MrsMoo

Own a horse(s) here?

Not at the moment krackajak. Been too many things going on and I want to wait until I'm on a decent sized property before I dive back into horses again. Probably another year or 3 yet before we look at moving out of Canberra.

not sure we're living in the same city, Bora. I have an over-full life, feel surrounded by friends, regularly watch cracking sunsets over the hills from my back deck, and love the ever-changing seasons and colours in the landscape. I think it's a great city (though I'll agree with you on the driving etiquette!)

sunniecat I couldn't have put it better myself! Each to his own and I can fully understand that, while I love the heat and the endless blue sky days, for others its misery. However, apart from Canberra drivers, whom I've learned to laugh at, I don't see any of those things Bora has mentioned in my new home. Its been over 3 years now and I have a full and happy life with a new set of hobbies and wonderful and supportive friends and neighbours, blinding views of the Brindabellas to wake up to each morning and the sight and sounds of a whole new set of wildlife. I've no idea what 'electric garage door syndrome' is but my remote controlled, huge, 2-car garage, certainly beats the crap out of the damp, single car garage, that flooded in the rain, with a wooden door, too narrow to actually park in that I used to own!

I miss the Lake District, but that's ok, I can still visit.

I miss fish and chips

I miss the pub (but not much - and the George does Old Speckled Hen which is good enough)

I miss its 'oldness'

I don't miss the grey, suffocating skies and 6+ months of depression each year

I don't miss the stupid property market or the stupidly tiny proportions of most houses

I don't miss the M4 (or the M3 or the M25 or the M42 or the M6 or the M62)

I don't miss sodden fields, knee deep in mud and horses with mud fever and frozen troughs and frozen hands and frozen legs

I shall stop now :cute:

Both :cute:

Its been 4 weeks now since we had a CO assigned. She asked for an extra document that we had to send for - got it to her within 5 days. Since then we've heard nothing, MA is saying nothing either. Does this seem odd? Should I be worried?

I would recommend a trip to the Wig and Pen in Canberra. The beer there is great and it is worth the effort, it closes early on Sunday night though.

Still its located in a concrete carbuncle in the middle of Civic - hardly the English idyll

Personally I've sold my soul..I wander down the road to the George Harcourt (with my eyes closed so I don't have to look at its failed attempt to be an 'English Pub') and drink Old Speckled Hen.

My friends in the UK generally plan my itinerary for me when I go over to visit so that there will be at least one pub visit per day :biglaugh:

After reading of a cluster of visa grants recently I got my own notification yesterday that a CO had been assigned!

However my MA tells me that the CO has asked for further documentation...a copy of my husband's marriage certificate from his previous marriage. They already have a copy of the divorce documents; I said "that's odd, why would they think he went to the trouble of a divorce if he hadn't got married in the first place!" :arghh:

Oh well, just need to wait for a copy to be mailed over from the US now ......

As an aside, does anyone know whether the CO will collate everything they want and ask for it at one time or whether they do it piecemeal? I just have this horror that I'll get hold of the marriage cert, send it to them only to find another request comes back for the dog's birth certificate or some such.

I work for Telstra and I won't tell you its all a bed of roses. But Telstra is more than aware of its customer service issues and is working hard to resolve them. In terms of Telstra's products and services I believe they are second to none and I was an advocate before I was an employee!! In the meantime, I'm happy to try and help if anyone's really struggling with a Telstra head-banger

Canberra is quite horsey. Several riding schools and agistment available. I, too, had my own horses is the UK but, despite trying to detach myself and just have lessons, I've found it impossible to ride for 45 minutes a week. I think, coming from a competition background, that I would find the distance one has to travel to compete the biggest hurdle. Otherwise you can have a happy horsey life here

We're around the corner in Nicholls so will try to make it:biggrin:

Hello and welcome . You've picked a great place to raise a family; everything you could possibly want is within reach! Canberra might live up to its 'boring' reputation if you're 18 and want the bright lights of the city. But if you're looking for inspiration Canberra is surrounded by beauty and opportunity. We live on the north side and I work in Belconnen so please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.

Oh boy - I can't believe you gave up so quickly! It takes a loooong time before it all slots into place; I've been here nearly two years and I've yet to build up a network of friends like I had in the UK. It takes time, I can't emphasise that enough. We moved out here in June 2011 and I went back to England to visit in Jan 2012. Screwed me up completely and I didn't know where the heck I wanted to be. However my husband adores it out here and it was only fair to stick it out. I'm still English and England will always hold a place in my heart but nearly 2 years on I can't imagine living anywhere else but here.

It takes time - think how long it took to establish the network of friends you had in the UK and how screwed up your OH probably is out here with you pregnant etc. Actually being pregnant will be an awesome opportunity to meet other people at ante-natal classes and then at mom and baby groups etc.

I don't know you and I don't know how you're feeling but my outsider perspective is 'give it another go'. Life is fabulous out here but it took me a while to realise it and get out of my homesick mode.

Congratulations! Excellent news. My application was submitted on the 21st December, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for July

No, I didn't pay anything extra. It was back in March 2012 and this was the exact wording on the email:

"Your skills application xxxxxx has been returned by the authorised assessor stating that your application is NOT closely related to the nominated ANZSCO code you have chosen.

