Meadows73

Hi there Having only emigrated as as family to Australia just over 2 years ago, our 21 year old son is still looking for a trade apprenticeship in South Australia. He was still in full time education in the UK when we left, and has been at TAFE on various trade Cert 2s since we arrived, as he has applied to at least 70 employers and got nothing. Rather than doss around at home, he went back to TAFE. One employer even wanted him to work for him for nothing for at least 6 months to prove he was suitable for an apprenticeship. When my son politely refused, the guy raged at him that "just like the young ones of today-you do not want to work!! " With little or no employment to speak of, how does one tailor a resume to fit this situation? He did some vacation work and was a volunteer with the Red Cross at a hospital for several years but how does that fit in with apprentice applications?

Hi there Thank you for your good wishes. I was just so excited, I could hardly think straight, it was so unexpected, I was thinking it was still going to be months away before I heard anything! I'm off to Mackay in Queensland! Now all I have to do is give my 4 weeks notice at work and book removals and flights. I was getting so impatient with waiting from Mar 10 but I so very, very, grateful to the powers that be for giving me and my family the chance of a new life in Australia. All the best to those still waiting for their RSMS 119 visa.

Hi Rangerider The Saga continues. CO returns from leave on 2 Feb 11 after being at work for 5 days in the last 6 weeks and tells my MIA that the letter from the medical people in Sydney sent on 5 Jan 11 to Brisbane has failed to arrive. The mail section are now looking for it! What's up with e-mail in this day and age? You could not make this stuff up. It is now 11 months since I signed my job contract, it took 8 months before my post nomination was approved, and 6 months since my visa application went in. And here I am, silly me, I thought RSMS 119 visa was a priority application! What was I thinking? Lastest is that e-mail is being sent from medical people at Sydney to CO, but still have no idea what is the problem after medicals were referred before Xmas 10. My CO was allocated 16 Nov 10 and still no visa decision. I am ready to tear my hair out! Letter now found at Brisbane on 9 Feb 11, which asks for medical reports that CO had not passed on to medical people. CO then sends them by post to Sydney. On 11 Feb Sydney medical people ring my MIA and tell him medical paperwork ready for processing, however that unless my CO asks for priority processing, it will be at least 3 weeks before the medical people will even look at them. You would think after the UK panel doctor lost the medical paperwork, and the Sydney letter going astray, that we would have priority, no chance!, I have decided, that in a previous life, I must have stepped on a black cat or something, all these delays are just freaking me out. Well blow me down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RSMS 119 Visa granted 16 Feb 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Huge congratulations. I am very envious, still waiting for my CO to return from leave.

Hi Rangerider What a shock! I am so sorry to hear about the nomination. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that something else turns up. I, too, am still waiting. Now it seems my CO has gone on leave from 11 Jan to 2 Feb 11, I only found out today from my MIA, so no decision yet and nothing about the medical result either. What next for all of us!

Hi RangeRider Well the misery continues. Notified today by MIA that medicals referred and letter being sent to CO for further medical information. MIA tried to find out what is happening but medical people would not tell him, and of course it is Friday so nothing before next week now. I do not know what the other information they need is after a full medical and the extra tests, panel doctor said I was fine, no more tests needed and no medication either. I think I must have kicked a black cat in a previous life or something. I really did beleive I would have my visa issued quickly after nomination agreed this week. What an end to a week! Life sucks!:arghh:

Hi Rangerider Thanks for your good wishes. Still no visa! Hopefully you will not be waiting too much longer for your nomination and visa. I have heard nothing further from the CO so I have no idea why it is taking the medical people so long? I could do with some really good news soon! Post nomination 25 May 10, approved 5 Jan 11. Visa application submitted 10 Aug 10, police checks and medicals front loaded. Visa grant ???????????????

Hi again Rangerider Good news, my Post Nomination submitted 25 May 10 was approved today 5 Jan 11! Apparently the Medical people in Sydney are having internet problems,CO has sent on medical details but CO is still waiting a reply due to this. So I will possess my soul with patience a while longer but at least some movement!

