Australian Skilled Migration Visa - Megathread

whatif...

Hi akkakkman,

Like Irish mover said previously - you need to find the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. There should be information on their website on what's required for a skills assessment.

I had to get onto the Institute of Chartered Accountancy Australia and they had to assess my skills before I could apply for the 189 visa. This is what took the longest for me.

irishmover

Yup this is a question for the assessing authority. It was pretty clear for me who I needed to go through when I applied for my 189 but I called them anyway and they were more than helpful in what I needed before applying.

In my case they did not care about experience but filling it out was obviously useful. They cared about making sure I had a degree and it was relevant. Anything after that was a bonus for me.

akkakkman

whatif... wrote: »

Hi akkakkman,

Like Irish mover said previously - you need to find the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. There should be information on their website on what's required for a skills assessment.

I had to get onto the Institute of Chartered Accountancy Australia and they had to assess my skills before I could apply for the 189 visa. This is what took the longest for me.

irishmover wrote: »

Yup this is a question for the assessing authority. It was pretty clear for me who I needed to go through when I applied for my 189 but I called them anyway and they were more than helpful in what I needed before applying.

In my case they did not care about experience but filling it out was obviously useful. They cared about making sure I had a degree and it was relevant. Anything after that was a bonus for me.

Thanks a mill, I'll follow that up.

carole

whatif... wrote: »

Applied for my 189 visa yesterday as an accountant. Very excited. Hoping to move to Sydney. Will be heading on my own. 32yo female. Surf's up!

Hi whatif
Have you done your medical yet? Myself and my boyfriend got the invitation to apply three weeks ago, he's an accountant too. Hoping to go to Sydney and maybe start looking for work before we go. Have you heard how the job market is looking there for accountants? Hopefully won't be too long until immigration get back to us!

whatif...

carole wrote: »

Hi whatif
Have you done your medical yet? Myself and my boyfriend got the invitation to apply three weeks ago, he's an accountant too. Hoping to go to Sydney and maybe start looking for work before we go. Have you heard how the job market is looking there for accountants? Hopefully won't be too long until immigration get back to us!

Hi Carole,

Yep did my medical last week - was €315 or something scandalous like that :cool:

The Matter Private in Dublin see you fairly quickly & send the results straight to Oz. I was missing that & the Garda clearance, which I got back fairly quickly also so just waiting now & checking my inbox for news... anybody know how long the wait is to hear back? 2-3months?

I've been on to recruiters over there and I'm hoping to be over there for July - so I'll catch their year end accounting period - and I'm assured there's loads of work for accountants.
I've now changed my mind & am going to Brisbane instead as I've a friend living there. Don't think the job market is as good there but we shall see!

When are you hoping to be over there by Carol?

Legend100

Hi whatif

I got my 189 last year as a CA (onshore here in Oz)

What stage are you at in the application and I could hazard a guess when you migth get it based on my experiences

whatif...

Legend100 wrote: »

Hi whatif

I got my 189 last year as a CA (onshore here in Oz)

What stage are you at in the application and I could hazard a guess when you migth get it based on my experiences

Hi Legend,
So I got invited to apply for a visa & I filled everything in on the Immi website & they came back asking for a couple of things - like medical & garda clearance - so I sent those off at the end of March & waiting to hear back now.

Eager to go but I've been ****e at saving so want to put it off at the same time too!!

The visa will do me for 5years and then I can apply for residency if I like.
I always see myself settling in Ireland though and having my kids be Irish. Think I'll go for the 3years max & hopefully come home then. Time will tell...

Legend100

You are well into the application so if you are at the document request stage. Last year I was invited to apply in July, got asked for my medical early August and had completed it about a day before that, uploaded it immediately and then got my grant mid October.

The 189 visa is a permanent residency visa so you'll be a resident on arrival

The visa lasts for five years but can be renewed with a residents return visa. If you are planning on doing three years then I would advise hanging on an additional year because then you can apply for citizenship and once you have that, you always can come back at any stage in your life if things didn't work out at home

Plenty of work for Irish accountants here (in Sydney) but not sure about Brisbane. Have a mate there who has been here for 7 years and has always had work as a CA

Cheers

rightyabe

Can a person check the application status of their lodged visa? Just I'm reading pomsinoz and people in there can check there processing status. Some say their migration agent gave them the TFN and password to view it?? I logged onto my ImmiAccount and it says nothing...

