Choosing between 175 & 176

[Jhonnywalker]

Hiya,

With my skills assessment results on the way, I was preparing myself for the next process - applying for a visa (hopefully my assessment result is +ve).

I was considering to apply for 175 all these days, but I happened to read more about 176 and attracted towards that, mainly bcoz of the visa processing time line (7-9 months). As I don't have a relative that can sponsor me the visa, I have to go with the state sponsorship. However, I am confused as to which state I should be choosing. I am an IT guy and my area of work is Networks / Information security, which happens to be on the MODL as well.

I was wondering that I should be seek my options in the states that have more IT companies/jobs, as I have to be committed with the state Govt, for 2 years assuming I get a sponsorship.

Can anyone help me with the states that I should be looking at?
Also, how long does it take to get the sponsorship acceptance letter from the state govt.?

Any help, is highly appreciated.

Thank you

[Snowbabe311]

Hi

We applied for the 176 visa mainly because we need the extra points – we got state sponership from Victoria and this took only 3 weeks –my OH is a Heating / Air conditioning Engineer and this was on their Skilled - Sponsored (176) Eligibility List – I know they have IT on this but not sure which ones – check the website below will give your all the info you need that is if you want to go to Victoria

Hope this helps



http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/ViewPage.action

[Gollywobbler]

Hello Jhonnywalker

With respect, I think you are asking yourself the wrong question. Getting a visa should not be about racing to the finishing line as fast as you can regardless of what sacrifices/compromises you have to make in order to do it. Instead it should be about what is going to be best for you in the next 3-5 years, I suggest.

One of the factors that would be uppermost in my mind if I were in your position is what will happen if the Australian economy does take a downturn? In that scenario, it seems to me that the ability to move inter-state without needing to ask, notify or consult any State government departments would be highly desirable.

In order to work out which States might nominate you for a 176 visa, you need to start here:

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)

You need to go into the website for each State, one after the other, find the 176 list for that State, check whether your nominated occupation is on it, see how to make the application (eg QLD does not have an on-line application system) and see what the State website says about the likely timescale for a decision.

Then you have to decide which State you want to apply to and do a TON of research about the place because if your application fails to demonstrate a genuine knowledge about and commitment to living in the State concerned, your application will be rejected anyway and you will have wasted your time completely. (Plus if you apply to the ACT but you fail to convince them of the foregoing you will have wasted $275 as well.)

In the time that it will take you to do all this research, you could prepare about 6 versions of your 175 application instead, couldn't you?

Best wishes

Gill

[Jhonnywalker]

Hmm.. that really is a great piece of advise. I did look into the potential states that can sponsor me, and I find that Perth, Victoria & NSW have my role on their eligibility list.

BTW - 1 more question. Would it be possible to change the visa type after lodging the application? Ex: 175 to 176 ?

[The "legdes"]

We applied for a 176 but also had the points for a 175. Our agent advised us to go the relative sponsored 176 because you apparently also get assessed for a 175 and will be granted the most beneficial to you (the 175). So yu get two chances at qualifying. We did ask if we could convert to a 175 if for example our relative died/ came back to the UK etc and were told yes we could as it is the same subclass.
Hope this helps.

Hmm.. that really is a great piece of advise. I did look into the potential states that can sponsor me, and I find that Perth, Victoria & NSW have my role on their eligibility list.

BTW - 1 more question. Would it be possible to change the visa type after lodging the application? Ex: 175 to 176 ?

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Jhonnywalker

The subclass 175 and the subclass 176 visas are both in Class VE. Therefore the CO is required to assess each applicant for both visas.

There is nothing to stop you from obtaining State Nomination if you want to and then applying for a 176 visa. However if you have 120 or more points without counting the 10 points from the State then the CO must grant you a 175 visa instead of the 176 visa that you have requested.

The reasoning is that you have enough points for a 175 visa, therefore you must be given a 175 visa. If you are sponsored by WA and you want to move there, a 175 visa does not prevent you from doing so.

