anybody have any experience of... Australian Work Visas?

[psykoptic]

I was just idly browsing for IT jobs in Melbourne, there's loads of interesting looking jobs, but they all mention having a valid Australian Work Visa as a requirement. (I live in Scotland)

googling the subject just brought up a hugely confusing array of websites. Soooo - how difficult is it to get one? and how much do they cost? Oh, and I'm 30 this year, does age matter?

Assume I was planning on a temporary 12 month stay in Australia, and that I'm good enough to hold down a fairly senior IT developer role. ;)

[Sunray]

I heard that there are umbrella companies that will employ you as a contractor if your interested.

I'm not so sure I could work here, I'm in Sydney typing this, tbh. Australia is easily the worst nanny state I've ever experienced. On the local swimming pool somewhere I saw they had something like 30 seperate exclusions listed. People are such jobs worth here as well. Much worse than the UK. Good place to visit. Cities are much of a much ness but it has some great scenery and if you want to surf and like beach life, well....

Will tell you about Melbourne after I fly there tomorrow.

[Fuzzy]

I was just idly browsing for IT jobs in Melbourne, there's loads of interesting looking jobs, but they all mention having a valid Australian Work Visa as a requirement. (I live in Scotland)

googling the subject just brought up a hugely confusing array of websites. Soooo - how difficult is it to get one? and how much do they cost? Oh, and I'm 30 this year, does age matter?

Assume I was planning on a temporary 12 month stay in Australia, and that I'm good enough to hold down a fairly senior IT developer role. ;)

hia. i did a fair bit of research a while ago emmigrating/working in australia.

first off since you're 30 i dont think you can get the year long backpacker visa. even if you could there are restrictions on it that mean that you cant work in the same job for more than 3 months. not good if you want to be there for a year.

in terms of actually getting a full work visa i only looked at gettng permanent residence. with that it enables you to stay for as long as you want. there are a few ways of doing this. you can either go the skilled independant route where depending on your age, qualifications, profession, work epxerience you have to have meet a certain points level. if you meet the points requirements and then pass the skills assessment, medical and police record check you should get a visa.

the other way is to go for a state nominated visa.certain states have a list occupations that are in demand. if you do one of htese jobs and you dont mind living in the state that needs people to do these jobs then that is also a possibility. the benefit of this route is that even if you dont meet the points requirement for the skilled independant migration you can still get a visa. if you go down this route i think there are restrictions about having to live in the same state for 2 years but after that you're free to move around.

i'd have a look at a website called www.britishexpats.com

its a useful resource for people looking to settle/work abroad. lively bulletin board as well which is quite useful and informative.

other than try the australian immigration website where you can do a quick points test.

[Yossarian]

first off since you're 30 i dont think you can get the year long backpacker visa. even if you could there are restrictions on it that mean that you cant work in the same job for more than 3 months. not good if you want to be there for a year.

Nah, it's still possible to apply for and get the year-long backpacker visa up until your 31st birthday - I reckon it might be a good idea to head out there on that to have a look at the place and try out working there before taking the full plunge into getting a residency visa.

[AnnO'Neemus]

Nah, it's still possible to apply for and get the year-long backpacker visa up until your 31st birthday - I reckon it might be a good idea to head out there on that to have a look at the place and try out working there before taking the full plunge into getting a residency visa.
Yup, I got mine when I was 30, just before 31st, just managed to get in there.

I didn't make it to Aus in the end, let the visa lapse, got waylaid working and falling in love and getting engaged in a different country en route, so I can't offer much advice.

But I have a couple of friends who got the working holiday visa as part of a round the world trip, and they got quite decent jobs while they were out there, and after coming back here at the end of their trips, they've both since managed to secure jobs in Australia and proper work visas.

So I agree with testing the water with the working holiday visa first, it might also be a good way to get yourself known through some temping/contracting to some companies who you might want to ask to support a working holiday visa.

[mhendo]

first off since you're 30 i dont think you can get the year long backpacker visa. even if you could there are restrictions on it that mean that you cant work in the same job for more than 3 months. not good if you want to be there for a year. When i lived in Australia, i met quite a few English backpackers, and if their experiences were any indication, plenty of employers were willing to hire them for longer than three months.

