AllyB

We've finally had our application for State Sponsorship from Victoria accepted and now it's time to actually apply for our 176 visa. Any tips on what to include and anything else etc. We've already gone through this once in the last year when I got a 457 company sponsored visa but now going through it again to try to get PR. Fingers crossed!

Hi talented teacher, I'm in the same position as yourself, trying to decide whether or not a migration agent is necessary. So far, I've been trying to do it myself. I lodged the application mid November and am getting feedback from DIAC every now and then asking for evidence (bizarrely often evidence which I've already sent them), if you did decide to go through an agent it may be smoother and quicker? I was also wondering if anyone could answer my query too...? DIAC have just contacted me to ask for a skills assessment, I was just wondering if anyone on this thread knew what that involves? Perhaps Pixie 10?? Good luck talented teacher! :biggrin:

Medicare is free where as private health insurance costs quite a lot. Obviously the benefits of private insurance are much greater than Medicare but up to you really. I'm on Medicare but looking to add private insurance in a few months.

Hi, I have a question about tax claims in Australia. I have been on a working holiday visa for the last 12 months, then spent 1 month on a tourist visa and have now been sponsored to stay on a 4 year 457 business visa. I made a tax claim at the end of the last financial year (which was 6 months through my 12 month stay) and got all my tax back as is standard on a working holiday visa (tax paid at 29%). Question is: Can I claim now for the tax I paid in the 2nd half of my working holiday visa (as I could do with the money) or do I have to wait until the end of the tax year and combine it all with my new earnings? I know I can actually claim now but just not sure whether it is a good idea to have to submit a further claim later this calender year at the end of the financial year? Thanks in advance Ally

BUMP.....

Ok here goes. I have been on a working holiday visa for the past 12 months and recently left the country and returned on a tourist visa. Before I left I was in the middle of job interviews with the possibility of getting sponsored by the companies on a 457 visa and they want to interview me further now I'm back. If I was to be successful in either of these interviews does anyone know if I would get a bridging visa to start work or whether I'd have to wait for the visa to be granted to start work? 2nd question. If I was successful in getting sponsored on a 457 visa how would it affect the following situation? My girlfriend is currently waiting to hear back from Victoria about state sponsorship on a 176 visa. If I was to get sponsored on a 457 and her as a defacto would that cancel the 176 visa or could we still apply for that? Thanks already for any help.

Arghhh the waiting is horrible!

As with many questions before. I applied to VIC for 176 State Sponsorship as a Secondary School Teacher on 5th November, first of all does anyone know how long that should take to get a decision? Then if that was to come through successful and we were to apply for a 176 State Sponsored Visa, which I believe is priority 2, does anyone know how long that is likely to process? Thanks for any help here. Ally

Thanks Alan, much apreciated. One more question. Does anyone know if we need to do a skills assessment before we sumbit an application for state sponsorship?

We are looking to apply for a 176 Skilled Sponsored Visa in Victoria and are currently in Australia coming to the end of a 1 year working holiday visa. We meet the skills criteria for this visa but are not sure if we are allowed to apply for it from within Australia. Does anyone know the answer to this? Many thanks, Ally