Mellor

when you log into Immiaccount, do you see the lodge visa?

The status is usually something like lodged, received, awaiting information etc

rightyabe

No visa mentioned on it just "my health declarations" lodged on 6th April 2015 status is submitted. That's my only entry on application type.

whatif...

rightyabe wrote: »

Can a person check the application status of their lodged visa? Just I'm reading pomsinoz and people in there can check there processing status. Some say their migration agent gave them the TFN and password to view it?? I logged onto my ImmiAccount and it says nothing...

Hi rightyabe,

I was invited to apply for the 189 visa at the start of March via the EOI. This led me to opening an ImmiAccount. My username is my email and I kept track of the password I set up at the time.
I've since submitted more information (twice) that they've come looking for to fulfill the paperwork for the applicaiton.
When I login to my ImmiAccount, I can see the visa reference number & it says 'information requested' (even though I submitted this last week)
Did you say you already applied for the visa via the Immi website?

rightyabe

Visa is lodged since October, I had a migration agent. That probably explains why I can't see it on my Immi page.

It's just I rang my agent twice since October to get a update and she just says have patience etc etc. she won't give me a answer as to how far the application has been processed etc. Getting annoyed now as I've paid good money and she just can't be arsed to check for me. Rang immigration too and they just say it's still processing which is understandable. At the end of the day it's not there job to update me.

whatif...

Why don't you ask her for your reference number & ask can you logon yourself? That might get her to check for you if she doesn't want to give you the deets.
That's 6months waiting with no answer. I would find that headwrecking too. People are asking me every second day if there's any update and when am I going etc. Getting exaperated with saying simply 'I don't know'. I can only imagine what people are saying to you lol.
I know there's a guide somewhere as to processing times for the different types of visa - try here:

https://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/8

Give a search for your visa type. Mine's independent 189 so 3 months

irishmover

Had my citizenship ceremony last night in Brisbane City hall.

Was surprised by how well thought out the evening was!

monariek

Question Re Medicare

I applied for PR in January. Does this mean

1. i was entitled to medicare from the date of application and wont get a refund of the medicare levy for January - June?

or

2. I had the option of applying for medicare, but because i havent, i can get the levy refund for the period?

Mellor

monariek wrote: »

Question Re Medicare

I applied for PR in January. Does this mean

1. i was entitled to medicare from the date of application and wont get a refund of the medicare levy for January - June?

or

2. I had the option of applying for medicare, but because i havent, i can get the levy refund for the period?

You were entitled to medicare from the day you applied in January. Therefore you'll pay the levy.

If the second option applied, then people could get out of the levy simply by not having a medicare card.

LittlePenguin

Hi everyone,

I just joined and finished reading through this thread today. Found lots of good tips, thanks!, but was just wondering if there are any solicitors on here who migrated, or are in the process of migrating, to Australia and could give me some advice?

I'm hoping to make the move to Australia, with a view to settling there. Path would hopefully be: study (possibly through a study visa) to complete requirements for admission as a solicitor, apply for PR, apply for citizenship if granted PR and present for four years.

Ye'll know the steps to gain admission to practice are both time-consuming and costly, and I need clarification on some ambiguities before, if, I begin this process. In my case I have five subjects to do, and a PLT (I did not seek an assessment of practical training because I did not do this before and, although I have some experience post qualification as an NY Attorney, I feel I could do with the refresher course, make contacts etc).

Have any legal people on here completed the requirements for admission through study while physically present in Australia (possibly making up two years), or doing non-award and having to fly in for exams/been facilitated to sit them at exam centers outside Australia? Any tips would be great.