It seems to me that, for the most part, the Aussie immigration people have beeter things to do than check whether you've switched jobs or not. And employers, or at least some of them, seem to know this and be willing to bend the rules.

This could have changed in the period of heightened security since 9/11 and all that, but i knew plenty of backpackers who worked at jobs for well over three months.

Of course, i'm not advocating breaking the rules! :)

[Fuzzy]

When i lived in Australia, i met quite a few English backpackers, and if their experiences were any indication, plenty of employers were willing to hire them for longer than three months.


probably quite true. was just recounting what the website said.

[blossie33]

I don't know what the rules are like now but I was offered work by a florist there in 87 and was told that I could not get a working visa unless my employer could prove that I was not taking a job that an Australian could do. This would have involved her advertising it in a number of newspapers etc. In the end she just told me to get a visitor's visa and I went and worked illegally which I think quite a few people did.
I think you can get work ok if you are under 25 and are in professions like nursing or it is some sort of working experience employment.

[psykoptic]

thanks to everybody for replying. After speaking to an immigration consultant today Its seems I'm fucked basically.

I'm 30, so I could go there for a year if I applied right now, but it would only be for a year and is unlikely to get renewed. My missus is 37 - the bottom line is she can't get a work permit.

If I went the whole hog and tried to emigrate I would be possibly be okay even with being an old codger by aussie standards except for one thing - my qualifications. I screwed up uni by having waaaaaay too much fun and never finished my degree. Its never been a problem, hell the last few jobs I've had I was pretty much offered them. But it severely affects my application. After speaking to an Australian immigration service comapany today they made it clear that without degree level education I won't get in considering my age.

Its actually the first time that not having a degree has actaully closed doors for me. Needless to say I'm gutted. I'm nearly 30, have no qualifications apart from highers, my missus is too old and I'm going bald. :(

Fuck it, I'm off to get drunk and play with the traffic.

[Fuzzy]

are you a plumber or electrian? skilled manual jobs are just as in demand as those that require a degree. have you looked at the regional aussie visa. if you are prepared to go and work in areas that arent the cities its easier to get the visa. dont just give up at the first hurdle and have a look at that website i put up in my earlier post.

[pk]

thanks to everybody for replying. After speaking to an immigration consultant today Its seems I'm fucked basically.


Sorry but that is bollocks.

There are plenty of ways to get in to Australia, once you're in, then you worry about working, not having a degree is totally irrelevant, that's just the opinion of some jobsworth consultant who might have been trying to charge you unneccesary fees for something.

If you give up this easy, maybe Australia isn't for you after all...

[psykoptic]

Sorry but that is bollocks.

There are plenty of ways to get in to Australia, once you're in, then you worry about working, not having a degree is totally irrelevant, that's just the opinion of some jobsworth consultant who might have been trying to charge you unnecessary fees for something.

If you give up this easy, maybe Australia isn't for you after all...
Hey, fuck you - I'm the most determined person you don't know. :D

So what are my options? According to this guy I was screwed. I've already been on to one uni about trying to do some sort of part-time night course to get me a IT qualification in something that might help. I figure given my experience I could walk it, but I'd rather find something that would be useful, maybe a microsoft certification. I'm not sure yet.

Short of being 5 years younger and having a degree I'm not sure what to do. I guess from afar it just looks like bureaucratic bumf, but I have to get past it if I stand a chance of making a go of it.

[mumkinbadbokura]

I was just idly browsing for IT jobs in Melbourne, there's loads of interesting looking jobs, but they all mention having a valid Australian Work Visa as a requirement. (I live in Scotland)

googling the subject just brought up a hugely confusing array of websites. Soooo - how difficult is it to get one? and how much do they cost? Oh, and I'm 30 this year, does age matter?

Assume I was planning on a temporary 12 month stay in Australia, and that I'm good enough to hold down a fairly senior IT developer role. ;)


you get a 2 year visa now if under 31, but can only work for 3 months in any one job. if you find a good company who like you they will normally sponsor you and get you a work visa that will enable your partner to stay too. but they have to satisfy the government that no local is available for your job.
Australia is experiencing a shortage in skilled and un skilled workers, and if you have relevent skills gaining permanent residency is much easier now. especially if you are prepared to move to a rural area. I have been in Oz for 5 years now and get my citizenship at the end of the month.