NickyP

Hi there we came over here on a 457 which took just under 2 months from start to finish and that included the company doing their admin as well. We only had to have X-Rays but did our meds as well as the PR application was started as soon as the 457 was granted, they had to have a second lot of X-Rays though as they wouldn't accept the ones from the 457 application. We now have PR which was granted in April so took a further 7 months so wasn't bad.
I hope that you enjoy your move over to Perth.
Nicky

cranni

Hi Amanda, well what do you do, are you alone.
MY niece came on the 457, it took 6 weeks.
We have friends coming out end July, theirs took about 6 weeks, yes it is processed fairly quick.
good luck in Perth, we are 2 hours away, but my son and his Girlfriend live there.
Denise

amanda34

I am coming alone, which to be honest I am grateful for as I don't think I could organise a whole family, its bad enough for just me!! I am quite fortunate that I have no house to sell etc too so as soon as I am approved I can just go and start my new job (they are dying for me to be there too as they have lots of work for me to do). I am a financial software consultant.

I really am looking forward to it, its an adventure and a new life. I have heard that everyone there is really friendly that I should make friends pretty quickly. The thought of actually having a life is just a fabulous thought....as anyone knows, living in London and just getting to a client who is also in London takes 2.5 hours each way......if I can get an apartment where I want then it will be a 10 minute walk to the office! Imagining what I can do with an extra 4.5 hours a day......hobbies and a life....wow!

amanda34

Thank you Nicky, its good that I am not hearing 457's taking longer than 2 months. I think I would have humanly combusted if it did!!

sour kraut

Hiya,
I've been told, online applications have been dealt with as quick as 2 weeks or as slow as 8, that's for on-shore. There seem to be delays at the moment, in NSW too, probably due to the fee-rise and revamp of website (and people watching too much footie? *g*).
I've applied for mine last Friday online, and just handed my other stuff in at the Sydney office in person. My sponsor wants me to start on Aug 8, so hopefully that should work nicely.
My sponsor told me they've never had a visa refused after the nomination was granted...
Good luck to all of you!

chrispy

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has any experiance of a 856 or 457 visa for skilled workers and what in practicle terms is the difference? I am asking because there is a possiblity that i may be sponsored for a position in Perth for a minimum 3 year contract.

BTW, this is a fantastic site to find out all those little things that cannot be discovered on more formal sites but that can make soooo much difference to how things turn out!

Cheers

Chris

JAJ

856 = Permanent visa
457 = Temporary visa


The difference should be self-explanatory.

Bella Donna

Welcome to BE, Amanda. We came to Oz on a 457 sponsored visa last August but have now converted to PR. Our 457 application took three weeks in total, I believe, from the date it was submitted on-line to the time it was granted. It's one of the drawbacks of a 457 - if all is okay, it leaves you little time to get ready and go!! You may find it's almost too quick for you.

Good luck. Try not to burst before you get here.

Edit: Apologies - just noticed the date of first post. Hope you've heard something by now!!

Sue

chrispy

http://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif
Hi,
Sorry, I should have been more specific, looking at the immigration site it says that the 856 visa grants permenant residency status but if you go in on a 457 does that mean you cannot get immediate permenant residency? This isn't clear in the guidlines i read. This is important for me as i will have to apply for Australian funding for my work once i arrive and this requires permenant residency. I also think permenant residency has other implications a s well. Most the posts on this forum seem to have 457 visas. Also, are 856 visas only given out if they can show that the skill they need isn't available from the Australian workers market? Is the time between application and receiving the visa the same i.e. about 2 months? Information on any other differences would be gratefully received.

My girlfriend and i have been waiting for about 3 years to get this application/ work opportunity so we would like to know as much as possible before we actually submit the application. If everything goes to plan (a big if!!!) then we are hoping to arrive early next year (winter to summer.. GREAT). Did a recce In May, loved Perth but must admit i was a loittle disappointed in the blandness of the suburbs, most of the Northen ones looked like clones of each other, each with their own identical shopping mall with compulsery fast food diner... where are all the pubs/cafes/restaurants that give a place character. Apart from Subiaco, the CBD and Freemantle it looked the same. The parks and beaches looked fantatsic though.

Cheers

Chris

Just noticed this useful information given on a different thread....

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=357804

sour kraut

Hi!

Just a little late update on timeframes... I got my 457! After submitting part 2 with all the documents it took almost exactly one month. Saying that, I think I kickstarted the process a bit, as I happened to ring DIMA for an update the minute a case officer had been appointed, and I spoke with her before she even had a chance to look at my application. Not even 24 hours later I got the email!
After that my sponsor had some trouble placing me (my sponsor's a recruitment agency), so that they actually had to pay me before I started in a position, which I found most generous.
I've now been working for 3 weeks and I'm totally chuffed.

Another tidbit on the side - Unfortunately I sustained an injury 4 weeks ago, for which I now need some medical attention, and found out the hard way that good medical cover (I'm paying 48 dollars a week) is a Godsend, as I can't even see a GP without paying cash first. That is, IF you're on a temp visa AND your birth country hasn't got reciprocal arrangements with Australia (I believe the list includes Britain and Sweden and isn't very long).

sweet.
kraut

JAJ

No bar on 457 holders applying for permanent residence, but no automatic upgrade either.


Reforms in 2005 made 856 more straightforward for many. Download and read migration booklet 5.

Also:

- you don't have to get a 457. You can apply for offshore ENS (subclass 121) if you qualify and have permanent residence from Day 1.

- if ENS doesn't work, then look at RSMS if the job is in an eligible area. RSMS is subclass 857 (onshore) and 119 (offshore).

All explained in the booklet.

JAJ

Eligibility for reciprocal medicare is not based on "birth country". If you're not eligible for medicare then get a letter to that effect and the ATO will exempt you from the Medicare levy.

If you apply for a permanent visa and have a 457, you're immediately eligible for full medicare.

sour kraut

Well, that's what medicare officers told me! And I know that UK passport holders on the same (temporary) visa as mine are eligible.
What's the medicare levy?
I'd apply for PR if I had 2000 bucks going spare!

All I meant was, if people are thinking about doing it cheap - it might pay off to get proper private health insurance. Unless you're not as clumsy as me.

movetoperth

Thanks for that bit of info JAJ, i just presumed that full medicare didn't kick in until PR was granted, the agent that is handling my brothers application told them they would not be entitled to any medicare cover on a 457, mind you she has also been very wrong on a few other bits of advice too :scared:

Lynn

JAJ

Doesn't mean it's true ... front line officials are rarely up to speed on the technicalities of the law.

Just because you are born in a country doesn't mean you're a citizen of it, with only a few exceptions.

Having a UK passport in itself doesn't qualify you either.

Visit the ATO website.

Not having PR will probably cost you a lot more in the long run (if plan is to stay in Australia). Why doesn't your employer pay, anyway?