Visa First Blog

If your second working holiday visa is running out, but you feel like spending some more time in Australia you might want to talk with your current employer. One way to remain Down Under is to have your employer sponsor you, thus helping you to stay in Australia for up to 4 years. Employer sponsored workers must remain with the same employer. You can not change employers, unless your potential employer is willing to become your sponsor as well.

• Eileen: Welcome to the Visa First live chat! How can I help you today?
• Jenn: Hi Eileen. I am an Irish backpacker on my second year WHV. I have just finished my 6 month stint working for a company. Is it possible to work more than 6 months with this company under my visa if the employer agrees to it? Just an extra 3 months say?
• Eileen: No Jenn, unfortunately it is a requirement of your Visa that you cannot work for one employer for more than 6 months. Your only option if you wish to stay with the employer for longer is to perhaps consider sponsorship.
• Jenn: That what i thought but a friend mentioned that if the employer agreed to the extension then it was OK. Yes I am considering sponsorship but it is hard to get job on the that the Australian Gov considered skilled!
• Eileen: What are you working at here in Australia?
• Jenn: I managed to get a job for a catering company ISS on one of BHP Mine sites in WA. I was only doing dining room, bar, cleaning of rooms but i don’t think they consider that as a skilled job, regardless if the Company can’t get the staff! I just finished my 6 months with them 2 weeks ago.
• Eileen: The skill of the job isn’t really the problem for sponsorship, if the employer is willing to sponsor you then you should be okay. Have the company offered you sponsorship?
• Jenn: I didn’t actually ask them if they would sponsor me as i thought it wasn’t a skilled job! They probably would offer me sponsorship as I was there a long time….10 months to be precise…the original company was taken over by a new employer so that was lucky for me. How much would it cost the company/me to get sponsored?
• Eileen: The cost of sponsorship is $3000. I can take your details and get one of my colleagues who specialize in sponsorship Visa to contact you.
• Eileen: Is your contact number 042******* and your email ********@gmail.com?
• Jenn: Yes, that would be great Eileen, thanks. Yes those details are correct. Email is probably best for me at the moment. Thanks.
• Eileen: Okay Jenn no problem I will get them to email you some information later today.
• Jenn: Oh, brill. Thank you so much Eileen. I really appreciate it. I have been on the Oz immigration website and talking to friends so I am getting different info all the time. It is great to get to talk/email someone who knows all the info. Thanks again and have a good day!

As you realize, your options are somewhat limited by choosing employer sponsorship as a way to remain. General skilled migration is your other option. Unfortuantely very few working holiday makers are able to meet the criteria and have a nominated occupation found on the Skilled Occupation List.

Immigration & Living Abroad backpackers, general migration, second year visa, skilled migration, sponsore migration

We receive a lot of queries for Australia Working Holiday visa extensions. There are many factors which take place under different circumstances. Depending on your long term plans it might be better to consider other options, a part from WHV extension.

• Joanne: Hello.
• Manesha: Hi Joanne,
• Manesha: You can apply from within Australia or from outside, but it is best if you apply from outside of Australia.
• Manesha: If you apply from within Australia then you may need to get chest x-rays and medicals.
• Joanne: OK, if I apply from the UK do I need a medical?
• Manesha: If you apply after a month from departing Australia then you should not need to.
• Joanne: I am trying to get sponsored from a company, or a family member. How close does the family need to be?
• Manesha: Family member needs to be a direct relative. What is your occupation?
• Manesha: If you are looking to stay in Australia long term then you should apply from outside of Australia as it is generally a lot faster.
• Joanne: Have you any idea what I would need from the UK if a company was to sponsor me. I’m a beauty therapist.
• Manesha: You need to have formal qualifications and you qualifications will be assessed.
• Joanne: My friend said something about signatures from my teachers.  Would it be easier to get a second year working holiday visa, then try get sponsored with the company I’m already working for.
• Manesha: The easier option is the working holiday visa but if you really like Australia and you want to stay for longer then you should invest into getting sponsored. I guess you need to decide what your long term plans are.
• Joanne: OK, lovely. Thank you! Last question – If I go to Thailand before I go home, can I apply for my 2nd visa whilst I’m there.
• Manesha: Thailand is amazing! You can apply for you visa from anywhere. You should apply once you have been outside of Australia for a month.
• Joanne: And how long do you think it will take to come through?
• Manesha: We can get it in as little as 2 working days.
• Joanne: Lovely, thank you for your help, have a lovely day!

If you have a similair query and need our assistance, you can drop us a line at ask@visafirst.co.uk. Sometimes it is quite tricky to obtain the desired visa, and it cost you nothing to ask us about visa issues.

Australia Working Holiday, Working Holidays australia, second year visa, thailand, visa extension, whv