The assessor has made the recommendation that your application is ONLY suitable for ANZSCO code xxxxxx

Please advise in writing via email, if you would like to change your nominated ANZSCO code as recommended.

Please note: If you wish to nominate an alternate ANZSCO code apart from this recommendation, you will be required to submit a Review Application after your current skills assessment has been finalised.

I had colour scanned all the hard copy documents. A few documents were electronic so I just attached the pdf's that I had received. I asked my CO about this on the phone and she replied that it doesn't matter if they are black and white or colour but they need to be certified copies.

Just to muddy the waters further my MA states:

However, there is no requirement to send certified copy of your documents to DIAC. They have specifically said that they will accept scanned colour copies of documents for 186 visa applications.

I can't assist specifically with advice on the 263113, however, the following may be of interest.

When I did my Skills Assessment with the ACS I applied for assessment under the ANZSCO code for Software Engineer because it was on the SOL Schedule 1, whereas my 'real job', Database Administrator, is not. It wasn't crucial that I was assessed for a Schedule 1 occupation, I just thought it would be nice(!) However, the ACS came back to me and said that my credentials weren't adequate to be assessed for Software Engineer, but they were happy to assess under Database Administrator. Which they did and everything turned out fine.

So I guess you can go with the best option available and, perhaps like me, if they don't think your skills are adequate they will recommend an alternative?

[h=2][/h]

As Mark has also said, the bridging visa only activates when the 457 expires. This is stated in the email you receive when your application is accepted as valid. It is also stated on the DIAC website.

Ok, well I have no email to go on and my migration agent is telling me I need to sign a form (I don't know which) because I left the country after my 186 application was submitted and its something to do with a bridging visa...that's all I know

You only have to worry about the bridging visa conditions when the 457 visa expires and the BV kicks in.

So my, very expensive, Fragomen migration agent is not telling me the truth?

Thanks Mark. That's the bit I just fell over; our application was lodged on the 21st December and I travelled to the UK on the 29th oblivious of any rule breaking! Migration agent has advised I now need to sign some form or other

So, for as long as the 457 is current, that is the visa we are bound by and the BVA is just a 'backup'?

Hi Liam

I can't be much help in answering your question; I just thought I'd share your confusion, being in the same situation. I'm in Australia under my partner's 457 but recently applied for my 186 and then travelled to the UK over Christmas. Today my migration agent has confused the heck out of me with talk of a bridging visa and now I've no idea whats going on!

Have you managed to get any better understanding of how it all works?

Clare

Welcome to Australia! You've arrived at a great time for the beginning of spring I've yet to actually find a running club on the north side, although perhaps I haven't looked hard enough but I will be starting the park runs soon (now the mornings are warming up) so maybe we can say hi.

If you dont mind posting your experience here would be beneficial as the first wave of applicants on this forum for the ENS 186 direct entry.

 

Good luck!

Bonza

Another First Fleet

Hi MrsMoo !

 

Where did you get that a 457 visa holder CANNOT apply under ENS186-Direct Entry?

 

The reason i ask is that there is a possibility that the wording on the IMMI website is ambiguos...

 

Excerpts below from the following doc - http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/_pdf/perm-sponsored-reforms.pdf

 

 

 

The above can lead the reader to believe that those on the 457 CANNOT apply. However it seems they are simply saying that it is an option for those who havent held it "for atleast 2 years". Further it states "or are applying directly from outside Australia" - which indicates onshore applicants are acceptable. This leads me to believe that even those on a 457 who satisfy the CSOL/IELTS/EOI and other requirements can apply. Will need a lawyer to confirm.

 

 

 

Hi Bonza

It was exactly this wording from the govt website that has put the cat among the pigeons. My employer had said they'd be happy to sponsor me but then came back quoting this section directly saying that, because I had a 457 visa already, I wouldn't be eligible. Since then I've been trying to figure out whether it was just ambiguously worded not least because it would make no sense that you could go straight to PR from nothing but if you have a visa and a job you're scuppered!

Unfortunately I still haven't found anything concrete and I need to do so if I am to convince my employer that their money won't be wasted.

Hi All

I'm keen to join this discussion as I've just realised that what, I thought, was about to be a straightforward process has now got rather complicated. I'm here under my husband's 457 visa and have been in the same job for 6 months now. I asked my employer to nominate my position so that I could apply for PR under the ENS scheme, but I see that its all changed. I'm not yet eligible for the Transition Scheme, having only been in post 6 months, but also the Direct Entry option says that I'm not eligible if I already hold a 457 visa???!

Does anyone else understand how the Direct Entry thing is meant to work and how someone who is offshore with no visa can be eligible, while someone with a visa in a job is not?

Looks worth a shot. Its so funny to see squid/prawns etc - its all a bit gourmet for England isn't it; where the height of sophistication is possibly a battered sausage and chips or maybe haddock instead of cod:biglaugh:

I found this on the internet:

 

http://the-riotact.com/best-fish-n-chips-in-canberra/7781

Thanks Jove. I did come across that but I wasn't sure if I would agreed with what Canberran's call 'good' fish and chips Coming from the North East of England I think I have possibly been spoilt though!