Gery R

So, I assume some companies do offer private cover as a benefit. At least that is how I'd wish I to assume :biglaugh:

I have a question about additional insurance. Where I come from (Canada) your employer usually offers you as a benefit package additional insurance, which covers about all dental costs or with little portion that you pay. The rest is paid by the insurance. So, I never have to pay for dentist. Luckily no major dentist work necessary so far. Just some fillings, cleaning, root canals etc. Is there such thing in Australia? Do your employers offer such benefits? Thanks.

Congratulations! We also got ours on 21 July and also heading to Perth :biggrin: Feels great, right! Off to a celebration weekend!

Finally, our time has come! We got the VISA GRANT today! :biggrin: I've been waiting for this moment to come and still haven't digested the news! :biggrin: Thank you PIO for all the valuable information! Good luck to all of you waiting. Yours will come, too! :hug: It wasn't a smooth journey, but it is great that it is finally a successful one! For those who meet obstacles, don't give up! Ours was full of them and we made it! If you are interested in our timeline: Applied for Skills assessment Aug 2010. Rejection Sept 2010. We got lazy and we didn't translate and attach all the diplomas. Apparently the latest diploma wasn't enough. Reapplied with the previous education and got approved Oct 2010. Applied for VIC sponsorship Nov 2010. Waited 3 months to finally receive a rejection. Not particularly high demand for the occupation. Why was it in the demand list then??? Anyway, applied for WA sponsorship Feb 2011. They required 7 years of experience at that time. Heard from another PIO member that the 7 years must be on the job, excluding training. We had one year training within the 7 years. So frustrating. Luckily they changed the requirements to 3 years and we made it! Approved Mar 2011. Applied to DIAC Mar 2011. Got Case officer fairly quickly (Apr 2011) and I must say, a very sufficient one! Submitted all the required documents, except for Medicals and PCC. Medicals - the story doesn't end. Took the exam May 2011. The medical centre could not send e-health, because quote: we were the first ones to require e-health :shocked: in this particular centre. They tried, but they couldn't submit the files. Off we go with paper based. Waited another month to get finalized. PCC - a huge delay. Due to a strike in the postal services! Can you imagine?! How often is there a strike in the postal services :arghh: Anyway, it is now all forgotten! WE GOT THE VISA! This is the second immigration process we have gone through in our lives (first being for Canada some 12 years ago). I must say that I find the Australian one to be more straight forward and a lot more informative. Maybe because long ago everything was paper based and no online tracking was available.

Wow, how lucky are you! I think your calling DIAC did the magic! Completely possible to have your 175 processed asap. As long as your application is decision ready there shouldn't be any problem for them to issue your visa. You have a high score, maybe that is why. Good luck!

Forgive my question, but isn't an australian born automatically an australian citizen?? At least this is the case in other countries. Therefore, as a citizen - automatically entitled to Medicare? Why would they be issued another passport with visa? They should get AU passport by birth, don't they? Hope someone could clarify.