Can I get away with working the odd job on a tourist visa? Have you ever worked illegally? If so, in which country? Were there disadvantages to doing this?
Hi!
I am heading out to Melbourne on 30th November on my own. I have heard mixed reviews and basically dontt want to waste my working visa if I can get away with it! If I decide to go out there on a tourist visa and then decide I want to apply for a working visa does anyone know how long it would take to process or how much extra it would cost?
I hate the thought of wasting my one chance to work out there if its only for a few months in total!!
Vicky x
Reply to this Hello Vicky 😊
You could probably get away with doing some work here and there without a work permit, but you would be certainly limited by not having one. Not everybody would employ an illegal person. Also illegal workers tend to get payed less then legal ones.
I dont know how long or if you can apply for the permit once you get to Australia. Check with the Australian consulate to find out.
Mel
Reply to this yea, I know you're right really. I think I need to bite the bullet and just get my working visa and if i waste it so be it! When u say illegal worker that kind of put it into perspective!
Vicky
Reply to this I worked illegally in New York because I had enough money for the plane ticket but not enough to pay for the work permit. I did get a job as a child minder and housework doing person which was OK but domestic type work hidden in somebodies house was the only type of job I could get. If there were not so many people in New York who could afford to hire people to do domestic work I would not have been able to get any job.
Reply to this Hi Victoria,
Australia is generally rather strict on Visas. When i was living there a few of my friend wanted to get jobs and they definitely had to get a work visa. As Mel said, you could probably do something private or something "under the table" but in general i think it's best if you get what. i had a friend that had her visa run out when there (tourist visa) becuase she ended up having to stay longer than she thought for some reason and they "quarantined" her in the Sydney airport, which wasn't much fun for her!
Reply to this Hi,
Thanks for the advice. Have gone ahead and bought my work visa now so is all alright!
Reply to this ...they "quarantined" her in the Sydney airport....
How horrible! How long did they keep her there. I didnt think they would do that to people. I thought there would be just some kind of fine or warning but quarantined sounds like imprisoned.
Reply to this Hehe yeah they were not allowed to leave certain parts of the sydney airport. I am not sure how long it was, I think they were able to get a flight out after a couple of days. They were not super excited about it, but realized it was their mistake for not leaving in time, which i thought was pretty good of them.
Reply to this A couple of days! I hope the food was good. It is not like Americans immigrate in droves to Australia for economic reasons. I cant understand why the immigration get so serious. A small fine would be more than enough for something like that or just a warning if it is the first time.
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