Hi, my spouse is currently working as a secondary applicant of my 457 visa, we still have just over 2 years left on that visa. She would like to do a masters degree here in Sydney next year. What are her options if she does not want to pay the expensive international students fee (which we cannot afford)? We're both under 30yo.

- We both apply for PR, but I will loose my very favorable LAFHA (and other) arrangements. Not really an option.
- She applies for PR, but I keep my 457 visa. Is this possible, and how would this affect her status awaitening the PR outcome?
- She will ask her work to help with a employer nomination scheme, her current qualification would award her 60 points for skill. How long will it take before PR is granted? And will this affect my 457 visa?
- Other options?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aumelle,

Hi there ? Do you want to stay in Oz ?? Or do you want to go back home ??

Option 1 - If you want to stay in Oz then you are going to have to face the loss of LAFHA sometime.

Option 2 - I don't belive that she could apply for PR and you remain on a 457 visa. The ATO would certainly see this as an intention to remain in Oz and you would therefore loose LAFHA.

Option 3 - The Employer Nomination Scheme visa is not points related. It would take about 3 to 6 months from lodgement of visa - the hard part is getting the employer to fill in their side of the application. If they haven't done one before then gathering the required data may take some time depending on the size of the company and its HR department. And yes it will affect your 457 visa and your LAFHA.

Option 4 - Pay the international students fees and keep your LAFHA.

Option 5 - Dont bother doing the course here and return to wherever you came from in 2 years time and do the course in your home country.

Option 6 - Accept the fact that you cant always have everything in life the way you want it and choose one of the options above !

Thanks for your reply. To answer your question, we don't know yet. I'm always surprised to hear people saying 'we're here for good', we've been here for 2 years now and we both love Sydney, but I really can't tell where we will or want to be 2 years from now. I know that we have to give up LAFHA sometime, but it looks like a waste to me not to use if for the remaining year or two.

My partner's company has experience with sponsoring another employee with a 457 visa, is that what you refer to as 'the hard part'? Or is the info needed for ENS more extensive?

I think it's awkward by the way that the moment we would break up, option 3 would be a possibility (hardly affecting my lafha + other allowances). But that's not really an option at this stage ;-)