It is important to be aware that the employer as part of their sponsorship obligations are not permitted by law to recover certain costs from a sponsored 457 visa holder.

If they break their obligations this can lead to their ability to sponsor being revoked and other sanctions by DIBP.

Thanks for the link, that will be really useful. I guess I now need to find the companies that are approved sponsors when there.

Its good to know the Working Holiday visa in Australia can be used as a stepping stone to a more long term visa in the country.

Thanks

Thanks for that TeeTMI.

I would be happy to cover the cost if it came to it as a % of my earnings but I guess we will cross that bridge when I come to it. Just out of interest, how much does it cost for the 457 visa?

Thanks

4 years, most importantly without the 6 month restriction, is a hell of a lot better if you want to stick around and see if it's for you long term.

As Tee said, you cannot cover the cost!! The employer has to do that by law. "It is important to be aware that the employer as part of their sponsorship obligations are not permitted by law to recover certain costs from a sponsored 457 visa holder.

If they break their obligations this can lead to their ability to sponsor being revoked and other sanctions by DIBP. "

Seriously, if you want to come to live in Australia you will find it very difficult to get an accounting job on a 417. Even more unlikely to be sponsored for a 457 for an accounting job. There are load of unemployed accountants in Australia so it's very, very unlikely you'll get any kind of sponsorship unless you have something very special to offer.

If you want to move here you should be looking at a skilled migrant visa which will give you permanent residency and not restrict you to any one empolyer nor restrict you to only working for any employer for more than 6 months. Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection is where to start. I believe accountants are still on the SOL so you don't need a sponsor (state or employer).

I think you're confused between the cost of the 457 itself and an ongoing % of earnings as a fee.

The 457 costs can't be recovered but the employer can deduct a % from each invoice, as the sponsoring company.

Great that makes sense. Well my plan is to head out there on a working holiday visa and then look at these other options to stay when there.I just initially wasn't sure you was able to do this off the back of a working holiday visa but it appears you can do from the replys.

That makes no sense at all to me. If the employer is not deducting 'a %' from the worker because they gave them a 457 job - then what are they deducting it for??!! I'll tell you straight up, if I knew of any companies doing that, I'd dob them in to DIBP so fast that their feet wouldn't touch

When I contracted through a placement agency, they were paid a percentage of my rate to cover their margin, overheads, payroll, etc.

When my temporary visa was about to expire I looked into converting to a 457 and having them be my 'employer'. The three staffing agencies I contacted would and could not be my sponsor for various reasons.

I'm not sure what (I think) the OP is proposing would work - I don't think you can be considered a contractor and be employed by a company at the same time? If you're a contractor then technically wouldn't you be self-employed? Then how would you as a one-person business get a 457 as both the sponsor and employee?

The OP has 3 main options to stay on past a 417:

1 - Work for an employer who can sponsor for a 457.

2 - Contract through an accredited 457 umbrella company (google it). The master employer will work with the end client to receive their salary. The OP will need to be on the skilled shortage list and have a degree / 5 years of experience.

The umbrella company will charge a management fee and will prioritse those on a higher rate (for mine this was minimum $400 a day a couple of years back, dependent on occupation) as they'll have limited sponsorship spaces and will maximise return.

3 - Apply for a 189 or other PR visa.

None of this is in any way wrong or illegal and there are plenty of accredited 457 companies that offer option 2. Not really sure why you're confused or mentioning DIPB.

They'd use an umbrella 457 accredited company, and will be considered an employee of that company but a contractor of the end client.

Oh right I did look into this... and the principal company (the one that would pay the invoices at the end of the day) had a 'preferred staffing agency' list and none of these 457-umbrella companies were on it, so it was a non-starter.

Yeah it's not always possible and none of this should detract from the fact that moving from a 417 is unlikely to be easy.

You can work for an end client (who pay the invoices), while being contracted through their preferred staffing agency, who then pay the umbrella company as they would if you had an ABN.

Ah - I didn't think of an employment agency, I thought it was the company directly deducting from workers' wages. Thanks MsM

The scenario has changed from the one you originally suggested to the OP. There you stated that the sponsoring company deduct a % from your earnings.