Australian Skilled Migration Visa - Megathread

irishmover · 18-06-2014 12:14pm

Did they confirm that your medicals are ticked off as completed on their end? As in they received them and are all in compliance.

linola_c · 18-06-2014 10:07pm

No Irishmover, we didn't hear anything but they come up as received on our immi account and then there is a sentence at the bottom saying, no health examinations required due to the information that has been provided to immigration.

So I thought that all looked ok?

This visa is consuming my every waking minute. I am so worried now ðŸ˜ž

linola_c · 23-06-2014 4:50am

Got the grant today everyone, so I guess there is a bit of a backlog with 189s at the moment!

irishmover · 23-06-2014 10:26am

linola_c wrote: »

Got the grant today everyone, so I guess there is a bit of a backlog with 189s at the moment!

Congrats. I bet that's a relief!

linola_c · 23-06-2014 11:32am

Like you wouldn't believe!!!

So happy right now...:):):):)

sebastianlieken · 01-07-2014 8:30am

Hi all, I'm wondering if 60 points is generally considered sufficient for a Skill Select EOI?

I'm ending off for my qualification and work experience approval this week from Engineers Australia and i'm sitting my IELTS on the 18th. If I get 10 points from IELTS i'll have 60 points total, but hopefully I'll get 20 points from it and have 70 points in total.

EDIT: oh bugger...

2339 Other Engineering Proffesionals 737 / 1000

flip, this category is filling up fast...

niterain84 · 01-07-2014 10:07am

sebastianlieken wrote: »

Hi all, I'm wondering if 60 points is generally considered sufficient for a Skill Select EOI?

I'm ending off for my qualification and work experience approval this week from Engineers Australia and i'm sitting my IELTS on the 18th. If I get 10 points from IELTS i'll have 60 points total, but hopefully I'll get 20 points from it and have 70 points in total.

EDIT: oh bugger...

2339 Other Engineering Proffesionals 737 / 1000

flip, this category is filling up fast...

60 is the minimum that you need to lodge EOI. Its all about demand. Offers to apply for visa are given to people with the most points first, 75,70,65,60 etc. If you look at the previous results from invitation rounds the majority got offers with 60 and 65 points. So you will get an offer with 60 points some time, maybe not in the first rounds. Doesnt hurt to have more points, so i would do some study for IELTS. i have done it, i did a fair bit of study and got 8 overall, nice 20 points for the EOI.

Dont worry for the 2339 category filling up. The financial year in Australia runs from 1st july to 30 June. So those figures will be set back to zero today as the year 2014-2015 is just starting today.

I applied under this category with 65 points and got invitation straight away. just to let you know it took my letter from Enginneers Australia nearly 3 months to come from when i sent application. without that you cant lodge EOI.

Good luck

sebastianlieken · 01-07-2014 10:28am

niterain84 wrote: »

60 is the minimum that you need to lodge EOI. Its all about demand. Offers to apply for visa are given to people with the most points first, 75,70,65,60 etc. If you look at the previous results from invitation rounds the majority got offers with 60 and 65 points. So you will get an offer with 60 points some time, maybe not in the first rounds. Doesnt hurt to have more points, so i would do some study for IELTS. i have done it, i did a fair bit of study and got 8 overall, nice 20 points for the EOI.

Dont worry for the 2339 category filling up. The financial year in Australia runs from 1st july to 30 June. So those figures will be set back to zero today as the year 2014-2015 is just starting today.

I applied under this category with 65 points and got invitation straight away. just to let you know it took my letter from Enginneers Australia nearly 3 months to come from when i sent application. without that you cant lodge EOI.

Good luck

Thanks very much for your reply! very helpful!

3 months though!! YIKES!
It says on their website 8 weeks at the moment for accredited qualifications and 16 weeks for non-accredited. I take it these arn't really accurate then?

I plan on heading over at the end of Sept on a WHV and do some travel whilst my 189 is progressing. This means I'll begin the application process in Ireland and finalise it and (hopefully) be awarded PR whilst already in Oz.

niterain84 · 01-07-2014 1:11pm

sebastianlieken wrote: »

Thanks very much for your reply! very helpful!

3 months though!! YIKES!
It says on their website 8 weeks at the moment for accredited qualifications and 16 weeks for non-accredited. I take it these arn't really accurate then?

