From 462 to 457: Australian Work Visa Approved!

Well, Australia, you better get used to me, because, last week, my 457 sponsored work visa was approved!

Clearly, the government figured if a koala will let me hold him, I belong here.

My plan in Australia all along was uncertain. Although my working holiday visa was valid for a full year, I figured I’d give it a go for three to six months and then see where life took me. Worst case scenario, if I showed up and couldn’t find a decent job or somehow hated the country, I’d travel around for a bit and then go back to the States.

But here I am, seven and a half months later. In late October, I began working as a digital marketing specialist for a recruitment company. My coworkers are fantastic, I’m saving money, I’m learning and building up experience, and, most importantly, and I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing career-wise.

So I was delighted by their decision to keep me around longer than the maximum six months a working holiday visa allows. We put in the application for a sponsored work visa (a gazillion times easier than any visa in Spain), and now here I am, officially a full employee with no need to scurry out of the country come September!

Still proud to be an Amurican.

Which naturally leads to the question, “Are you going to stay in Australia forever?” The simple answer is that I still foresee myself returning to California at some point, so don’t fret, family. However, I’m also very committed to my current job and current life and am not going to fly the coop in the near future. But I am thrilled that I’ll be home for two weeks in just over a month!

Better adopt a kangaroo and start learning the didgeridoo, because, Australia, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.