457 Visa
The 457 visa is an immigration program commonly used by overseas or Australian employers. Employers in Australia find this immigration program helpful in sponsoring skilled overseas employees to work in Australia temporarily. This visa is for those employers who want to employ skilled overseas employees for their business in Australia
These employees can travel any number of times in Australia as well as out of Australia. This 457 visa program has attracted a large number of skilled overseas workers to Australia. It is a standard business sponsorship program. People who have 457 visa status can be employed for duration of 3 months. The period of employment can be extended up to 4 years. They can bring eligible family members who can study and work in Australia. Employers in Australia should be approved by Australian government. After their approval, they will be recognized as eligible employers. Eligible employers are only allowed to sponsor skilled overseas workers. If the person is not approved as an eligible employer then it is illegal for him or her to sponsor overseas employees.
The employers should also be actively and lawfully operating their business in order to sponsor overseas skilled employees. These employers should not be engaged in illegal activities. A business or a company that exists only on paper is not acceptable. New business proposals will be considered if they feel that you are really interested in establishing a new business. The employer should have a good business record. The sponsored employees should also be of good character and satisfy prerequisite job skills. The employer should also convince the immigration department that the employment of these overseas skilled employees will benefit Australia.
The employer should convince the department that their service would provide employment to Australian citizens and improve business links of Australia with other international markets. The employer should also show that their business operations in Australia are using new business skills and improved technology. If any employer has sponsored employees previously to Australia then they must have migrated according to immigration laws of Australia. If they have migrated illegally then the employer is not eligible for 457 visa. Employees cannot change their employer whenever they want, as 457 visas are not transferable. One important criteria of getting 457 visas is that the person should have good written and verbal communication skills in English. At present Australia is facing acute shortage of skilled manpower. The department of Citizenship and Immigration of Australia has used 457 visas as a way to overcome skilled manpower shortage in Australia.
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