I plan on heading over at the end of Sept on a WHV and do some travel whilst my 189 is progressing. This means I'll begin the application process in Ireland and finalise it and (hopefully) be awarded PR whilst already in Oz.

yeah 8 weeks is about right but you have to remember to allow time for postage to/from the other side of the world which adds an extra 2 to 3 weeks to the process. I think mine was 2 and half months or about that anyway. Tip: send it by registered post, so can track it and know when it arrives in Australia. At least u can be sure it arrived ok and start counting down the 8 weeks

wd42 · 03-07-2014 4:06pm

Not sure if anyone can help, I've trawled the net seeking an answer and have sent an e-mail to ACS but not sure if they will reply.

Submitted an RPL skills assessment, got a positive result back.

Now, to successfully pass an RPL assessment you require a minimum of 8 years experience.
However, they take this 8 years away from your work experience for DIAC.

eg. if you have 11 years experience, 8 years is taken away(as equivalent to degree) and you now have 3 years post qualification experience.

So, in my current situation I can say I have 3.5 years experience(post RPL/degree) which will give me 5 points of the 60 required to submit EOI

5 years experience is required to gain 10 points.

Now, I currently can gain 55 points through age/ielts/experience/state sponsor

If I wait a year and half I would have the experience for extra 5 points but will lose 10 for my age!!

I am currently in the process of gaining CCNP which is equivalent to diploma and can gain 10 points but will my current skills assessment still be acceptable and I can show DIAC my qualification for the points or would I have to start a whole new skills assessment.

So, my question is, if I gain this cert will I be required to submit a new skills assessment and will work experience only count after cert is gained?

Head wrecked! Thanks

niterain84 · 04-07-2014 12:19am

wd42 wrote: »

Not sure if anyone can help, I've trawled the net seeking an answer and have sent an e-mail to ACS but not sure if they will reply.

Submitted an RPL skills assessment, got a positive result back.

Now, to successfully pass an RPL assessment you require a minimum of 8 years experience.
However, they take this 8 years away from your work experience for DIAC.

eg. if you have 11 years experience, 8 years is taken away(as equivalent to degree) and you now have 3 years post qualification experience.

So, in my current situation I can say I have 3.5 years experience(post RPL/degree) which will give me 5 points of the 60 required to submit EOI

5 years experience is required to gain 10 points.

Now, I currently can gain 55 points through age/ielts/experience/state sponsor

If I wait a year and half I would have the experience for extra 5 points but will lose 10 for my age!!

I am currently in the process of gaining CCNP which is equivalent to diploma and can gain 10 points but will my current skills assessment still be acceptable and I can show DIAC my qualification for the points or would I have to start a whole new skills assessment.

So, my question is, if I gain this cert will I be required to submit a new skills assessment and will work experience only count after cert is gained?

Head wrecked! Thanks

how will you lose 10 points for age in a year and a half? the points for age are in increments of 5, unless you turn 45 yrs old then you would lose 15 points.

as for the skills assesment its a complicated case but if u want the cert included youre going to need a new skills assesment to take this into account. but how this will affect the recognition of experience prior to the cert im not sure. best to try to get some professional advice from a migration agent. Good luck

digiman · 08-07-2014 10:27am

I've just submitted an EOI for a 189 and I have 60 points. If I get an invite with that many is it possible it could get declined later on in the application process because someone else had more points. I didn't do the English test but guess could do this if I needed more points. Any advice?

irishmover · 08-07-2014 10:44am

digiman wrote: »

I've just submitted an EOI for a 189 and I have 60 points. If I get an invite with that many is it possible it could get declined later on in the application process because someone else had more points. I didn't do the English test but guess could do this if I needed more points. Any advice?

Once you get invited to apply you've got your slot and won't be handed to someone else because they've more points.

niterain84 · 11-07-2014 3:38pm

Just some info on prices for anyone that has to do the medical assessment here in Ireland for the 189 Visa. I got a price for the standard check (ie. medical exam, chest x-ray and blood tests). I dont know about prices in the Cork clinic as its not convenient for me. (prices are for 1 adult)

Euromedic Northwood,Dublin 285 Euro

Mater Private, Dublin, 275 Euro

Shy Ted · 12-07-2014 1:04pm

sebastianlieken wrote: »

2339 Other Engineering Proffesionals 737 / 1000

flip, this category is filling up fast...

How do you find out what the current quota is per occupation?

niterain84 · 12-07-2014 1:10pm

Shy Ted wrote: »

How do you find out what the current quota is per occupation?

Go to Skillselect page on Dept Immigration Australia website. I cant post link as im a new user. just google skillselect.

Click on occupation ceilings and scroll down.

Shy Ted · 12-07-2014 4:58pm

Thanks niterain84.

For all others that might be interested here's a link to the occupational ceilings list.

The_Hustler · 20-07-2014 12:59am

sebastianlieken wrote: »

EDIT: oh bugger...

