dooocati

Sure, Im Irish. I dont think its a high risk country but still, it was a really long wait. Thankfully it came through, I didnt think it would ever happen and when least expected, was called for my Medicals. Then less than two weeks later, I was granted the visa. I have six months to activate it which means Ive to leave here before end of July 2015. Lots to do and lots to organise before I make the move.

Been a while since i posted here but thought i'd give an update. Applied for GSM 175 March 2010. Got medical done November 25th 2014 and my visa was granted 15th December 2014. Looks like Im on the way!

So, three days ago, after 4.5 years of waiting, I've got my GSM 175 Visa. Next thing on the agenda is, finding a job! From previous experiences signing up with recruitment agencies here in Ireland, I find them a complete waste of time. Happy to promise the sun, moon and stars but in a puff of smoke, they're nowhere to be seen after they've gotten your details. Ive never found a job via this avenue but usually through direct communication to employers. What is the consensus with recruitment agencies in Australia? Worth signing up, or a waste of time? Im a web / graphic designer so if anyone can point me in the right direction or give me any advice I'd really appreciate it. Have to get the resume out there so I'll be spending lengthy hours over the next while getting myself out there.

good advice there sunniecat. i wont be passing up on the state sponsorship route at all. worst thing that could happen? i go home. certainly not detrimental but a road i wouldnt like to go down. id be one to stick it out for the 2 years and move on, instead of returning back to ireland. im 34 so chances are its last chance salooon. will be filling out the application this weekend and will see what happens. i know work isnt easy to get anywhere these days but whats the rate or work compared to say perth or sydney? i hear most are government related positions which wont apply to me so whats the story there?

ive been to both cities before and i know my way around however, my main reason for chosing these places (one or the other) is simply cause I have friends living in both places. both sets of friends have agreed to take me in for a week or two just so i get myself on my feet until i get a job and find a place on my own. if i go to canberra im completely without any kind of plug into the social pipeline, help in finding work or generally finding my way around as never been there before. it a little hard to see how i can commit to a state where not many seem to chose and live there for 2 years as part of the visa conditions. its a tough one alright ..unless im convinced otherwise. ive to pay more money now, on top of the money spent on the 175 visa i already applied for. apparently i might have another 3 years to wait for that(175 visa) ...on top of the 2.5 years already spent hanging. seems like a money racket to me and i dont know whether to be annoyed at the time lost and in limbo or happy that i can get some kind of visa to go in the next few months (be it restricted to a state i didnt have in mind) instead of putting my life on hold for what seems like an endless foreseable future.

Bit of background on me. I applied for a 175 two and a half years ago. Its been a long wait as I am category 5. So called my agent last week and was told that I could be waiting A LOT longer as my occupation isn't on the skills list now and there is no guessing when i will have my visa. Bit deflated to be honest as I thought I would have maybe one more year to wait here in ireland as I have friends in australia who went three years ago on 175's that had said it was a long process about 3.5 years for them. So my agent says that my occupation is on the ACT state sponsorship however not in any other state. That I would be better off applying for this as I wouldn't be waiting long and processing times are quite good. Fine, but I have friends in both Perth and Sydney which means Id have to work in Canberra say, for two years before I could move around. So whats has Canberra have to offer a 34 single irish lad going over on his own? I can stay here in Ireland with no prospects (as everyone knows what Ireland is like these days) or move to Canberra ...knowing absolutely nobody or nothing about the place, or would it even suit me? I dont know anyone that has gone there, nor anything with any other info on the place. My worry is i guess that i love there and its not all that from my point of view. I like to get out at weekends and socialise, have the 'craic' so to speak and enjoy life? But if everyone choses perth or sydney, then im kinda worried it might not be the right choice even though i desperately want to push on and start a new life. Just wondering if anyone can shed a little light before I go ahead with the application.