Advice for someone wanting to move to Australia and might be going about it the wrong way

February 1, 2007 2:48 AM

Australian visa and extended stay issue.

My friend, like me is a UK citizen. He has a fondness for Australia and is out there now, on holiday. He is 30 years old and works in the building trade in the UK. He has previously spent a year in Oz, on the young persons working visa thingy, where he travelled and worked legitimately.

I believe its his long term goal to work and live in Oz permanently. However, I think he may go about this the wrong way.

He has hinted whilst on his current holiday that he "might just not come back" and I have had messages to that effect, and that he has possibly found a job.

What are the impacts of him doing this in Oz? What is he jeopardizing by doing this if he gets caught? How can he go about this in a more sensible manner. I dont think he should do this off the radar.

posted by daveyt to work & money (7 comments total)

"What is he jeopardizing by doing this if he gets caught?"

Australia is one of those countries where you don't get a second chance; overstay your welcome and they won't have you back. Ever.
posted by Mutant at 3:32 AM on February 1, 2007

He can't really get in trouble for staying, the worst immigration can do is deport him. It is very likely to jeopardize any future genuine application, however (which almost certainly would need to be made from abroad anyway).
If it is something he really wants to do, I'd say go home and apply.
If he is really smart, he would get a letter offering him a job out here and then visa issues are a lot easier. Note it has to be an offer, an actual job he worked at while on holidays would be another black mark.
Builders are in desperate short supply in north west Australia and mining areas of QLD, so he might find potential employers there who would be prepared to help him with visa issues.
posted by bystander at 3:35 AM on February 1, 2007

I can't say I know the details, but my guess is that he'll find it hard to get by for long. If only for the fervent zeal that most businesses apply the '100 point' rule when it comes to ID for most anything of relevance to setting up a household.

If he's young (30 is good in this respect) and carries some credentials in a valued trade (I'm not sure where the building trade sits these days), he should simply get on with applying for residency.
posted by michswiss at 3:43 AM on February 1, 2007

Have you asked him what is going on? He may have lined up a job that will help him get a visa to stay legitimately.

Depending on what his trade is he might be able to get a visa more easily. The visas are assessed on a points system and certain trades get bonus points. If he is not fussed about where he lives in Australia thereare also bonus points for living 'out bush'.

Have a word with him and make sure he gets some advice whilst he is here on holiday (from a registered migration agent) before he does something that may, unnecessarily, damage his chances of staying.
posted by Rc at 3:51 AM on February 1, 2007

Rc and bystander are on the money. Australia is suffering a massive skills shortage at the moment and I would imagine it would be pretty easy for him to find an employer to sponsor him.

It would be the height of stupidity for him to do this anything less than legitimately because he is basically a shoo-in. A few forms, some evidence of his skills and an employer who will sponsor him, and he is in.

Of course, i could be oversimplifying the process - but don't let him blow the opportunity.
posted by TheOtherGuy at 3:59 AM on February 1, 2007

When I came to Australia five years ago to apply for residency, I was told before I left the UK that the key thing was to make sure I WAS NEVER HERE ILLEGALLY. I came in as a tourist and then made my application and was granted a "bridging visa", which allowed me to legally stay past the 3 months so they could decide on my application. My understanding was that if you ever let your legality lapse, you're in trouble.

Of course, I also have a Kenyan friend here who illegally overstayed his student visa for a long time (and worked a job he wasn't supposed to have), and even though they eventually deported him he was able to apply for a spouse visa and come back. Of course, I have a feeling copious amounts of money/influence were required in that case.
posted by web-goddess at 12:52 PM on February 1, 2007

the worst immigration can do is deport him

After he's been in Villawood Detention Centre or the like while they process his case. Australia treats unauthorised immigrants dreadfully, whether asylum-seekers or visa overstayers, so he really needs to weigh up whether it's worth it.
posted by goo at 3:33 PM on February 1, 2007