STNI.............. and Geelong or Mornington??? HELP!!!

[Gill&Jamie]

Hi all,

Ive just applied for STNI from victoria government, has anyone else had experience doing this?? There are so many skilled visa options that im so confused. We have decided to settle in Melbourne so seemed like an easy option at the time,......... but the more I read the more I get confused........ (is it just me maybe)?!!

Is anyone there nursing in melbourne......... we'r thinking Geelong or Mornington, any ideas/comments/HELP would be much appreciated.

Gill

[kevin'n'dawn]

Hi,

We applied for STNI in WA nearly 2 weeks ago now ,still waiting for answer.However we emailed the SMU(before we did the application online) there to ask if there was an expiry date on the sponsorship,then things got confusing.We thought we were doing well and things seemed to easy.They came back and told as a load of waffle which we are still trying to decipher.They told us about the 457 visa which we could apply for and another one ,then they quoted loads of references from booklet 6.This was last week ,Then on Monday we had another email saying if we put in a 134 visa application to DIAC once we had the file reference number we could send it to then and they would put it to the front of the queue and sponsor us.

We are now so confused as we don't know if this is the offical reply or not.Kevin has been in touch with an employer and is now also waiting to see if he has got an interview (this goes for a 457 visa).
We wanted the STNI as it is a permenant one unlike the 457 which is just temporary,we daren't email the SMU again incase we get more confusing info .

Do you know how your application is going?
Hope all goes well for you

Dawn

[Alan Collett]

Dawn,

Assuming you aren't eligible for a Skilled Independent visa (a subclass number 136 visa), why don't you submit an application for a State Nomination from the WA Government with a view to applying for either a subclass number 137 or 134 permanent residency visa?

Note that you can apply for a subclass number 134 visa (a Skills Matching visa) and not pay the Visa Application Charge until your application has been processed by a case officer.

Remember also that the skilled visa program is undergoing significant change for applications lodged after the end of this coming August, so you may need to press the "go" button fairly soon if you want relative certainty as to obtaining a permanent residency visa.

Why don't you have a freebie chat with one of my colleagues in the UK - maybe call Marina Towner on 023 80 488777? Marina should be able to advise you as to a State Nomination (and - if you are interested - how we might help).

Best regards.

[Gill&Jamie]

Hi,

I did the STNI application about 2 weeks ago aswell. I had a response (by email) from them on Friday, giving us an STNI number!! Not sure what im supposed to do with it lol!!!

They said in their email processing could take up to 8 weeks. We'd kinda like to go for permanent residency too............. but with OZ there are so many visa options numbers, subclasses, etc............. I find the whole thing really confusing!! Probs just me tho!!

We have residency in NZ and moved here a year ago.......... it just seems things were much more simpler.......... ie. there was one visa for skilled migrants and that was it!! Plus we did most of it online, which was easier......... I guess if you manage to complete the whole immigration process to OZ it proves u wanna b there!!!

Wot does your hubbie do for work?? Do u have family in OZ??

Im glad to hear someone is as confused as me....................

Gill

ARGH!!!

[Alan Collett]

To build on my last posting, what the WA Government does in respect of State Nominations is to provide confirmation in the form of a letter/email that you have been Nominated.

You then include this confirmation in your visa application paperwork when you send the application to the Department of Immigration.

A few weeks later the Department of Immigration issues you with a visa application file reference. You email this file reference to the WA Government, which in turn sends a form 1100 directly to the Department confirming that you have been Nominated.

The VIC Government follows the same procedure.

Best regards.

[Gill&Jamie]

Hi Allan,

OH NO........ they are changing things!!! Just as im trying to grasp DIAC just now!!!

Dont suppose you have offices in NZ?? Im Scots, but have NZ residency. Would make things a whole lot easier to get some advice on the best way to go bout things!!

Cheers Gill

[Alan Collett]

No, we don't have an office in NZ, but you can telephone our office in Melbourne - T +61 3 9935 2929, and ask for my migration agent colleague Shaun Rowland.

Best wishes.

[daniel]

Hi Gill

We are going for the STNI Victoria as-well. We applied for it on the 7 November 2006 and receive a congratulations e-mail on the 13 December 2006. Can't see an STNI number on it so not sure about that, it's just an e-mail telling us that our application has been successful and what to do next.

We aren't sure whereabouts in Victoria we are heading either but Geelong does look lovely.

Everything does look really confusing to start with, you're definitely not alone there but it does sort itself out in the end. The STNI was best for us because we didn't have enough points and wanted a permanent visa because of the kids. We applied for our main visa 2 March and were acknowledged on 16 April so we are getting there but it's been very daunting.

You will get there, just hang in there (the odd glass or bottle of wine helps!)

Emma x

[Alan Collett]

Yep, Geelong is good ... but I'm biased because I live there! :)

Best wishes.

[Fraser]

.. And I work there...

:-)