2339 Other Engineering Proffesionals 737 / 1000

flip, this category is filling up fast...

46/1000 now, looks like it reset

NiallSORo · 22-07-2014 1:47am

The_Hustler wrote: »

46/1000 now, looks like it reset

Yes, rolled over on 1 July.

digiman · 28-07-2014 12:36pm

digiman wrote: »

I've just submitted an EOI for a 189 and I have 60 points. If I get an invite with that many is it possible it could get declined later on in the application process because someone else had more points. I didn't do the English test but guess could do this if I needed more points. Any advice?

Got my invite last night, missed the first round but looking at the results there was almost 700 people with 65+ points so not as many people able to get in with 60 points.

Have just filled out the online form and applied for the Visa, also applied for my medicals.
Next step is to apply for Garda and Australian Police checks. Anybody got any experience in applying for these from Australia?

irishmover · 28-07-2014 12:43pm

digiman wrote: »

Got my invite last night, missed the first round but looking at the results there was almost 700 people with 65+ points so not as many people able to get in with 60 points.

Have just filled out the online form and applied for the Visa, also applied for my medicals.
Next step is to apply for Garda and Australian Police checks. Anybody got any experience in applying for these from Australia?

You could have got both sorted long ago. The Australian one is easy but the Irish one is a little more tricky and takes a while as they're useless!

Here's the link anyway to the info you need. I suggest getting this sorted in the next few days. I got my mam to go into the local Garda station with my letter and they accepted that without an issue. They screwed up my date of birth on the cert though so had to get them to amend it...

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/law_enforcement/police_certificate.html

digiman · 28-07-2014 12:55pm

irishmover wrote: »

You could have got both sorted long ago. The Australian one is easy but the Irish one is a little more tricky and takes a while as they're useless!

Here's the link anyway to the info you need. I suggest getting this sorted in the next few days. I got my mam to go into the local Garda station with my letter and they accepted that without an issue. They screwed up my date of birth on the cert though so had to get them to amend it...

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/law_enforcement/police_certificate.html

Thanks, will try the same. Doing as much as I can tonight, looking back now should have done this ages ago is right!

Sundy · 29-07-2014 3:00am

irishmover wrote: »

You could have got both sorted long ago. The Australian one is easy but the Irish one is a little more tricky and takes a while as they're useless!

Here's the link anyway to the info you need. I suggest getting this sorted in the next few days. I got my mam to go into the local Garda station with my letter and they accepted that without an issue. They screwed up my date of birth on the cert though so had to get them to amend it...

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/law_enforcement/police_certificate.html

I got my irish one in less than 3 weeks. Filled the form in over here, scanned it and had my parents post it. Arrived in my letterbox in Perth less than 3 weeks later. I was shocked to be honest.

AFP one is easy to get and only takes a few days

NiallSORo · 29-07-2014 4:15am

Get somebody at home to scan and email it prior to posting. The scan will suffice for uploading to ImmiAccount, and this will also mitigate any postal service fails.

Niall O'Rourke

irishmover · 29-07-2014 5:25am

Sundy wrote: »

I got my irish one in less than 3 weeks. Filled the form in over here, scanned it and had my parents post it. Arrived in my letterbox in Perth less than 3 weeks later. I was shocked to be honest.

AFP one is easy to get and only takes a few days

I got mine in two weeks but because they were useless and put my wrong date of birth (it was wrote down for them!) it took another week to get it sorted again.

Timistry · 29-07-2014 5:47am

Similar to Linola C, waiting apprehensively for notification from my immigration agent that an officer has been assigned to the "case". Applied in April and I was told to expect 4-6 months to elapse before a decision is made.

My fourth year will start next week so Im hoping it will be granted soon or at the latest around my birthday at the end of september

Sundy · 30-07-2014 2:43am

Timistry wrote: »

Similar to Linola C, waiting apprehensively for notification from my immigration agent that an officer has been assigned to the "case". Applied in April and I was told to expect 4-6 months to elapse before a decision is made.

My fourth year will start next week so Im hoping it will be granted soon or at the latest around my birthday at the end of september

Lots of people getting grants without ever having a case officer assigned, especially if everything was front loaded. So don't worry too much.

On a separate note I got my AFP police clearance back in May and am applying soon. Should I get another more recent one or would the one from May suffice?

irishmover · 30-07-2014 3:39am

Sundy wrote: »

Lots of people getting grants without ever having a case officer assigned, especially if everything was front loaded. So don't worry too much.

On a separate note I got my AFP police clearance back in May and am applying soon. Should I get another more recent one or would the one from May suffice?

