be Botanical Gardens if I'm honest!!
It will be a bit of a career change-I currently work in Higher Ed. I'll be open to anywork when I first get there however so I'm pretty flexible.

I guess I'll hit the ground running and hopefully it won't be too bumpy!

iamthecreaturefromuranus

http://botanicgarden.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/
http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/cou...s/default.aspx

They are looking for a curator.

lou1003

Good Luck!

At least you're pretty likely to find a job out there to keep you going for a while, and hopefully you'll get your ideal job eventually!