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Hi all, My processing time for a 186 visa. Lodged 6 June, medicals 13 August, P.R granted 16 Oct. Didn't get told we had a case officer, our emailed visa grant went straight into junk, noticed we had P.R yesterday (5 days later) by logging into my immi account. Lodged ourselves without uploading form 80.

Hi Ellis, I submitted all of our documents that needed submitting (police checks, certificates etc, very long winded) Just waiting on my sons passport to come back from UK (sent 23/5/14) only had 5 mth left on it, immi require at least 6 mth. Then we can have our medicals & then hopefully won't be long to we hear our fate. How is yours going?

Ellis, I phoned immi regarding the cost for lodging my application, you was right if we'd have lodged at the same time as the company we would have got it at the rates pre-July 2013, unfortunately we're having to pay the higher costs.

I think you are right, but will phone immi. Thanks

Can anybody advise what the costs would be for my part, as the company lodged the application before the price hike which was July 2013. Will we be paying the older cheaper prices? Thanks

Thanks for the above.

Yes Ellis, 11 long months of not knowing. Lodged 26/6/13 Case officer 5/1/14 Approved 20/5/14 They didnt use an agent and as from getting the case officer we was constantly getting asked for more documents, as I dont think my company knew what they was doing (first time of lodging for a 186). May be if they'd have used an agent it wouldnt have taken so long?

Hi all, Our employer has just been approved for the 186 visa after 11 month (lodged June 2013) We have a 7 month old baby (born in Oz) does anybody know if he needs to have a medical? Thanks

I just had an email back from TRA, they do not have an expiry date.

I'm also wondering how long the T.R.A certificates last for, has anybody found out? I can't believe they would have a best before date, I can't see how they can go out of date!

Hi Murta, This is probably a long shot as it's nearly 12 months since you had the IELTS practice papers. Do you still have them? If so any chance you could send me the copies? I will P.M you my address if you have them to send. Thanks

Are there any refrigeration / air conditioning engineers in Melbourne that used to work over in the UK, I was based in Manchester but worked a lot of Scotland, England & Wales & met a lot of engineers on my travels through my 20 years of work. Just wondering who your working for over here?

Hi Andrew, I'm a refrigeration fitter, I'm already in Melbourne on a 457 visa, I have almost 20 years UK experience, are you still looking for workers? Thanks Marc

Our kids go to Berwick Lodge, they are 10 (boy) & 6 (girl). We asked them if they wanted to go back to there old school in the Uk, but they both said no.....so the school must be doing something right! (our youngest's child's teacher is from Bolton.....small world)

Munckinpie, Did you come straight from the Uk to Melbourne 8 weeks ago? Or have you been elsewhere in Australia? My kids are in Berwick Lodge Primary school, but my youngest is to young (3), so my other half stays at home with him. What do you make of Australia so far?

Hi munchkinpie, I know Berwick has a football team if you want to get your lad playing but I think there is a waiting list, I have emailed them a couple of days ago but not heard anything back yet. May be starting our own team wouldn't be a bad idea. How long have you been over?

My name is Marc. You're spot on with the money, I'm trying to transfer some more money over from the Uk as we left it in the bank over there, but thats the last Im transferring, before we know it we'll have nowt left. I think there are 5 lads I know who started off at Woods, but I dont think they worked at the same place as you, I know Woods have a lot of body shops. Yeah I was meaning football, I have 2 lads (10 & 3) & 1 girl (6) he doesn't wanna get into Aussie rules, tried looking on ere but nothing showing, I 've tried on google as well but theres not much there either.

Steve, You dont work for Woods do you? I know quite a few people who started off at Woods. Yeah you're right about the cold weather, we left the Uk when it was warm just as the Olympics were finishing. The only time we'll be able to afford a kebab is when we're flush....god knows when that will be. Do you know of any kids soccer clubs close by?

Steve, Yeah I've seen the Hunt club on google, its just over the back of Cascades. I came over for the sun and to give my kids a better place to live with the outdoor life (not seen much of it since we got ere) We're over on a 457 visa, work is so laid back its unbelievable, I'm in the refrigeration/air- con trade, its a bit of a drag travelling to & from work (35 mins to and 55 mins back) I'm used to 5 mins travel in the Uk. So far I think its expensive especially the weekly shopping, living off 1 wage with 3 kids and 2 cars to run is hard work, hopefully we will be ok once all the utility connection bills etc stop landing on our doorstep. How are you finding it? How long have you been ere?

Steve, Yeah we called in about 2 week ago, $20 for 2 kebabs, would go again unfortunately they dont deliver. Yeah I know where Prestwich is....its just up the road from us.....Rochdale. Were now on the Cascades estate, been in Oz 8 week, been on Cascades for 3 weeks.

Hi stehowardtlr, We have found a place called Berwick Kebabs, just behind Berwick Springs Hotel on Clyde Road, its about 15 min drive, we're also in Cranbourne East. Which part of Manchester are you from?

Hi, I'm not sure how the whole medical process works but I think they may have relaxed the rules depending on your job, I also have 3 children and they did not need any medicals either, best waiting untill you get your visa no. and they will tell you if you need a medical or not. If you do need medicals you will have to arrange it yourself, not through your G.P, see the link for medical centres, I think prices vary. http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/u/united-kingdom/panel-doctors.htm

Hi stucuth, We had our 457 visa lodged on 4/03/12 by an agent over in Oz, today we got our approval, no medicals needed and no police checks needed either, took about 4 weeks which is quite good.

Hi there Jo and Jon, We're also coming to Victoria in a few months. Just wondering how much the total cost of getting your car sorted was, once you got over there, taxes, child seat anchors, registration, charges for valets and anything else you might have had to pay for. Did you have it cleaned before you shipped it, some people say I should, others are telling me there is no need as you have to have it done once it gets over there at a cost. Any help would be great. Thanks