stephenhall444

Hello, We arrived on PR 4 years ago and met all of the criteria both before 20/4 and after. I was partway through the online application as at 20/4 and since then have had trouble progressing on the online application as it won't let you proceed past a certain page. I decided I would simply print it off and fill in the 1300 form and mail it in via registered delivery, prior to 30/6 just in case any other rules were suddenly implemented without notice on 1/7. I haven't heard anything from DIAC/DIBP as to whether they have received the mail application, my account has not been debited either...I'm debating continuing with the online application? Any thoughts or advice? Contacting the helpline is a nightmare from when I have tried to call them in the past. Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I know this an old thread but I have the same question. The Ziggy twin bbq package is $750 & around $900 for the Weber Q2200 wuth similar extras cart, hotplate, cover etc. Both look fantastic. Weber is tried and trusted but I've hearf the ziggy is even better. Bbq will be used 2-3 times per week for family of 3.

G'day fellas, Still working on the 5 a side but Nigel if you have any advice it would be much appreciated ie. venues on evenings which have lights. I went to a Meetup lastweek, see the link below, and met loads of nice people. There is another one happening in a few weeks which you could head along too. Its fairly casual and good to meet new people in a similar situation over a few beers. Some of the lads there also were interested in having a kickaround and we were all quick to emphasise we want it to be social, a runaround and not too competitive on a weeknight with a few beers afterwards. Most of us live in or near the city, if that is suitable for you? If you want me to contact you regarding footy or going for a few pints please PM me your mobile number. I would be well up for going to the game between the two Melbourne teams next Friday. Its 7.30pm KO earliest I could get there would be 7pm ish so would struggle for beers before the game but definitly up for one or two afterwards?! Here is the link to the Meetup site: http://www.meetup.com/british-expats-melbourne/events/81687452/?a=co1_grp&rv=co1 Cheers, Stephen

Hi Guys, I moved to Melbourne nearly 3 weeks ago and really enjoying it so far. My girlfriend is still at home and is heading out in a few months but in the meantime I am on my own and it would be good to meet up with some people in a similar situation for a few beers. I am staying in Doncaster at the moment and moving to an apartment in Toorak next week but free to meet anywhere over the weekend for a coffee or a few beers?! I am also looking to join a local footy (soccer) team so if anybody has any advice that would be great? I am not bad player but want to join for social and fitness reasons! Please reply or PM me. Cheers, Stephen

Hi Darren I arrived in Melbourne nearly 3 weeks ago and I am in a similar situation with regard to waiting for the girlfriend to follow me out here. I would be happy to meet up for a beer or two in/near St Kilda one evening or on a weekend? PM me on here if you fancy it. Cheers, Stephen

Hello, I hope you can help me. I have two job offers one in Brisbane and one in Melbourne. The roles are very similar the only difference is salary the Brisbane job offers $100K and the Melbourne position $85K. My partner & I are both in our mid/late 20s, have no chldren and want to be in a vibrant, lively city with plenty to offer, for the next few years at least. We have recently been on a reccie to Australia, whilst we thought Brisbane was nice enough we loved Melbourne as there is so much going on and seems more suited to us. Suburbs such as South Yarra, Praharan, St Kilda, South Melbourne at the moment are appealing to us. We want somewhere with good transport links into the city, becahes, local shops, bars and restaurants etc. Do you have any other recomendations? Looking at our living costs we are hoping to find a furnsihed apartment/unit for approx $400 - $500 p/w in one of the above suburbs and we want to live comfortably but not excessively. I think $85k per annum is enough to get by but just wanted to double check this with advice on here. Thanks, Stephen

