hornethomer

Hi,

I am in Australia on 457 Visa with my job and have been here coming upto two years. We would like to start the process of getting residency and the company I work for should be supportive of this. Am I right that you can apply after two years? Can anyone recommend a migration agent based in Sydney?

Thanks

Dean

elice_in_oz

You can apply for permanent residency (employer sponsored or on your own) at any time while on a 457. As long as you qualify (ie. enough points/experience, profession on relevant list, etc.), you can apply. So you could have applied for PR 2 years ago.

If you are sponsored by your employer, the only benefit of waiting 2 years is that you don't need to pass a skills assessment. This saves on paperwork and a little of money but that's all. Obviously it does not save on time because a skills assessment does not take 2 yaers... Spending 2 years with your sponsoring employer is NOT a requirement of going from 457 to PR at present because they are very different visas that have nothing to do with each other.

campervanfan

could I add a query here please? my daughter is about to apply for ENS in Aus (currently on 457)...she's asking me if she has to get UK police checks as well as Aussie ones- I read DIAC & I think it said you're unlikely to get them from UK if you haven't lived there in the past year.....(she's been in Oz 2 years now) have I interpreted this correctly? or does she still need Uk ones?

hornethomer

Hi Elice

Thanks for that. I am on a specialist management visa for our business and gained this through many years experience and I dont think I would of got here without sponsorship. For residency I would be looking to have ongoing company sponsorship.

Pollyana

If she is applying for PR she will need a UK police check, as well as an Aus one.

Page 31 http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/1131.pdf

campervanfan

thanks Polly!!!

verystormy

The first thing to do is speak to your employer. In my experience if they are willing to sponsor pr then they will drive it and larger companies will have a migration agent or appoint one for you.

You will need to obtain police checks from Oz and the UK and undergo a medical. Once everything is submitted it is usually very fast. Mine took 2 weeks and a friend had his in a few days

hornethomer

Thanks for your assistance guys, need to have a conversation with my employer and then start the process.