Also, can anyone recommend a reputable MARA agent/lawyer that has solid experience in guiding legal professionals through this process? I can read the available information myself but we all know there are always little nuances/technicalities only those that specialise in specific areas know of. I really want to get back to Oz (spent 15 months there on WHV and holiday visa, no real legal contacts from that though) and loved it. Have lived in NZ and Canada since but they don't compare.

Please pm me if you want more info.

Thanks in advance

Mellor

Are you aware of the restrictions on a student visa? Will you be able to support yourself on that visa?

Also, can anyone recommend a reputable MARA agent/lawyer that has solid experience in guiding legal professionals through this process? I can read the available information myself but we all know there are always little nuances/technicalities only those that specialise in specific areas know of.

Are you migrating as a student or a legal professional.
Completely different visa and processes. Which visa are you applying for

LittlePenguin

Hi Mellor:

Are you aware of the restrictions on a student visa? Will you be able to support yourself on that visa?

Thanks for the swift reply. Yeah, I'm aware of the restrictions: you can work 20 hours a week ,40 during breaks, visa is only valid for 1-3 months after course finishes etc. It'll be a stretch to support myself (doubt I'd get part-time legal work) but I'll do whatever it takes (nighttime work as a toilet cleaner if needs be, end goal is worth it!). I have some experience working in hospitality/retail, so I'm hopeful I'll find something. I have friends in Sydney and Melbourne from my time on the WHV there, so they might be able to help, but it looks like I'll be in SA so maybe not. I'll give it my best shot.

Are you migrating as a student or a legal professional.
Completely different visa and processes. Which visa are you applying for[/QUOTE]

Yep, completely different processes but the first one leads to the second one, if that makes sense. Only 'solicitor' and 'barrister' are on the SOL (Legal Professionals NEC are on the CSOL but that would require sponsorship which I'd say would be virtually impossible for me to get from outside the country. As I'd have to eventually do the admission requirements to practice in any case, I'm focusing on that now, and hoping to be able to apply as an Independent Skilled, or State Nominated, in 1.5-2 years).

For solicitors, the skills assessment comprises a letter from the SLAA (State Legal Admission Authority) saying you are admitted to practice in that State. To achieve said admission, you have to complete requirements the applicable law board sets for you. In my case the NSW LPAB (Legal Profession Admissions Board) have instructed me to complete five law subjects at an Australian university. That's where the study visa comes in. As I have to do this study in any case, along with Practical Legal Training, it nearly amounts to two years study.....which may invoke the Australian Study Requirement (two years of study completed in no less than 16 months) which could give me a bit of a cushion (I could apply for a graduate visa that would buy me time in which to get Australian experience for points), and extra points for two years study if I need them. Thing is, the cost involved is crazy, will take every penny (as well as a loan) but I'm seeing it as an investment and worth it in the end. That's why I'm dying to find someone who has gone down/knows someone who has gone down a similar path and can give me good advice on the feasibility of what I'm attempting before I go for it. Main thing is I need to ensure the courses I'm doing will actually count, for example graduate certificates do not count, but some diplomas are. I can't find a definitive answer on whether the ones I am looking at will or not.

It is only after I am admitted that I can then nominate 'solicitor' from the SOL.

Being in law myself, I know how much value there is in someone who specialises in a particular area, and I've come across my fair share of unscrupulous lawyers who try to take advantage (immigration is such a stressful, vulnerable process), that's why I'm hoping someone here might have good tips/recommendations.

That said, from what I've found not many lawyers actually receive ITA's each year, but then they also increased the quota for lawyers by 58% for 2016-2017.....All I know is if I don't try I'd regret it for the rest of my life because of all the places I've lived, the quality of life has not been matched, for me, anywhere else.

Sorry for the book of an answer, I hope it makes sense!

EICVD

Oh won't somebody please think of the natives.......

LittlePenguin

Just a humble thought to sleep on…..perhaps…..their own government?

