EllieTT

Hi guys, I'm in Australia on a tourist visa, was approached about a potential job while here, then offered it. However, they need someone to start very quickly and despite being willing to sponsor me (I'm over 30, so don't have a working holiday visa) immigration have advised them the visa process could take months (which means they'd have to offer the job to someone else) Is there any way to expedite the process? Can you get a bridging visa between these two types of visas (tourist and sponsored)? The advice online is so confusing. And is it an issue that I am already in the country? Could I work for them unpaid until the visa is approved?! Any advice gratefully received. Thanks!

NickyC

If they're prepared to offer the job to someone else (who presumably doesn't need a visa) then the job doesn't qualify for sponsorship, anyway.

If someone local is capable of doing the job, why would they need to sponsor someone from overseas?

teza

Plus under current rules they have to prove they can't find an Aussie to do the job, that would take time. They also have to be approved for being able to sponsor, that would take time if they aren't alread.


And lastly, no, you cannot work on your visitor visa. You are a tourist, that's all. And as far as I know, no, you cannot hasten the process especially under the stricker new rules.

Bermudashorts

No you cannot expediate and even if you did get a bridging visa it wouldn't let you work in this case, only stay in the country. As others have said, immigration would prefer that the company offered the job to somebody local and rightly so with >6% unemployment. As such they are not going to expediate so that a tourist can get a job.