Believe it's either valid for 1 year or 2. So you should be fine.

Mellor · 30-07-2014 8:15am

Sundy wrote: »

Lots of people getting grants without ever having a case officer assigned, especially if everything was front loaded. So don't worry too much.

You can't get it granted without a case officer. They are the person who basically makes the decision, even its its all there decision ready, they have to be assigned to check the documents and press the button.

On a separate note I got my AFP police clearance back in May and am applying soon. Should I get another more recent one or would the one from May suffice?

Valid for 12 months.

Pugins · 31-07-2014 12:17am

Mellor wrote: »

You can't get it granted without a case officer. They are the person who basically makes the decision, even its its all there decision ready, they have to be assigned to check the documents and press the button.

ths.

You can get what some people call a direct grant. A case officer is assigned to your case but if everything is on order you just get the grant email. That is your first and last contact with your case officer. This is what happened to us.

Sundy · 31-07-2014 2:37am

Pugins wrote: »

You can get what some people call a direct grant. A case officer is assigned to your case but if everything is on order you just get the grant email. That is your first and last contact with your case officer. This is what happened to us.

This is what I meant. Case officer never shows up as assigned on your account but you get a grant email.

sebastianlieken · 01-08-2014 10:15am

I am actually bouncing off the walls here!!!

got my IELTS results just there,

Listening: 9.0
Reading: 8.5
Writing: 8.0
Speaking: 9.0

MAXIMUM, 20 freekin points for skillselect!!! BOOOYEAAAAHHH!!

(it's so hard containing myself here in work!!!)

niterain84 · 01-08-2014 1:20pm

sebastianlieken wrote: »

I am actually bouncing off the walls here!!!

got my IELTS results just there,

Listening: 9.0
Reading: 8.5
Writing: 8.0
Speaking: 9.0

MAXIMUM, 20 freekin points for skillselect!!! BOOOYEAAAAHHH!!

(it's so hard containing myself here in work!!!)

congrats man, i know the feeling, its a handy 20 points too

ben10afc · 01-08-2014 5:38pm

I've been asked to provide 3 years evidence of working in my trade for my skilled visa, is there anyway I could obtain tax statements? As I couldn't provide payslips or bank statements, I'm in Northern Ireland also Incase that matters .

digiman · 05-08-2014 10:42am

Do all the documents that are uploaded via the online portal for 189 need to be certified?

jj1 · 05-08-2014 2:03pm

digiman wrote: »

Do all the documents that are uploaded via the online portal for 189 need to be certified?

No they do not need to be certified, but they need to be a scanned colour copy... or take a photo and convert to a pdf. Label them clearly

Sundy · 06-08-2014 3:05am

digiman wrote: »

Do all the documents that are uploaded via the online portal for 189 need to be certified?

This is something I've been wondering about because the immi website seems to contradict itself a bit in places.

irishmover · 06-08-2014 7:21am

Sundy wrote: »

This is something I've been wondering about because the immi website seems to contradict itself a bit in places.

I never seen it contradictory. Here's why..

All supporting documents should be scanned and uploaded with your application. All documents that you provide must be certified copies of original documents.

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/189.aspx

Click in document checklist.

There used to be a PDF which showed everything you needed but the link to it is broken. I'll check my laptop later to see if I saved it when I was doing mine in December.

Any original you make a copy of and will scan it and upload it needs to be certified. Which is pretty much everything.

Not like it's a big deal to get a few more bits certified along with all the other documents you bring to a JP.

Sundy · 06-08-2014 8:00am

irishmover wrote: »

I never seen it contradictory. Here's why..

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/189.aspx

Click in document checklist.

There used to be a PDF which showed everything you needed but the link to it is broken. I'll check my laptop later to see if I saved it when I was doing mine in December.

Any original you make a copy of and will scan it and upload it needs to be certified. Which is pretty much everything.

Not like it's a big deal to get a few more bits certified along with all the other documents you bring to a JP.

Yeah I'm not too worried because one of the guys here in work can certify everything for me.
However I have read elsewhere online (think it was pomsinoz) that somewhere it states a colour photo copy is sufficient.

irishmover · 06-08-2014 8:06am

Sundy wrote: »

Yeah I'm not too worried because one of the guys here in work can certify everything for me.
However I have read elsewhere online (think it was pomsinoz) that somewhere it states a colour photo copy is sufficient.

I never took the chance anyway. I got all mine certified (was in colour aswell). That way they can't come back and say you didn't certify it!

sebastianlieken · 07-08-2014 8:18am

My mate just applyed for his visa and his case officer clarified for him that as long as the scan is of the original and in colour, then it is sufficient and doesn't need to be certified.

