Stuck on PR Visa Application: How to Get an Employment Certificate from Current Employer?

Hello Friends. Now I'm in the process of applying for an Australian PR Visa. For that, it requires a reference letter from all the previous and present employers.

When it comes to the present employer, they mention that they will provide a reference letter only at the time of relieving. For an alternate way, I proceeded with a statutory declaration. For this, I need to get an employment certificate or a Bonafide certificate from the present employer. But they said they have guidelines to provide an employment certificate or Bonafide certificate only for a Business Visa from the company.

What should I do now? Can anyone suggest to me?

Thanks.

Hi, A bonafide certificate is a certificate of evidence confirming your employment with the employer. It is not necessary that it should be addressed to the Australian Embassy, and it can start as "To whomsoever it may concern," wherein they are confirming your employment with them only. There is no harm in it. It is strange why the employer is reluctant to issue a bonafide certificate. In no way will the employer be responsible for any untoward situation. You may try to convince your employer again for a certificate addressed: "To whomsoever it may concern."

Alternatively, check with the Australian Embassy to see whether they will accept an appointment order, pay slip, Form 16, etc.?

Hi Parthiv-Jackson,

It sounds like you're in a bit of a challenging situation with your current employer's policies. Since they only provide reference letters at the time of relieving and the employment or bona fide certificate only for Business Visas, you might need to explore a few alternatives:

Speak with HR or a Senior Manager:

Sometimes, exceptions can be made if you explain your situation. You could request a meeting with HR or a senior manager to explain that the certificate is necessary for your Australian PR application, and emphasize that it doesn't impact your current employment.

Request a General Employment Verification:

If they are strict about not providing a bona fide certificate or reference letter, ask if they can at least provide a general employment verification letter, which states your employment dates, job title, and other non-sensitive details.

Use Pay Slips and Other Documentation:

If you cannot get any letter from your employer, you might need to rely on other documentation, such as payslips, your contract of employment, or any internal communication confirming your employment status.

Statutory Declaration:

If all else fails, you might still proceed with a statutory declaration, explaining that your employer has a policy against issuing such documents except for specific circumstances.

Thanks

References vs. Proof of Past Service

Indicating a couple of references from your past service is different from producing proof of past service. Obtaining references from your past employers is a form of background verification (BGV). If your Australian employer's policy stipulates such a process, consider what you can do.

Imagine what would happen if one or two references provide a 'not so satisfactory' opinion; how would such an unfavorable remark impact your chances of selection? This might depend solely on the rapport you maintained with your past bosses. You may choose to avoid using a reference from a boss with whom you didn't have a cordial relationship. Instead, consider other individuals who could provide an honest report without any negative remarks.

You need to explain your situation to the case manager handling your PR application. I cannot remember how we managed with my partner's PR application back in 2017, but I think I had an email address as they had written to us to request some information. You may also be able to contact them via your Immi account, which you set up to upload your application and relevant documents.

At the end of the day, you have to satisfy an Australian Immigration official, so you need to deal with them to help find a solution. Getting PR is a long and arduous task, as I can attest to with my partner's application. Asking questions on a forum such as this, where it is unlikely many, if any, people will have the necessary Australian knowledge, is not the way to deal with it.

Challenges in Obtaining Employer Reference Letters

It is actually not surprising. The company knows you plan to leave, and they are not interested in helping you out for migrating to another country. There is no legal binding on them to do so either. At best, you can speak to the senior management if you have contact with them and make a personal request.

Depending on your timeline, you may consider resigning from the company if you are desperate for the document and the embassy gives you no other option.