[fran]

This may be of interest. The number of 457 visas being granted has halved in the past year. Their average salary has increased though to $83,500.

Temporary skilled workers migrating to Australia have halved since this time a year ago, after more stringent workplace laws came into force.

Immigration figures released yesterday show applications for category-457 visas plummeted 49 per cent in the five months to November, after the laws required employers to pay equal wages and lift conditions for foreign workers.

The average salary of those on 457 visas was $85,300 and over 20% of the country's temporary skilled migrants work in Victoria.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/temporary-skilled-migration-halved-20100111-m2o9.html

[Martha]

That is interesting and I wonder what is happening in Victoria to need all those skilled employees?

[dusty]

That is interesting and I wonder what is happening in Victoria to need all those skilled employees?

It's looking good for job seekers in Victoria with the unemployment rate the lowest in Australia:

Unemployment Rate by State:

New South Wales... 6.1% down 0.2%
Victoria... 4.7% down 0.9%
Queensland... 6.0% up 0.3%
South Australia... 6.0% same as last month
Western Australia... 5.0% up 0.2%

[Sam66]

This was also reported in the SMH. These visas have been abused in the past with some employers paying low wages and employees being given false hopes about being automatically granted permanent residency. The new rules in September seem to have reduced the number of visas but the numbers will up again as employers get used to them.

Most common occupations for 457 visas were nurses, general practitioners, trainee doctors and computing professionals.

More than a third of the country's temporary skilled migrants work in NSW.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/slump-in-temporary-workers-20100111-m2s3.html

[karoline]

Hello

We want to apply for a 457 visa. Do Australian employers give you a job without seeing you in person? Can we apply for a job from an other country. We need the visa to get into Australia, so you should think that you can arrange everything from your present country. Or is there an other Visa we can apply for?

I'm looking for a network engenering job.

(sorry if I made any mistake in writing this post)

Karoline

[Richard]

Hello,

We want to apply for a 457 visa. Do Australian employers give you a job without seeing you in person? Can we apply for a job from an other country. We need the visa to get into Australia, so you should think that you can arrange everything from your present country. Or is there an other Visa we can apply for?

I'm looking for a network engenering job.

(sorry if I made any mistake in writing this post)

Karoline

Hi and welcome karoline,

For a 457 visa it is up to the employer to decide what selection process to use. It is the most commonly used visa for employers wanting to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. Details of the process involved for both the employer and employee are on this page: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/

I notice that you work in engineering. Certain engineers are on the critical skills list (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf). With the right qualifications and work experience you may be able to apply under general skills migration (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/).

[karoline]

Hello

Thanks for answering.
We want the 457 visa because we only want to go for a couple of years to Australia. (for now). The permenit Visa takes longer to get and is mutch expensive.
The problem is to find a company who hires employees overseas. We have found job seekers online, but mostly the company wants you already in the country with a visa. For New Zealand there is a website for applicants overseas, but I can't find any for Australia. Does it exist?
Can anyone give us information?
Thanks!

[Cliff]

Hello Karoline,

You could try Bayside recruitment http://www.baysidegrp.com.au/jobseekers/jobs. They advertise jobs on their website and from what I understand they recruit from overseas on a regular basis and are approved for 457 visa sponsorship.

[karoline]

Hi

Thanks!
On the Bayside website isn't any job for my husband.
With all te changes for visa applicants, I don't think it will be easy to find a job in Australia and get a visa.
The company has got to prove they can't find anybody else for the job. His occupation is in demand, but I think that there are enough Australians who can do the job that my husband is trained to do.
Some companys already told us NO. We will keep on trying for a while and see.
Fingers crossed!

Karoline