Debs

Hi, I just use travel adaptors. I still have English plugs on my washing machine, dyson, fan and hair straighteners. I shipped these items over with the English plugs on.

Hi, i only had a letter from the uni as it was a few years since my course and they couldn't supply the sylubus. I did get the letter notorised. The posting recorded delivery is costly costly and stressful awaiting its arrival here... but seems the only way still at present. Radiography here has similarities and differences. The health system means a range of things are covered with Medicare (similar to NHS), although people encouraged to have private insurance for things not covered. There are lots of private practices. Radiology can be within a public or private hospital but also just random clinics on the street or in a shopping centre! Private referrers appear to have more leaway on what they can request and numerous places still print on film. I would say generally waiting times are less and examinations often reported quicker. In general radiography you may fine they perform more views than the standard AP and Lat. Equipment wise, mainly similar, but can vary a lot with some places having dated stuff. Salaries higher, although the cost of living probably slightly higher too (with current exchange rate). Work wise it's common to work 40 hours a week standard and accrue a day off once a month. Sick leave and AL often need to be accrued before taking time off or its unpaid leave. Pay is often fortnightly which I'm now getting used to. Debs

I found a notary that worked with a solicitors company. It appeared to be an additional title only some solicitors held. I do think there was room for movement on the actual visa application on line, that things didn't need to be notorised if colour copies scanned in. Do have a list of documents you need signed. My notary did a cover sheet and then bound two books with a signature on each page (one for ahpra and one for AIR). It maybe worth getting both sets of documents prepared for one notary visit. Debs

Hi there, Yes of course I'm happy to answer questions if I can be of help. Good luck with starting the process. I'm now coming up to 11 months here and all going well. Debs

Hi, yes more than happy to answer questions, obviously things seem to change quickly in the emigration process... ???

Hey, yes I have found the same. The fresh bedding just doesn't have that lovely clean sheets feel or smell. I'll now be trying different varieties of powder/softener. :wink:

Hi again, I have news my furniture will be delivered tomorrow. :wink: So it left my UK house on the 26th August and the ship docked Friday 28th October, cleared by customs the following Friday the 4th November and earliest delivery was tomorrow Tuesday the 8th November. So 9 weeks to get to Melbourne and an extra week for clearance. Overall I think I've managed well. Bought a sofa bed from ikea and kitchen essentials along with TV, kettle, toaster (I didn't pack my uk TV or kettle or toaster). In reality I did manage ok with my large suitcase of clothes. I stayed in a serviced apartment for 4 weeks that I booked from the uk, and have managed 2 weeks in the house rental. However, I'm really really looking forward to the sofas and bed arriving.... I found the ikea here along with DIY shops and Woolworths supermarkets, the reject shop and The Good Guy's for electrical all reasonable and comparitable prices to the UK. Anyway... I await tomorrow's delivery to see how everything else has travelled.

Hi there, I ended up applying twice. My first application was agreed in principle really quickly (about 2 months) but then I was expected to present in person with ID and a job offer within 6 months. I was still awaiting my visa at this point (held up by AIR taking so long). They actually did refund me the application fee, but my second application had to be from scratch with the notorised documents submitted again. Seemingly the information required had changed in the 6 months and they required more info on my uni course modules. (Paige03, I feel for you if you end up applying again). So the timing is really tricky, as for registration confirmation they want you to have a job, so from acceptance you have 6 months to travel here and find the job. For the presenting with ID, I took my passport, my visa, the new Australian driving licence I'd transferred, my house Leese agreeement for address and they asked me to bring along my boarding pass(?) to show I had entered the country and to bring a print out of the email they had sent me (?) For me me as a radiographer, once I had AHPRA, I could then apply for a Radiation Use Licence. This means I still can't work for another week, my new employer has been understanding that I've had to jump through these hoops.

I've just finally done the last step. On presenting at Ahpra I waited 40 mins for the lady on reception to then call me to take my documents and photocopy them... about 2 Hours later I'm properly accepted via email. Such a long process... I had a job offer as they request, but the timing of this must be a challenge to everyone. I was also asked to bring a copy of the email that they had sent to me and my boarding pass to show I'd arrived in the country ?? Along with proof of address and passport. I almost expected them them to require a hair strand for DNA checks too Anyway I feel I've achieved something. Radiation licence next.

Sadly I don't believe they will. My first eligibility email expired while I was still organising moving to Australia. I was told I had to reapply from the start with all the same procedure of notorised certificates etc. For me the second application took even longer as they said things had changed and I had to provide more information on my English degree course, i.e. The modules covered. I hope your experience is soeedier than mine was! Good luck

Well, I was feeling rather anxious having done the obligatory cleaning of shoes, garden chairs and my beloved bike. I was recommended to use Jays disinfectant. The packers (3 guys) arrived at 11am and we're here until 3:30pm. They came with one van and then a second van came later just to load the boxed up things. I tried to put my keeping stuff in a separate room, but did go around house to talk through what was going. They worked hard, each starting in a different room, basically boxing everything and sticking with tape and a label with my name on and a number relating to a list saying what was inside. They didn't seem to struggle with any items or size or moving things. It felt rather strange standing back and letting all this happen, having never experienced packers in precious moves. Large items were wrapped in brown paper and labelled as well. Generally they seemed methodical and organised and happy to dismantle the beds, legs off table etc, they brought own tools. So step 1 all good, hard to imagine seeing all the stuff again at some place in Melbourne.... Also hope I've left the right clothes for the interim and hope the amount left fits in my suitcase! :rolleyes:

Shipping to Australia is an option, but depending on how many suitcases, the £100 doesn't sound too bad. Shipping can take up to 10 weeks, but no you don't need an address at the time of sending.

Hi there, My understanding is that you can get the medical before applying or wait it until you submit the visa application. I did have mine prior in order to speed the process, but obviously in your case, you will need to wait until you have the passport sorted. I think it was 60 days to apply for visa from date of invite. You will need the passports to apply even if you haven't had the medical after. Debs

Hi, the immi account was fairly easy to set up although it asks for security questions and it's important not to forget your password. I applied without a migration agent so this is feasible, but I spent a lot of time trailing through the immigration website ensuring I'd covered everything. When applying for the visa I found referring to the document checklist is really useful. For the medical there is a list of places that you can go to around the country. I went to the Bridge Clinic in Berkshire. I rang to make an appointment and they helpfully seemed familiar with the process. The hap ID then linked this to my immi account. They don't give results on the day but after I printed the e medical information sheet and uploaded when applied for visa. Before the medical I also completed the health declaration tick list. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-

Hi there, i recently received my 189 skilled migrant visa (10th June). I booked my medical and applied for the police check on line even before the invite. When I actually applied for the visa, I uploaded the details into the immi account along with the ilets test result and the rest of my documents. I hoped led this would save time. I wasn't expecting any issues with the health or police check and obviously I did these as my own cost if I hadn't then got the invite. I needed the HAP Id number for the medical. I got this when I registered for an immi account. Police check - http://www.acpo.police.uk/ EOI 29th April 2016 – 65 points skilled independant 189 Invite to apply 10th May 2016 Visa application 13th May Medical 8th April 2016 £250 – Bloods, Chest x-ray, eye test, urine sample and basic medical exam Police check – ACRO, completed on line £80 for 2 working days service 10th May Debs :jiggy: