Visa advice... anyone who's gotten PR after a 457 visa?

[CharR]

Hi all,
I'm 28.. been living in Australia for almost 2 years now, on working holiday visas, and just recently got a 2 year 457 visa through the company I work for.

It feels like I've been jumping through immigration hoops forever now, so I'm already trying to prepare for what will happen when this visa runs out.

The HR woman at my work made it seem like once I'd been on a 457 visa for 2 years, I would be eligible for PR, no problems. BUT, I was trying to decipher the DIAC information on their website and it seems like I'd still have to be sponsored by my current employer. How does that work exactly? Is there some stipulation that you have to continue working for them if they sponsor your PR application? It's not that I hate my job, just simply that I was looking forward to the end of my 457 visa in order to have opportunities at other companies, given that the opportunities for advancement where I am now are limited. But I'm not sure I could stomach getting them to sponsor me for PR and then quitting a few months later. Is there any other way to get around that, or would it be like starting at the beginning of the process again, applying for PR without an employer sponsor (which I tried originally but didn't quite meet the points requirement).

I've also been living with my Aussie partner for 6 months now, so would it make more sense for us to apply for a partner sponsored visa when my 457 visa runs out? Or is that the same thing basically as getting another 457 visa, given that we'd only be granted a 2 year provisional visa at first?

I'm basically trying to figure out the shortest route to PR... not that I'm trying to cut corners, just trying to understand all the different visa options and what's the best route for my particular situation - Basically wanting to be able to stay with my boyfriend in Oz, work for whoever I want, qualify for medicare so we can think about having kids sometime in the next millenium... I feel like my life has been on hold for the past two years and everything's been a temporary fix.

I really appreciate the advice of anyone that's been through all this before! Thanks!

[Saint]

Hi CharR
I came in to Oz about 14 yrs ago on a working holiday, then went to a defacto then PR from there. Got citizenship once the dual citizen laws were relaxed.

Your problem may be that 6 months might not be enough time for the govt to consider you defacto - you'd want to check on that - info should be available online.

Never had a problem, just open joint accounts at the bank, take tons of pictures.

[CharR]

Actually, what I meant was apply for the defacto after my current visa runs out, at which point we'll have been living together for 2 and a half years. My issue with that is it's a 2 year temporary visa to start with (to prove the validity of your relationship I suppose) where you're not a "real" PR, you don't have medicare, and you can't come and go without losing your visa. We already have joint bank accounts and tons of pictures, that's not an issue. I'm more concerned with the actual visa restrictions and if that's the best way to go for us, seeing as how that's not my only option (being sponsored by my company on a working visa already makes my situation a little different).

Wondering if there's anyone who's gone from a 457 working visa to PR, and about the process for that?