From my scant knowledge, economic policies and future growth are just two of the driving forces behind immigration policies, such as recruiting young, highly-skilled, high-tax paying professionals from overseas into a domestic workforce. When yearly, internal, studies show your own market is either not supplying, or those qualified are unwilling to work in, a particular field, pray tell, what to do? Leave the problem get worse or look outside your borders to entice (LAFHA), encourage (attending overseas recruitment drives), even poach (contacting health professionals while still training) those professionals to your lovely shores….. In the case of lawyers, this is driven by a policy of ‘access’ to justice, particularly outside large urban areas which, with increasing numbers of young lawyers leaving the field (high stress, long hours, and rate of pay akin to the average industrial wage when you divide income by those hours) combined with experienced practitioners retiring and finding few candidates to take over, apparently there will be lots of natives, particularly in rural, regional and remote areas, who may find themselves with no access to legal services within a sizeable travel radius…..come to think of it, what if they get sick and there's no doctor for miles, and miles.....how tragic. Maybe the Australian Government should try to do something about that.....

Mellor

LittlePenguin wrote: »

...but I'll do whatever it takes (nighttime work as a toilet cleaner if needs be, end goal is worth it!).

I can appreciate the determination. Working as a toilet cleaner won't will net you about $400 a week. You won't survive on that.
To do what you intend to do, you'll need a higher paying job,

Yep, completely different processes but the first one leads to the second one, if that makes sense.

I'm aware that one leads to the other. But at this moment in time you are focused on the later, when you'll need to enter on the former. A MARA agent specializing in legal professionals is of no help to you right now. You aren't a legal professional, you are a student. As far as a MARA agent/DIBP etc are concern.

In my case the NSW LPAB (Legal Profession Admissions Board) have instructed me to complete five law subjects at an Australian university...

...Main thing is I need to ensure the courses I'm doing will actually count, for example graduate certificates do not count, but some diplomas are. I can't find a definitive answer on whether the ones I am looking at will or not.

If you'll be in SA, shouldn't you be contacting the Law Society of South Australia?
Regardless as to whether it SA or NSW, if the whole process hinges on their requirements. I'd be contacting them to verify which courses "counts". A MARA agent deals with the DIBP visa requirements, when it comes to skills assessment, they'll basically expect you to arrive with the docuement, or else defer you to the relevant body.

LittlePenguin wrote: »

Leave the problem get worse or look outside your borders to entice (LAFHA), encourage (attending overseas recruitment drives).

Side point, but LAFHA doesn't apply to migrants. That was a exploitative loophole, that has since been closed

brandnewaward

applied for 186 11/11/15 , granted 15/07/16.......roughly 9 month wait time if anyones waiting on approval

vibe666

monariek wrote: »

Question Re Medicare

I applied for PR in January. Does this mean

1. i was entitled to medicare from the date of application and wont get a refund of the medicare levy for January - June?

or

2. I had the option of applying for medicare, but because i havent, i can get the levy refund for the period?

if you've been paying for doctors visits and prescriptions etc. for a period where you were entitled to cover, you can go into your local (or any) medicare office and get them to backdate it to the start of that time so you can get a rebate from them for costs incurred prior to your application.

at least that's what happened with me, but i'm not sure if it's their policy to do it or she just did it because she was a middled aged woman and i'm a terrible flirt.

either way though, might be worth a shot depending on how much time you've spent in the docs?

rightyabe

How soon after getting PR can I start my citizenship application. Been here 5 years. 2 on whv, 2.5 on 457 I think and PR since 14th of May this year.

Slideways

rightyabe wrote: »

How soon after getting PR can I start my citizenship application. Been here 5 years. 2 on whv, 2.5 on 457 I think and PR since 14th of May this year.

You have to be in the country 4 years and PR for 12 months so next may

Mellor

rightyabe wrote: »

How soon after getting PR can I start my citizenship application. Been here 5 years. 2 on whv, 2.5 on 457 I think and PR since 14th of May this year.

You can apply 14th of may 2017

rightyabe

Do I just fill in the application online then?

Mellor

rightyabe wrote: »

Do I just fill in the application online then?

Online application, pay the fee
Await to be called for interview/test
Attend the interview and do your citizenship test.
Await a date for a citizenship ceremony,
Attend ceremony and get you citizenship certificate.
Apply for a passport, pay the fee.

All up it could take 6-12 months. From applying to passport arriving.