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westwoodwizard

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  1. westwoodwizard
    Hello Dyanne...been awhile since we last exchanged posts. Well..you just smashed my last bit of hope to pieces...I thought to myself maybe I am going to be one of those last 36. Alas..time to start from scratch... Easiest way to at least move to Australia in some capacity is to attend a university degree program...
  2. westwoodwizard
    Have not heard anything from DIBP yet others say they have? I checked the online account and it says under status "Assessment in Progress". Is that a generic status message that has been used for everybody so far? I did do some research but honestly could not remember what the prior status was thus whether this means anything or not...clueless...
  3. westwoodwizard
    Well...I too posed a simple question to Gagan and it is true that he does not provide specifics. How much for the lawyer? What does the lawyer actually believe can be achieved and the time frame etc...the lawyer would have offered the various options and potential outcomes. The only reason to hire a lawyer would be to achieve the goal of having these application processed in a timely manner as originally believed when first filed rather than the retroactive application of subsequent changes in the law. Even if the latest announcement could be reversed and prevented from being implemented, the processing times will still remain painfully slow. At least in this case there may be refunds granted and many people have stated they would like their money back...it is the least that DIBP could do.
  4. westwoodwizard
    Agreed. It is not about giving up on migration. Rather what is the best course of action...to keep pursuing the current application or filing a fresh new one. Understandably, not everybody may qualify under the current requirements and in that case I do understand why they cannot give up on their applications filed what is now several years ago.
  5. westwoodwizard
    LOL....working hard? Easy to say when yours is processed. DIBP is making it clear that they are not even going to attempt to process applications that were filed under laws that changed later and were retroactively applied.
  6. westwoodwizard
    1. How much money did he estimate for his fees and expenses? 2. And even more importantly, how much time? Yes..of course legal action can work but it can also take years unless he is looking at some kind injunctive relief and that may only prevent the implementation of the new announcement...it may not change the status quo which was a painfully slow process for getting to 176. Did he address the substance of what he thought he could accomplish in a legal action and the time frame which ideally would be a result that leads to the immediate processing of all outstanding applications that were retroactively impacted by changes in immigration laws?
  7. westwoodwizard
    I will certainly keep up with your posts. I do not wish to give up in general as I too want the permanent residency granted. I am just not sure what is left with the 176 application after the latest announcement in terms of hope. I think the latest news just closed the door on whatever remaining chance I thought I had. A fresh application is no picnic in the park but I will at least take a look.
  8. westwoodwizard
    Arshad...your desire to take action is commendable and I certainly understand your frustration as I feel it as well but consider the following. 1. Legal action takes time and can become costly even if you get a class action going with contributions from many. The longer the case drags out, the more likely your costs increase and who knows when you get a verdict or a settlement that satisfies you. 2. A class action may not necessarily yield you the results. Out of principle the government may dig in and refuse a settlement and go all the way hoping they defend their position successfully. You roll the dice on the court's verdict plus the possibility of appeals. 3. A case with a few members maybe more beneficial because maybe instead of wasting their time and money the government may actually give in to your demands and process your applications quietly if it involves just a few people. Of course, this option will cost more money for you but going it alone or with a few people might be better than a large group. I give up. I hope they just refund the money soon and will explore another subclass with a fresh application.
  9. westwoodwizard
    Thank you for clarifying...for those of us in 176..wow...just 36...this new announcement just stinks. I cannot understand why they do not just clear the backlog and honor the applications as they should have. Retroactive application of laws is unjust for a country that is a liberal democracy. If they offered a refund, many in the backlog would take it because not every applicant will still be interested in migrating. It is not as though every single outstanding application would actually result in a new migrant to Australia. Why they created this mess I have no idea... This one really really bothers me. I hope they have the decency to refund the money at least...
  10. westwoodwizard
    They can send all the letters they want...even if it worked and the part about canceling applications is not implemented...processing 10,000 remaining applications at the rate of less than 300 per year...will take a long time...everybody just got screwed even more so than before..so...I guess everybody should wait to see if they implement it..if they do wait it out until June 30, 2016...and if you are not one of the lucky 200 plus that they have allocated...well...you have your final answer...application will be canceled and you will have to re-apply under a new visa category...
