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Conundrum: Employer Sponsored Visas
Hey everyone. I wanted to discuss a conundrum that I’ve faced when applying to jobs in Australia from overseas(I live in the United States).
I’ve received interest in a few job applications I’ve applied to, but one of the first questions they ask is whether I have a visa or the right to work in Australia. When I answer no, that usually ends the discussion. The employer will not consider me because I don’t have a visa. But when looking at employer sponsored visas(186, 187, 494), those visas require an employer to sponsor you before getting a visa.
So I end up in what we in America call a “Catch 22”. I can’t get a visa without having a job offer, but I can’t get a job offer without already having a visa. Has anyone else been caught in this predicament and what steps were taken to resolve it? I understand the 482/TSS is a workaround, but I’m wondering how anyone at all gets through on a 186 or 187.
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5 Replies
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Hi mate – you have been doing quite a bit of thinking recently! 😊
You’re absolutely right, though; this is a big challenge for overseas job seekers wanting to work in Australia.
Many employers are hesitant to engage with candidates who don’t already have work rights, as sponsorship can be a lengthy and costly process. However, there are ways to improve your chances of securing a sponsored role.
Breaking the Catch-22
- Target employers who already sponsor – Your best bet is to apply to jobs that explicitly mention visa sponsorship. Sites like our own (plug) 😇 482Jobs.com list only jobs offering sponsorship, so you don’t waste time on employers who won’t consider you. Seek (seek.com.au) and Indeed (indeed.com.au) also list jobs, but you’ll need to filter for terms like “visa sponsorship.” to narrow down employers who are already open to sponsoring.
- Consider Regional Areas – Employers in regional Australia are often more willing to sponsor, especially for the 494 visas.
- Leverage Professional Networks – Sometimes, networking and directly reaching out to employers with a strong value proposition can help. Australian employers may be more open if they see a direct benefit in hiring you over a local candidate.
- Seek forgiveness later – not recommended but I was reading a thread on Reddit recently where people were pleading ignorance, acing the interviews and then at that point, dropping the fact that they need sponsorship. Now it’s up to you (and your conscience) if you are willing to go down this patch but it might get you to the hiring manager (rather than HR/recruiters,) who might discount you before giving you the opportunity to impress the people that matter most (the person you’d eventually end up working for).
How People Get a 186 or 187 Visa Without a 482 First
From what I understand, some applicants secure a 186 visa directly if they have an employer already familiar with sponsorship, they in a highly in-demand occupation where Australian talent is scarce or they’ve built a strong relationship with an employer who is willing to go through the process
It’s challenging but not impossible!
Regards,
Mark-
Thank you Mark, and thank you Darlene. This helps a lot!
I’ve always thought about multiple pronged efforts so going down the 482 route on top of the skilled migration pathway always seemed to make sense to me. I completely understand the 186 may be tougher to obtain than the 482 because of the permanence in nature.
I also really like the 4th bullet point, “pleading ignorance post acing the interview”, and can see how that may work well.
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Hi Thomas, Thanks for sharing this. What I would like to say is do not be discouraged. Things are changing very rapidly now in my humble experience (too long to write here because it involves a lot of different aspects) and one has to be on the ball when it strikes. I do not know what field you are in but as Mark says, it is not impossible. There are a lot of movements between countries with growing population and demand that it takes time.
I love the people, peace, quiet, the outdoors and nature and beaches and have travelled to Australia since 2010 and I have volunteered and just worked everywhere in Western Australia (I was an international student supporting myself and with the limitations to working hours it was tough) and I am not giving up. It is a shame the only thing holding me back is a visa.
The forums help provide leads so check those and also the government website for changes.
Kind regards,
Darlene
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Awesome advice and comments all around, Darlene. Thank you for chipping in and providing your insights! 🤗
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“I also really like the 4th bullet point, “pleading ignorance post acing the interview”, and can see how that may work well.”
Yes, I was very surprised how many people jumped into the Reddit post and called out they did the same. To be fair to these candidates. Many job ads don’t mention sponsorship at all so even though those who have been searching for a while can safely assume sponsorship isn’t offered, if it’s not explicitly stated, pleading ignorance and faking surprise might indeed be the way to go 🤷🏻
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