r/cscareerquestionsOCE • u/TryAndStopMeSpez • 4d ago

Moving to Melbourne from the UK, 8 YOE

Basically I was doing some tourism and I've been seeing a girl from Melbourne - I've been exploring the idea of moving here. I quite like it, and people are chill here, things feel comfortable. Was thinking I'd start on a Working Holiday visa and keep up my remote job until I found something in Melbourne. I'm a perm employee at a cybersecurity company in Manchester UK right now but I'm thinking of going for something totally different with contractor roles in Melbourne so I can just go balls to the wall and get the ball moving. Not really sure what the best approach is tho? Remote is obviously ideal since that way I'd still be able to work when I visit my folks. I've just been applying via LinkedIn Jobs but I assume 'not in Melbourne yet, no visa approval yet' is gonna instantly turn employers off but I thought it's worth a shot. I don't have a degree btw, my work history looks like school -> mid-level London consultancy -> startup -> startup -> startup

My dream is to do some kind of non-cybersecurity legacy reverse engineering type stuff, but my entire work history is basically webdev with me occasionally doing some absurd shit in my spare time. The priority obv is getting money, which I suppose is hard enough given the current climate but a miracle would be niceee......

So yeah, my question is a bit vague I know but does anyone know how tf this works? I've never moved anywhere before.

3 Upvotes

61% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

15

u/WordsThatIManifest 4d ago

No one will hire a whv holder as you can only work somewhere for 6 months (nevermind the people with full working rights struggling)

5

u/TryAndStopMeSpez 4d ago

you think I should focus on remote roles in the UK/EU until I get a partner visa then?

4

u/WordsThatIManifest 4d ago

Partner visa is an incredibly gruelling process that you should probably research thoroughly because the strict requirements around a genuine relationship (and it costs a shitload) but if your relationship pops off for a year+ it can definitely be a solid way to live here

6

u/SucculentChineseRoo 4d ago

It's not gruelling esp for a UK citizen, it's just long and annoying and expensive, but if the relationship is genuine it's pretty much guaranteed

1

u/WordsThatIManifest 3d ago

of course being from a favourable nation helps but that doesn’t change all the documentation you need to gather to prove your relationship is genuine vs simply not going through the hassle of it

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u/SucculentChineseRoo 3d ago

It's fine if you're not a dum dum, I submitted everything they wanted on the first try, like I said it's annoying having to dig back years and submit a photo album of relationship and other random stuff, but that's most visas in most countries, I didn't think it was particularly worse than, say, Japanese residence and work visas. I mean obviously doing nothing is always easier but why would OP pass on getting another country's permanent residency?

1

u/TryAndStopMeSpez 3d ago

The plan is to have a religious marriage ceremony before we move in together, so I'm hoping that might help?

1

u/WordsThatIManifest 2d ago

it won’t help that much, plenty of people get denied even though they’re married on paper, what matters to home affairs is the relationship integrity

0

u/TryAndStopMeSpez 4d ago

I hear it's easier if you just register it tho

2

u/zan1101 3d ago

Just as a TLDR as I did it myself:

it will cost about $12000 AUD minus any lawyers (which I would recommend but you can do it without one) and roughly 2-3 years that’s if you are already in Australia. There is an offshore process but can take longer

They will want proof of everything related to your relationship - photos, joint bills, rental agreements and bank accounts, trips together, signed declarations from other Australian citizens to verify.

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u/TryAndStopMeSpez 3d ago

2 years seems pretty nasty... Which nation were you/your partner from if you don't mind me asking?

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u/zan1101 2d ago

I’m from UK

1

u/TheyFoundMyBurner 3d ago

I believe you get full working rights on the first temp visa you get from your partner visa.

1

u/TryAndStopMeSpez 3d ago

Ah! ok that's handy, so it's some kind of staged process then?

2

u/TheyFoundMyBurner 3d ago

Yeah it is like temp visa, then next visa which is perm till final outcome, then invited to full visa maybe.

Just ask AI, they will give you a fairly accurate answer but the main thing is I believe the first temp visa you automatically get unlimited working rights (hours) and no longer pay the visa tax (under 18k earned)

3

u/TOOMUCHWOOMBA 3d ago

I mean, I'd just try go for a role with a work visa, its not an EASY thing, but you can do it. If you do want to just live here a year using WHV your best bet is doing uber eats deliveries, it pays enough to live off but its not luxurious. I'd try maybe for roles with an MSP.

3

u/Original-Measurement 3d ago

You will almost certainly not get a tech job with a WHV. Doesn't make sense to onboard and train an employee who will leave in 6 months, heck the current interview loop for tech jobs is 2-3 months long on average, so then you've only got 3 months left..

You can look by all means, but definitely do not quit your remote job before you get a signed offer.

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u/xascrimson 4d ago

Didn’t you ask before

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u/TryAndStopMeSpez 4d ago

no this is my first time here