Becks22

I would recommend contacting a couple of mara registered agents for a free assessment. Its the only way to be really sure before you start spending money. Either that or have a look at the assessing authority on the SOL for the occupation and see what you have to provide for the assessment. For me, although under ANMAC, my degree had to be in my profession and nothing below a degree counted, but that doesnt mean all the categories would require it.

We also went with Letton Percival, if nothing else they were genuinely half the cost the removals company quoted! Our stuff is sat port side in the UK waiting to ship so wont know for a while if we need to claim, but I wondered whether it was the norm to insure stuff or whether there were lots of people who take the risk. I personally am too highly strung to take the risk!

This is a hypothetical question, before people jump up and down about me being stupid or something! Has any one not bothered with Marine insurance and is any one glad they did? Our goods are just about to be shipped, we are finalising insurance but wondered whether people have experiences of using/ not using marine insurance, just out of interest!!

The house sale was separate form our emigration. This was an entirely different decision and completely right for us no matter what had happened with the visa. As it turned out, we now have it in our hand and the money we have from the house sale helps put us on a great footing.:cute:

No, you're right, got my visa granted this morning after only two months so can continue shipping plan without any hitches!

Me too!! I have been obsessively checking emails hourly for three weeks. Today I was too busy so didn't find out until nearly lunch time!! July we get to start pur adventure! Amazing, so flipping excited! Congrats on your visa too Lisa! To all others waiting, it's actually been quite quick, although it feels like a lifetime. It has exactly been a month since everything was received by them so all good for those still waiting, could be you very soon!

My decision in principle states that I would also have to attend with a passport with a valid visa when completing registration, otherwise they would be registering people without the right to work I guess. I don't know the ins and outs, but I can't help thinking that, without a valid visa, your trip to complete registration will be futile and you will have to reapply to AHPRA when you are ready to proceed with your visa. Could you not start the process of applying for your visa now, and then once it's granted take the trip over to validate both registration and visa, then your visa will have 5 years on it from date of granting to re-enter, giving you time to make the move when it suits? I only know what I have been told and what my letter from AHPRA says, but I expect it's quite standard.

Thanks everyone. I spoke to the receptionist, who suggested I could just forward my visa when it arrived. I think maybe she wasn't clear either. If we can't ship without it then as you say, its a moot point. That's why it's handy sometimes posting your inner thoughts, because sometimes they are just nonsense! I did think 4 weeks was rather quick and I asked her to check. Tbh we don't really mind if it takes longer, I was expecting to have to wait 9-12 weeks so anything less than this is a bonus!

I'm not sure for your kind of visa but for ours (PR189) it was 12 months I think. I would just wait. They are really easy to book and to do so it won't be a case of when you need to do them you will have to wait months, or even weeks.

Hi all we are close (I hope) to the end of our migration journey and am hoping to hold my visa case officer to the 3 month window advertised on the DIBP website. We have sold our house (our choice, we are able to move in to parents accommodation for a few weeks for free) and we complete on 27th May. The shippers are booked to pack up on 25th May and then our goods will be shipped in June (no exact date but I assume first half). They reckon it will only take 4 weeks to arrive in Adelaide but will then be subject to the expected checks etc, and therefore a probable further couple of weeks or so. The problem is, although we have a visa case officer (see timeline below), at this stage it is terribly quiet on the visa front. Would you risk shipping your goods before you got your visa? We are waiting for 189. I'm thinking we should just risk it, but wondered whether in other peoples opinion this is complete madness or a calculated risk? I'm hoping our visa turns up in time for us to fly out at the beginning of July. opinions very welcome!

Me too louloubelle, no news so far today (not that it will stop me checking at least another 3million times before 5pm). I haven't found this process stressful in any way, except waiting on this visa now!

I have an agent too, although I got forwarded the email from the case officer, which is why I know where they are. This is my only regret of using an agent.....when I wake at 2am I can't check my emails just in case Oz has been in touch! Mind you it might be what is saving some of my sanity, although the wait has definitely taken some of it!

Where is your case officer basedout ofinterest? Mine is in Adelaide, which is where we intend to settled. I might get my friend there to pop by the offices with some bribes :wink:

Any March applicants had any news recently? Its like tumbleweed! I'm so desperately searching my emails daily, even when I know I won't hear anything, like Sunday mornings!

It might be that people are posting when their positive skills assessment has come back from ANMAC rather then the date they sent it. That would explain why it looks like they have submitted both within a few days. You definitely can't lodge an EOI without a positive skills assessment.