Visas for Oz

[bigandclever]

Right, that's it, I've had enough of Blighty for a while.

So, I want to go to Australia for a few months, do a bit of contracting. But there's a catch - does anyone know what kind of visa I need?

I don't qualify for a working holiday visa, because I'm too old, apparently. Almost certainly I won't be in a position to get sponsored, since I could be working for practically anyone. I need something that'll allow me to stay for 6 months (at least). I've got my own limited company if that makes any difference. I've trawled through immi.gov.au and australia.org.uk but there isn't a person I can call.

The floor is now open to the PH massive :)

[DAVE BRENNAND]

Biggy

Try this, its a good source of info.
Best of luck

www.immi.gov.au/

Dave

[omitchell]

he did look through that website, try contacting the australian embassy, they might be more useful

[willmcc]

you can get a 6 month tourist visa, just depends on whether you are willing to risk it and join the 100s of thousands of Brits working illegally.

[pablo1602]

Try picking up a contract/work via your limited company before hand. Then you'll be able to get a business visa. (Maybe difficult to achieve unless your company offers something unique or you have contacts who can help demonstrate this)

Or go on a tourist visa (6months ?) and chance you're arm at getting a contract while you're there. Risky, but take enough dosh for 6 months and treat it as a career break when you don't succeed. Although you'll need to check if you can apply for a working/business visa once in the country.

And go in Nov/Dec and have Xmas / New year on the beach

Could always wed an Aussie! Plenty working over here.......



>> Edited by pablo1602 on Tuesday 31st May 15:13

[bigandclever]

I think that's the problem - I'm trying to do this the legit way.

So far I've had the "Computer says strewth, mate!" from the embassy. The most suitable aveneue left open seem to be the Business Owner Migration.

This path caters for sponsored and unsponsored applicants. I need to find details of what is "significant net assets in business; significant personal assets; sufficient net assets to settle in Australia". And naturally the embassy can't help me with that...until I give them A$2450 up front and ask them to process my application.

[pablo1602]

IIRC once you pay your visa application fee there is no refund if you are not accepted.

[bigandclever]

Correct. And it's a fair amount of wedge, so I don't really want to apply without knowing the full ins and outs of a suitable application.

I've got in touch with a few pimps over there, so let's see how keen they really are to place contractors

[pablo1602]

I never made that much money when I was over there (02). That was largely down to the telco/IT industry being on its arse and me not being too bothered.

I found the agencies to have similar standards as here.

Plenty of other stuff to do when not working if you've got the dosh and the living is cheap compared to the UK. (rent, eating out, wine etc)

After a while I found it very similar to working and living in the UK, which is what helped make up our minds to come back to the UK. But well worth the experience. We combined it with 4 months travelling through SE Asia.

[viper_larry]

Best place to get a tourist visa?

I'm currently looking www.australiavisas.com at $15 per application.

Does this seem reasonable?

[deckster]

viper_larry said:

Best place to get a tourist visa? I'm currently looking www.australiavisas.com at $15 per application. Does this seem reasonable?

Er, no. A 3 month tourist 'electronic visa' is free to UK passport holders - your airline/travel agent should be able to sort it out without even blinking.

[80Bob]

There are some agencies here that will sign you up and then if you get a job will provide the sponsorship for you. Effectively you work for them and give them a percentage of your salary. Not the bet option perhaps but it is one way of working here legally if you can't get a working visa any other way. IIRC one company is called Pendragon although there are others.

[Krusty]

I've heard through my industry that the work visa allocations for this year have been met and they are not issuing any more until next year. It’s real problem as there’s loads of work and the companies are struggling to get positions filled.