Sponsored Visa for pilots in WA

[bluesideoops]

Does anyone have information or link to any websites that have information about the Western Australian Government sponsoring foreign pilot's visa to come and work there?? I have heard many rumours about this but never been able to find any concrete information about it!
Thanks

[AileronsNeutral]

Would have thought this (http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/SKILLEDMIGRATION/Pages/Occupationsindemand.aspx) would be the obvious place to look... :confused:

[bluesideoops]

guess that was pretty obvious, thanks for the heads-up! :)

[DirectAnywhere]

Is there any job that's not on that list!

[dodo whirlygig]

Since when does a State government have the right to pursue employees overseas, in this case pilots, when there a plenty of suitably qualified applicants in Australia? Upon what do they base their "shortage" criteria - other than some out-of-touch overpaid "advisory" panel?

Do they expect to be able to get pilots on 457 visas - and possibly have the companies they work for underpay them them because they (pilots from third world countries) see it as a good deal?????? Level 6 Engrish, forget about it - expediency is the answer!!!!

[compressor stall]

Maybe if they started paying pilots the same as many mining jobs, they wouldn't have a shortage?

No way you can live in wa mining towns for a career with family on GA wages.

[down3gr33ns]

I think the point Dodo is making is that approval for foreign labour, whatever occupation, is a Federal responsibility, not that of a state.

[Torres]

The Sub Class 457 Temporary Business Long Stay Visa (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-market-salary-rates.htm); 176 and 886 Skilled Sponsored Visas; 475 and 487 Skilled Regional Sponsored Visas etc are misunderstood.

Every Australian State has access to a limited number of discretionary Australian Visas which it may use to sponsor skilled workers which it can not access within Australia. The chances of a pilot getting hold of one are about nil!

At one stage the West Australian Dept of Health was reputedly the largest single user of 457 Visas in Australia, followed by Queensland Health.

A pilot could be sponsored but if you think a 300 hour CPL or even an average airline ATPL was likely to get sponsored, think again. Any overseas pilot sponsored to Australia (by a State Government or private employer) would have unique skills or qualifications for which a comparable pilot was not available in the Australian labour market.

The "cheap labour" claim is absolute, total rubbish. Overseas sponsored workers must be paid at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-market-salary-rates.htm) (TSMIT). In summary, the minimum salary for an overseas worker is the TSMIT of $49,330, however the actual salary paid must be comparable to or the same as other workers performing a similar job.

With other employer obligations, overseas workers cost around 15% to 20% more than a comparable Australian worker - which is as it should be.

In general, workers in vocations with ANZSCO codes (http://www.immi.gov.au/employers/anzsco/anzsco-code1.htm) of 400000 and above only may be sponsored. Aeroplane Pilot is ANZSCO Code 231111, however a potential Australian Sponsoring Employer must still demonstrate they are unable to attract and employ a comparably qualified pilot from within the Australian domestic labour market.

An overseas worker must also demonstrate Australian trade recognition. In the case of Pilots, that authority is CASA.

Believe one tenth of Union and media hype regarding overseas workers.

bluesideoops, if you are a non Australian citizen, common, garden variety GA or airline pilot with no special pilot skills/qualifications unavailable in the Australian labour market, don't get your hopes up for a gig in Australia.............

[troppo]

I heard that if you catch a boat down through malaysia and indonesia you can get visa free entry after being accommodated, free of charge, at an island resort off WA for a period of time. Then you can remain forever and add to 'cultural diversity'
:E

[solowflyer]

And don't forget the free house appliances car etc in a capital city.

[dodo whirlygig]

Torres, thanks for that post - it answers my questions.:D

[StudentInDebt]

Sponsorship through a 176/886 or 475/487 is different to employer sponsorship under the 457 visa. Once a state has identified an occupation from the Skilled Occupation List schedule as being in demand anyone who meets the qualification requirements (a positive skills assessment, Excellent IELTS english score) is eligible for nomination or sponsorship towards one of the above visas. If one has an eligible relative living in the state then you could apply to DIAC at this point for one of the above visas if they agree to sponsor your application, otherwise you can apply to the state government for sponsorship in which case you need to meet the criteria for the relevant visa. If the state agrees to sponsor your application, which it generally will do if you are eligible, you then apply to DIAC for the visa.

Until July 1st at this point, so long as you tick all the boxes in terms of eligibility - age, duration of career, english ability,... - then your visa will be issued. As these visas are either permanent residency or a pathway to permanent residency you enter the job market in the same manner as any other Australian resident, you don't have to have a special skill set and an employer who takes you on has no additional burden, this is only applicable to a 475 visa. After July 1st, the visa application process transitions to an application of interest scheme but the general theme of what I've written above will be unchanged with the caveat that only the highest rated applicants in a category will be invited to apply.

In relation to a potential applicant as a pilot, it's unlikely that anyone without a decent amount of experience (years in the job) would score enough points to be granted a visa. Another consideration is that a pilot coming from overseas may not meet the industry's accepted minimum qualifications for some regional jobs, this is a particular issue in WA, the only state that has Aeroplane Pilot as an occupation in demand.

[Fonz121]

I heard that if you catch a boat down through malaysia and indonesia you can get visa free entry after being accommodated, free of charge, at an island resort off WA for a period of time. Then you can remain forever and add to 'cultural diversity'

Ah yes those pesky refugees arriving by boat. Living the good life on island resorts they are! Sipping on mojito's and working on their tan no doubt.