twister292

If you go through the manual immigration counters they might...e-Gates is a different story though. Usually they'd just scan your passport, enter some info into their computer and that's all...

I got intimation of my test date via email.

Unfortunate as it is, the Cap and Cease provisions have always been there in the Migration Act. They're not used too often, so little knowledge exists about them. They work by allowing the minister incumbent to limit the grants of a particular visa class in a year. If the visa class is already superseded, any applicants beyond the cap outstanding become void ab initio, and that's the "cease" part. Last Cap and Cease was done when the 885/886/175/176 family of visas was introduced. Some of the older offshore 136 visas were capped/ceased back then (2010 if I recall correctly). Minister Evans back then wanted cap and cease provisions by occupation...that legislation never passed because the parliament was prorogued for election before it could be tabled. SkillSelect was essentially a sideways move to implement that. Now that the SkillSelect family of visas are firmly in place, and the 885/886 visas are fully allocated, they've ejected the 175/176 remainder of the queue. In all honesty, I sympathise with the applicants, but in a way it should relieve them as well. Considering the capped applicants are all offshore, there's no repatriation cost, and they can make other decisions now. At least they have closure from DIBP and don't need to hang in limbo...moreover, the economy has deteriorated substantially, and considering the occupations removed from the SOL are low in demand as it is, the applicants would have a serious struggle on the plate on that front too... As for re-imbursing IELTS fees, DIBP can only repay to applicants what they have collected...anything on top would be a whole lot of red tape and would have regulatory hurdles as well.

Correction; the applications are taken to have never been made, and the visa application charges will be refunded. It still leaves applicants out of pockets for other costs like medicals, skills assessments etc...

I believe EngAus, if assessing your work experience will simply use the ANZSCO code you claim it for to determine if it suits or not.

What utter and complete nonsense. Pakistanis form a small community in Australia but by and large they are positive contributors to the Australian society.

You could be waiting a bit for this one...a few months is the norm

Guarantor needs to sign your application and also backside of one of the 2 photos you provide. The "interview" for the passport is essentially the receiving officer running through the form section-by-section and confirming the details you entered, and cross-checking to ensure all attached documentation is valid and eligible. It's not an "interview" from an interrogation perspective.

I got my passport as well in less than 2 weeks... I had my ceremony 8-July, applied for passport on 9th, and got it yesterday (standard/non-priority processing). Just like citizenship, the passport application also needs a guarantor to sign your application; he/she has to be an existing citizen who knows you for at least a year, and is either registered on the electoral roll or has an Australian passport.

I had my ceremony on Tue, online console now shows "application completed" instead of "Applicant approved". My PR has also dropped off VEVO. Now I'm waiting for the passport to be ready...I applied on Wed, it takes about 2 weeks.

Mine today is a small reserve ceremony, because my council has a too long waiting time.

Anyone have a ceremony tomorrow in Melb CBD?

P-series have a more vivid blue colour also. Fees havent gone up 1 July, as they went up a few months ago...$244 for 36 pages, $366 for 67 pages, and $108 if you want priority service. My ceremony is 8 July, Melbourne CBD

The ceremony waiting times at councils can be very long...many have 6+ months of wait. At least in Melbourne, DIBP have arranged a number of "reserve" ceremonies in July in the Melbourne CBD to "help along" the councils...

I've received a letter from DIBP that my council has a huge logjam, and they have arranged for fast-track ceremonies in Melbourne CBD for 8 July... I applied 27-Feb, took the test 14-Mar...