Hi,
I'm wondering if there are any other options for me to take to get into Australia. My situation: recent college graduate, little/no work experience (so I can't apply for any of the skilled migration ones), no family in AU. I can't do working holiday visa since I'm an American citizen. I was thinking perhaps of just getting a plane ticket there on a tourist visa and look for jobs... but I'm not exactly sure of how successful I'd be at finding a job (how willing are employers to sponsor people?). Another option is wwoofing, which I'd love to do anyways, but I'm guessing I'd be out in rural parts, so I could have a hard time finding a job. Perhaps the Australian Apprenticeship program (which I know little about... I think they do allow foreigners, but offer little/none funding for them). I could go on Special Program Visa (I looked at some of these programs though, and it seemed like such a rip off!). Are there any other options, or advice that you guys could give me... perhaps something I've overlooked or misjudged? Help!
Try the Bunac scheme.
Or get a job, get the experience and work towards qualifying for residence.
yo
This is an awesome plan you have. I'm American too, and did this same thing at the beginning of my gap year 3 years ago. Basically we are out of luck because we can't get the working holiday visa. I don't want to be negative but there's no way around that, so the best option is the Special Programs. 2 reasons - 1, its easy as hell to renew once you're there. all you do is go to the immigration office (theres def one in Syd, prob heaps more) and show them you have i think $1000 AUD/month you want to stay. 2. its pretty much the only thing we Americans can do to get there/finding work takes a day if you're not pickey. Now I worked while I was there for the company that owns Fosters, worked like Americans do, and it was awesome. But despite the hard work and great recommendation they gave my present job in the US there was no hope for sponsorship. I spoke with many people there from America and they all had the same experiences. Now there are some temp agencies there you can contact from here with your resume and they can try to get you sponsorship, but again, being realistic its pretty unlikely. They haven't met you, dont know your work experience and can probably get an Aussie to do the same thing. Again, not to be a broken record, but i'm not trying to be negative, its just that the reality of Americans working there is just not a good one. But by all means try. They told me I would never find a finance job, and yeh, it took 4 weeks, but i got one. And another bonus, when i was interviewing in the States when I got back they looked at that foreign experience, as tempy as it was, with a lot of interest.
On to the programs. I went with CCUSA which is pretty much Bunac's cousin. Was it expensive, yes, but it got me the visa and a hokey harbour boat cruise. When you factor in the fact you need a flight thats like 15 hrs, are going to live abroad and do fun, crazy stuff, etc, then at the end of the day the extra money you are going to spend on the Visa program is pocket change in the long run. Especially if you factor in the time and energy you are spending looking into the other options. Australia is crazy awesome, the whole place is beautiful, the people are SOOOOOOOOO friendly, the food is good, its fun, and its American enough that you wont get kicked in teh ass but you are still in another place. I'm from the east coast so im high strung, not sure where you're from, but all the laid back people was a huge shock hahaha.
and the last idea, going along with what the dude above me said, is getting a job here that will send you there. it's a lot more likely then you would think. I know 2 people that have been sent to Australia because they are consultants. Believe it or not we would think you'd be crazy not to go, but thats because we love travel. most people dont want that much of a change or to leave their family. so if you can snag a job at a consulting co, stay a year to show you're tough with the craziness, and you could apply for projects in any country really.
oh, and i forgot, if you go with no work visa you can still find places that hire you. you wont make a lot and it will be shady, but they're out there. id say CCUSA or Bunac, trust me, when you are there having the greatest time you will laugh at yourself now for worrying about money. good luck deciding.
Be wary of suggestions that you come on an ETA or tourist visa and then look for work. Many do it - but <blockquote>Quote
<hr>you wont make a lot and it will be shady<hr></blockquote> as the previous poster said. Imigration Dept Field Officers do catch people - and their usual fate is repatriation home to the USA at their own expense (and exclusion from future entry to Australia for a few years).
Do you want to migrate long-term, or are you just looking to spend a few months in Aus? If short-term, Bunac, WWOOF or simialr would suffice.
If long-term, you either need to get enough work experince to qualify under your own steam, or find someone to sponsor you. Yes, you could just go over and try and find a company to sponsor you, but you will have more chance if you can work for the company first. So if you can get a short-term visa that will enable you to get jobs with companies you might like to work for, that would be to your advantage. I don't know what your line of work is, but the job market is in fantastic shape at the moment, so you might have more success than poster #2 did 3 years ago.
Another alternative might be to work for a company in the US that has offices in Aus, then when you've been there long enough to make your mark, apply for a transfer to Aus. Which is in fact what my partner and I did.
Good luck!
trusted partner
