Just a note to say that if you lodged a 457 visa application before the 1st July 2013 and it was NOT approved before the 1st July 2013 then you will now need to meet one of the following:
– Have completed 5 years consecutive schooling in english,
– IELTS marks of 5,5,5,5 at least (or OET equivalent)
– hold a country’s national passport of Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America
– Have an annual base salary of $96,400
In other words having applied BEFORE 1st July 2013 for your 457 visa does not assist you if the visa was also not APPROVED before 1st July 2013.