spangley

Hi, on the top right of the web page click on Settings, then on the left hand column My Settings click on Edit Signature. Look forward to seeing your timeline.

We've got our case officer assigned from Adelaide Team 2. Whoop!!!! So we're driving to Munich next week to do our Medicals, and the Wifey has to do her IELTS on Saturday coz she's a Johnny Foreigner (4.5 Required) So from lodging our application to being assigned a CO took just under 1 month. A lot quicker than I was expecting.

My family are on the final straight to getting our PR visa, and so are turning our attention to where in Aus we'd like to live. My wife and I love house renovation and especially love older houses with character. Can anyone advise or suggest of regions and suburbs where housing stock it more gentrified, and there's more likely a choice of doer uppers. Up and coming areas are always of appeal. The other caveat is that it has to be somewhere where I'll find employment opportunities for my IT skills, so no abandoned gold mining towns unfortunately Thanks in advance for helpful responses to my incredibly broad and sweeping question.

Love the idea of catching a plane back home as soon as you land in Australia. I'd rather go through the whole application process again

I'm going in on a 189 Visa, and my wife who is German is having to take an IELTS test to avoid 2nd instalment training bond. She only needs to achieve 4.5 points.

I did the Mock exam papers and exercises on the IELTS website a week before my exam. That was enough to get me a score of 8. I only have a GCSE in English. I think it's as much about holding your nerve and just being confident. Good luck.

I've now been quoted €500 for my family by an approved Med Centre in Munich. It's worth our time to drive 4 hrs and get the check done in Germany rather than Switzerland. Thanks everybody for your suggestions and advice.

Does anyone out there get their Police Criminal Check and Health Check documents certified by a notary, as well as their Skills Assessment before uploading? What I don't get is that an uploaded PDF is already a copy of a certified copy, which could be compromised. Thanks in advance.

Thanks Ozlander, I'll be patient and wait to asked by the Case Officer.

I've lodged my visa application and am awaiting a CO. In the meantime I'm trying to frontload my application, however I was advised by the local medical assessment centre that the assessment is only valid for 6 months. Do most people wait for the assigned CO to request a Med first? Anyone had any problems with expired med assessments? Muchly obliged.

I was quoted £900 yesterday to have myself, my wife and my 2 yr old daughter medically assessed for our 189 Visa. Does anyone know how much you'd typically pay in the UK or Germany, and would the Immi office accept an assessment outside your country of residence? We are in Switzerland. With thanks.

Thank Ryan, I very much appreciate your response.

Yes, my ACS assessment approved my skills and experience. 7 years of the last 10 years work have been in my nominated skill....just not the last 3 years.

I spoke to Immi Aus last night, and their advice suggest that this isn't a problem. I'd still appreciate anyone else's experiences.

Hi all, Having been invited to apply, I'm now completing the Visa application form. In the employment section it asks me: "Has the applicant been employed overseas in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation at a skilled level immediately before lodging this application?" Does this mean, that I have to be currently employed in my nominated skill? The reason being is that I have 7 years of approved experience in my nominated skill, however my past 3 years have not been in my nominated skill. I'd be most grateful if anyone could advise. Kind Regards James

Out of interest, how many of you just headed straight out to Aus without a job, and who else waited for a job offer before embarking?