But if there is no risk of a fire then what is the point of buying fire insurance? Are you 100% CERTAIN that your CO will agree with your own calculation of your points? If you are then what would you gain from applying for a State Nominated 176 visa instead?

Is there something you are not telling us, Jhonnywalker? If so, we can't help you unless you tell us ALL of the facts. The choice rests with you, my friend.

Best wishes

Gill

[Jhonnywalker]

Hi Gill,

Well - there is nothing to hide. :) You see.. I just want to be on in OZ like any others as soon as I can, due to certain family situations. And also, I am the only one in the family that will be migrating, so the overhead is less.

Having said that - I have gone through the points calculations criterions thoroughly and I guess, it sums upto 140 points, including 25 for my English & 10 for my skills being on MODL. I guess, the only reason I am thinking about 176 option is the processing times & how quick can I be in OZ. Being from a high risk country, the visa processing time is 12 - 15 months and certainly doesn't help my "eagerness" to be in OZ.

Hence, I was trying to play it safe by looking at the states that has more IT concentration, so that I don't risk on things for the committed years with the state. Victoria seems to be a likley option but I wanna take some more time & make a perfect decision.

Any more thoughts or suggestions with these two visa options? You see - too many things are running on my mind and suggestions/helps from friends like you will definitely push me to make the right choice. :)

[Gollywobbler]

Hello Jhonnywalker

Mmmm. I'm not convinced that processing times between the 175 & 176 visas are really any different: my suspicion is that it depends on how well the application has been prepared, documented etc so that it is "decision ready" by the time the CO sees it.

I know absolutely nothing about the computer industry. Please be 100% clear about that.

Please see this thread:

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/victor...ored-visa.html

A computer pro in VIC seems to think the market is not as busy as it was, but you would need to contact buckbuchanan and find out what field of computing he is involved with etc, I would imagine. Pitsy is a "Prince PM", he says in an earlier thread.

I simply have no idea what any of this jargon means, so I merely pass it on to you.

Best wishes

Gill

[Jhonnywalker]

Hello Gill - Thanks again. I will definitley PM buckbuchanan and try to seek more information from him. My skills set fall under the category - 2231-79 - Internet / Firewall security.

Well, it does scare me off when you say, "the jobs market has slowed down" - as one of the main reason to move to OZ quickly is to find a nice job.

Hmm....back to thinking mode now... Sometime's I feel the toughest part of life is taking decisions :)

Thank you & Best regards

[Gollywobbler]

HI Jhonnywalker

Without the visa, you don't have a decision to make about whether or not to move to Australia, my friend!

Remember this: once you get the visa you have to validate it before dd/mm/yyyy (they give you the date and it is usually 12 months after the earlier of the meds or the pccs.) This means that you have to make an Initial Entry to Oz by the date stipulated. Entering Australia for the first time, using the visa, clinches the visa. Up until then it is only a provisional grant.

However you do not have to make a permanent move to Oz at that time. As long as you make your Initial Entry in plenty of time, you will have 5 years from the date of the GRANT of the visa in which to make a permanent move to Australia. Note that it is 5 years from the date of the Grant, not 5 years from the date of Initial Entry.

Therefore in your shoes what I would do is to apply for the 175 visa if you have enough points for it because this would give you maximum mobility once in Oz and you could move to wherever the market for your skills happens to be strongest at the time.

Making your Initial Entry can literally be a case of in and out of Oz in less than 24 hours. Legally you can simply enter Oz via going through Immi Control and Customs at the Oz Airport, then straight down to check in to get yourself onto the next flight leaving Oz. You don't need to set foot outside of the airport building, even (unless you want a cigarette!)

So if you get a 175 visa, you can watch the job markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and wherever else the demand for your skills might be strong and choose which one to head for. Also, if when your visa is granted the demand for your skill set is stronger back home than it is in Oz, you can always defer your permanent move to Oz until the Australian job market improves.

But without the visa, you won't have a choice, Jhonny! I'd buy myself maximum flexibility of choice if I were in your shoes, via the 175 visa instead of the 176.

Best wishes

Gill