  11. westwoodwizard
    I thought that was the case. I read that 176ss was done away some time ago. I am contemplating 189 but the total cost will exceed USD 10,000. Plus, I need to take the IELTS and get my qualifications assessed. What does your agent have to say about our specific situation of offshore 176fs Priority5? No insight into likelihood of clearing out this backlog?
  12. westwoodwizard
    The primary reason I started this thread is because way too may people on the various forums discussing Australia immigration lumped all Priority 5 applications together as one common topic but the reality of the situation according to DIBP processing rules is that there are priorities within the priorities. So, people in the 176 FS offshore category are at rock bottom with 176 FS onshore and 176 SS taking precedence. We will only get processed if the Immigration Minister makes an affirmative decision to clear out the old backlog that got screwed by changes in the rules that were retroactively applied. With the newer and more expensive immigration process in place, clearing out the backlog will not materially impact Australian society in terms of being flooded by new immigrants. Also, even if they cleared the old backlog out and approved every single application, it is not as though every applicant and their family will be in Australia the next day. Circumstances will have changed for many applicants during the last five years such as having kids, kids getting older and more settled, good jobs, etc. Many applicants will have to think twice about giving up a good paying job and incurring the high cost of moving. The rest may come but those numbers will be staggered over a couple of years. DIBP will probably not even end up processing every application because some applicants may just indicate even after being allocated a Case Officer that they are no longer interested so I believe they have and are being illogically over cautious about processing the 176 FS offshore applications.
  13. westwoodwizard
    Well going in as a student is the easiest way even for me but it is also very expensive hence my family decided we would just wait it out because there is only so much money we are going to throw at this. Won't you be able to keep hanging on in Australia after graduation through a bridging visa or on a work visa (I assume you can find work as a computer engineer).
  14. westwoodwizard
    In a sense they have done an injustice For you it has already been 6 years and even if you were allocated a case officer today it could be at least another year before a grant of a visa. Seven years is a long time and circumstances can change drastically enough that a family may no longer be able to go as a practical matter. I too hope it is a rumor but then is it? Look at the allocation table. It shows January 2008 which is pretty much the cut off date for their retroactive changes to immigration program. Applications in our category after that have been on this seemingly endless hold. I hope somebody out there gives us good news soon.
  15. westwoodwizard
    Your application is interesting because it is the first that I have come across (offshore fs 176) at least that actually had some activity even if it has now been almost two years since that time. From what I understand, our applications may never get processed or could take another 5 years easily if not more so it is as good as saying we are not going unless we find another way.
  16. westwoodwizard
    dyanne, I noticed in your details that your application was further processed four years after your application date. Not sure what that means but isn't that a good sign compared to the rest of us...or is it?
  17. westwoodwizard
    Christine, We want to go to the Queensland so we will have no issues honoring the obligation and they are at least right now sponsoring my occupation. I read some other threads too about FS 176 possibly being processed but again many people do not clarify whether they are onshore or offshore which I understand makes a difference because they are processing onshore first. Also, it is not clear whether they intend to process offshore only if all onshore are first cleared regardless of application date so as long as they keep receiving new FS onshore applications, offshore will continue to sit and collect dust! I had no idea when we applied that we were in the lowest visa category. I also lost points because of change in age group.
  18. westwoodwizard
    Thank you Christine. It is kind of what I thought. I need to be prepared to risk USD$600 on the skills assessment and hope it is still on the list or not capped when they review my EOI. Just out of curiosity, did you consider waiting a little longer for the original application to make it to a case officer or did you believe this will not happen anytime soon? We have been waiting as well like all other 176 FS offshore priority 5 applicants hoping for a breakthrough but I have this bad feeling it could easily be another five years before there is movement. Thus, I am considering the new 190 visa application seriously.