Shy Ted · 07-08-2014 8:44am

sebastianlieken wrote: »

My mate just applyed for his visa and his case officer clarified for him that as long as the scan is of the original and in colour, then it is sufficient and doesn't need to be certified.

How long did your mate have to wait to get assigned a case officer? I've been waiting 3 months for a 189 visa and still no word (and that's through a MARA agent.)

sebastianlieken · 07-08-2014 8:55am

Shy Ted wrote: »

How long did your mate have to wait to get assigned a case officer? I've been waiting 3 months for a 189 visa and still no word (and that's through a MARA agent.)

well my mate applied for the graduate visa (18 month one) so it wouldn't be the same, but he got assigned one rather quickly., 2 weeks.

you've been waiting 3 months!?!?.... oh... kay... feck. How many points did you apply with and do you mind me asking which profession you applied under?

I intend on applying once I get my Engineers Australia Assessment back. I was kinda banking on only having to wait about 3 or 4 weeks to get a case officer.

Shy Ted · 07-08-2014 9:11am

sebastianlieken wrote: »

you've been waiting 3 months!?!?.... oh... kay... feck. How many points did you apply with and do you mind me asking which profession you applied under?

I intend on applying once I get my Engineers Australia Assessment back. I was kinda banking on only having to wait about 3 or 4 weeks to get a case officer.

I had 75 points but I think that only comes into play for the Eoi. I applied under other engineering professionals. Pomsinoz is a good forum to get an idea of other applications status or other general emigration advice.

niterain84 · 07-08-2014 9:43am

Shy Ted wrote: »

How long did your mate have to wait to get assigned a case officer? I've been waiting 3 months for a 189 visa and still no word (and that's through a MARA agent.)

I applied for 189 visa 2 months ago under same category (other eng professionals). Still no Case Officer. From reading the pomsnoz forum and other forums there are delays as the 190 visa has higher priority since July and also there were 4000 invitations for visas offered in May compared to the usual 2500. People who lodged at the end of april / first half of May have been getting grants recently.

I think you should contact Immigration in Oz and ask about your app , as you are entitled to know once the 3 months have passed.

Shy Ted · 07-08-2014 10:53am

niterain84 wrote: »

I applied for 189 visa 2 months ago under same category (other eng professionals). Still no Case Officer. From reading the pomsnoz forum and other forums there are delays as the 190 visa has higher priority since July and also there were 4000 invitations for visas offered in May compared to the usual 2500. People who lodged at the end of april / first half of May have been getting grants recently.

I think you should contact Immigration in Oz and ask about your app , as you are entitled to know once the 3 months have passed.

Thanks niterain84, i saw some of those posts regarding the delays. I think i was just unlucky applying on the 2nd week of May. One or two who applied after me managed to get through quickly.

Would it matter that I applied through an agent? I don't have any details regarding my application no. etc.

niterain84 · 07-08-2014 11:38am

Shy Ted wrote: »

Thanks niterain84, i saw some of those posts regarding the delays. I think i was just unlucky applying on the 2nd week of May. One or two who applied after me managed to get through quickly.

Would it matter that I applied through an agent? I don't have any details regarding my application no. etc.

Get onto your agent. He should follow it up. Thats what u are paying him/her for.

Do u have the details of your immi account to check if your agent has really uploaded everything? If not then ask your agent for the details of your account num etc. That way u can log in and know exactly where u stand before u talk with immigration in oz.

I imagine u have paid a nice fee to the agent, they really should be giving u better help than they seem to be, keep the pressure on them

Timistry · 11-08-2014 2:09am

Just talking to the agent there on the phone. I applied in April so I was just inquiring if she had any update. I was told in no uncertain terms that it would October at the earliest that I would be assigned a case officer.

As pointed out previously here, there seems to be a big delay ATM. I was hoping for it to be all done and dusted before my Birthday at the end of September..

irishmover · 11-08-2014 5:40am

Timistry wrote: »

Just talking to the agent there on the phone. I applied in April so I was just inquiring if she had any update. I was told in no uncertain terms that it would October at the earliest that I would be assigned a case officer.

As pointed out previously here, there seems to be a big delay ATM. I was hoping for it to be all done and dusted before my Birthday at the end of September..

Big delay is an understatement. 6 months before a case officer is assigned? Madness.

Theresalwaysone · 11-08-2014 8:46am

I have a 457 App gone in about 4 weeks ago and nothing yet.

I assume the delays will affect this visa app as well? Due to start work on Sep 14th. Guess I'll have to take a holiday.

Australian Skilled Migration Visa - Megathread

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