Hi RangeRider Had an e-mail from my MIA on Thursday 30 Dec 10 forwarding an e-mail from alternate CO that says they still have not received extra medical results from medical panel doctor in London. (Medical was 25 Nov 10). Freaking out !!!!- I e-mailed and then rang London as soon as possible on Friday morning 31 Dec. I was told that results were e-mailed to CO on 16 Dec 10, then when her out of office message was recieved, to her alternate also on 16 Dec 10. They also sent results by courier to Sydney medical people which were signed for on Monday 22 Dec 10, so I was able to quote tracking details to my MIA for forwarding on to CO. Now not sure what the delay is and why alternate CO is saying nothing received when they have had details since 16 Dec 10? My MIA will be following up on Tuesday but still not sure what on earth is going on with medical clearance and visa application? I am really hoping to hear something positive next week but you never know with this organisation do you?

Hi RangeRider Latest from MIA is that nothing will even be looked at until after 4 Jan 10 when CO returns from leave . I still have no idea if the extra medical paperwork has actually been received yet. Aghhh-grinding of teeth !!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I can say is Merry Xmas to one and all and here's hoping we all get some good news early in the New Year.

Hi Rangerider Like you I too am still waiting. I had a message via my MIA that the extra medical results had still not been received in Sydney even though I had my letter from the panel doctor by 2 Dec. I phoned the panel doctors office and they said they would courier the results, as the CO gave me till 17 Dec to provide the information as my original medical expired 6 Dec 10. .The panel office was very non-commital about when they sent the results but they apologised and said they would send them now-makes me think they did not send them on although I gave them the e-mail from the CO and medical officer. Of course now I find my CO is on 3 weeks holiday starting 16 Dec, so I guess there will be no decision for weeks. It is now 9 months since I signed my work contract, 7 months since the post nomination went in and over 4 months since the 119 visa application went in. I was so hoping that I could start the New Year knowing I could book my flights- oh well!

Hi AnnaStu Thank you for your kind wishes. No- I never did get that Transaction number despite applying twice, once in Sep 10 and again 2 weeks ago.When you log on to DIMA to check your application, the page asks for transaction number and Employer number, there is a facility there to ask for a Transaction number by e-mail. I filled it in twice but never did get anything. Just booked my blood test and blood pressure check at a London panel doctors = £167! This immigration lark is a licence to print money!

I am so excited- my MIA rang at 0630 hours this morning -I have a Case Officer in Brisbane- Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They want a follow up blood test for me so I have to try and get a blood test done at a panel docs, my GP surgery refused point blank to do what they called a "private blood test"! So I am frantically ringing around to get this done within the 28 days they have given up. Hope springs eternal. Fingers crossed .

OK - now I am really cross. My MIA tells me that the reply from DIAC is telling me that despite submitting my Post Nomination on 26 May 10, that DIAC will not be looking at my application till late Jan 2011 as this is 6 months from my 119 visa application. I now run the risk of losing the job that I signed the contract for in Mar 10, as my future employer is already becoming restive about the delay. This Priority 1 processing for RSMS sucks!

Hi Rangerider I applied for a Transaction number so I could check what was happening to my application on line, I got a reply today that said I had an "Assessing Officer" and that they would be in touch soon. It only referred to the Visa application on 6 Aug 10 and did not mention the Post Nomination for which I have had no decision as yet. However there were no contact details given of this person, nor has my MIA been notified. Not sure whether this person is a Case Officer or not whether this is still to happen. When you got your Case officer were there full contact details given? It all seems a bit flaky to me! Post Nomination 26 May 10- Parramatta, no response to date. RSMS 119 Visa application 6 Aug 10. Case Officer appointed 17 Nov 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from Brisbane. Further information requested from sponsoring employer and further BP check requested by medical people. Panel doctor sent letter stating good to go 2 Dec 10 and employer information supplied by MIA 29 Nov . Now a waiting game again.