  19. westwoodwizard
    Christine, 1. http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/190.aspx According to DIAC (link above), the language they use leads me to believe that a person must get an 8 on each section in order to get the full 20 points. I noticed that you got a 7.5 for Speaking. Does that mean you are getting 10 points instead and did you already factor that in and still meet the minimum 60? Or, are you getting the full 20 because your average was 8 and that is also acceptable for the "expert" classification? 2. With respect to skills assessment, I am looking at QLD as well for the nomination for a 190 visa. However, since it is getting close to the end of DIPB's planning year of 2013-2014 and my application would not be lodged until the 2014-2015 year. Should I wait to make sure that the two skilled occupations that are my options are actually on the QLD migration list for 2014-2015 before spending money? I guess I am not sure if they keep changing their skills list every planning year thus rendering a skills assessment useless and a waste of money. The occupations that are my options are secondary teacher for math and mathematician. Both are on the QLD list for the 190 nomination. Thanks...
  20. westwoodwizard
    Thanks Christine. We definitely have to start from scratch as well and that means approximately USD 10,000 for me, my spouse and 2 kids...just like your situation. In my case, I must get the 8 on all four sections of the IELTS to get the 20 points because otherwise I cannot make the minimum 60 points. I am a native English speaker but my spouse told me that when she took the IELTS the audio was not great for the Listening section so I am a bit worried about that one. What was your experience?
  21. westwoodwizard
    Christine...thank you for the information. Can you please clarify the process for me? First, I thought it was too late to change over to State Sponsorship? Second, I noticed that you took the IELTS in November 2013? My wife is the primary applicant and she took that test back in 2009 when we applied. Why did you retake the IELTS? So, we are looking at Queensland and if there is an occupation that can be sponsored for her, I understand we should apply for that sponsorship and if it is approved simply notify DIAC by email. Is there a special form? There are forms for things like changing passport details and personal particulars. Didn't know if SS has a special form. Thanks.
  22. westwoodwizard
    Thanks for the direct link. I do search the forums but as indicated in my original post. many of the threads are not helpful because the people who are at rock bottom and were really screwed by the changes are Offshore Family Sponsored 176 Priority 5 whereas many people generically discuss 176 while being State Sponsored, having a higher priority due to their particular skill, being onshore, etc which puts them in a different situation. I will take a look at 189 and 190 as well.
  23. westwoodwizard
    I wish I had seen this thread earlier. i had just started a thread on the same topic because I realized many of the threads were confusing and not really addressing our rock bottom category of Offshore Family Sponsored 176 Priority 5. We applied in April 2009 and had no idea of the drastic changes made to the GSM program. Had we known, surely we would have spent more time evaluating other options though I am not sure we would have had any and family sponsored seemed like a sure, safe bet. Are we disappointed? Absolutely. Five years and still waiting. Obviously, there is no such thing as putting your life on hold because surely nobody should have ever planned anything on an expectation but rather than something concrete and real like the grant of an actual visa. I hope somebody has some good news as to the reality of whether our category of visas will start getting allocated to case officers.
  24. westwoodwizard
    The thought of starting again did cross our minds. We already spent $3000 and the new application would cost an additional $7000. Now, we would do it despite the heavy cost but then we thought who is to say they won't make another change to the laws that render the new application to the bottom of processing. So, like most people, we thought let us hope that they will get to our application soon but I wonder if it still is a wait of many more years. Before starting a new application, I was hoping to get insight from people who are more knowledgeable on the existing FS offshore applications.
  25. westwoodwizard
    I started this thread because there are so many people who talk about Skilled Sponsored 176 and they are referring to State Sponsored Skilled which is not the same as Family sponsored which is rock bottom in priority processing thus I have started this thread for those who have applied for and are still waiting for a case officer with respect to the GSM 176 Family Sponsored Offshore Priority 5 classification or for anyone with any insight to when if at all do you think these will ever get processed. The website shows an allocation date of January 2008 which is the time DIAC put a halt to the processing. I also keep reading onshore gets processed ahead of offshore based on application date. What does that mean? Finish all onshore before they ever get to offshore? Well...that may never happen since people continue to apply. We applied in April 2009 offshore for the Family Sponsored 176 visa and are in Priority 5. Please provide your thoughts and insight for this particular visa situation. I know I am not the only one.
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