Hello everybody, Hope you can help me. I lodged an application for a 175 visa last month (Jan 2012). According to the confirmation email I have received I only have 28 days to attach all relevant documents otherwise my application will be decided on a basis without the documents. I have attached some of the basic ones (qualification, skills assessment, IELTS Certificate, Birth Certificate etc) but documents such as Police and Health Certificates and evidence of Defacto relationships I am still waiting for appointments or to gather further information and I have been hit by delyas such as Taiwan (where I am based ) shutting down for 15 days over Chinese New Year. Do you have any advice? Should I simply get in touch with DIAC and tell them this or am I overeacting? I just can't afford the time or the money to appeal such things. Hope somebody can help! Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I have recently received an email stating thst visa costs wiull be increased by between 5-15% for all applications lodged after 1st January 2012. I have searched the DIAC website and found no evidence of any such announcement. Please could anyone confirm if the costs will be increasing? Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I am currently just about to submit my application for a 175 skilled visa. I am currently residing in Taiwan, Asia and on the hunt for a job in either Asia or Australia. If I submit my application for a 175 visa am I able to accept a job on a 457 visa? My guess is that I could accept a job with a sponsored 457 visa, let the 457 visa run its course (i.e. fulfil the terms/duration of my employment contract) and then simply do a visa run and upon re-entering validate my 175 visa? Hope somebody can help! Thanks, Stephen

Tricky one. Could your OH not ask a manager at his parent company or a HR rep that will keep the matter confidential and provide an explanation? I am the same I get 65 points without work experience assessment but I am going to do it just in case as my boss is fully aware of my plans. I don't think having 75 points rather than 65 points gets the visa processed any quicker according to the post I found. Please let me know if this is not the case! http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/119752-got-65-points-there-any-point-claiming-more.html

Thankyou and congratulations on the visa. From reading the DIAC site I don't think that the different nationality is the problem. I think I have all the above apart from the transferring of cash. Within the next 3-6 mnths however I should have the financial commitment proof required so if DIAC questioned it down the line I could provide this too just not at the time of the application.

Hello, Hope you can help me as I don't really have anywhere else to turn for advice! I have tried looking around the site for a similar situation to mine but I guess that all are unique. My partner and I met Feb 2009 when I was seconded for my job in Taiwan (she is Taiwanese). She is an English teacher and will fulfil all other requirements of secondary applicant. I was living in Taiwan with digs paid for by my company so joint accounts, utility bills etc weren't required. All went well and she quickly moved in. I left Taiwan (due to project finishing) April 2010. In that 14 months or so we lived together for at least 12 of them, went on many holidays so have photographs, passport stamps, joint friends etc. My girlfriend then came to live with me in the UK for 6 months in July 2010 till January 2011, again I have photos, passport stamps, witness accounts etc. Since Jan 2011 I headed back to Taiwan for 2 months for a business trip/holiday. Later this month I am heading back to Taiwan with work for 1-2 years where we will be living together again. The plan is to submit a 175 visa application ASAP and once it is processed and the time is convienient we will move to Oz. So my questions are... Do we meet the de-facto requirement? I feel we can prove everything except a financial commitment together. We do plan on doing this as soon as I arrive in Taiwan in 2 weeks time such as joint bank accounts, utility bills etc. Should I apply on a 175 visa now and add my partner once the financial commitment aspect of the relationship is fulfilled? If not what other option is available? a WHV? My partner is 26 and would meet the criteria, but what happens after that. Hope somebody can help! Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I am about to apply for the 175 visa but I have also put in for a number of jobs which fit my requirements of where I wish to live, job role and salary. I would prefer to have been sponsored ideally by now and time has come to stop waiting for a sponsor which meets my requirements and get on with the 175 application. If I submitted by 175 visa but was offered (& accepted) a role on a 457 visa for example, when my 175 visa came through what would happen? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I sat my IELTS tests for the same reasons a few weeks ago. I was fairly good at English throughout school and class myself as being reasonably well educated so I was quite confident. I got my results yesterday and I scored very highly in speaking, reading and listening but only got an 8 in the writing which is enough for the extra points I need but I hoped I had done better. I would agree your OH will be fine with the listening and speaking. He should be OK with reading too, even just reading articles in newspapers and you setting down some questions should be enough pracice for this. It is the writing that is tricky, particularly part 2. I would suggest putting in some practice on how to structure/prsent arguments, grammar and spelling. One other point which maybe difficult for people is that the exam is set in exam conditions this didn't phase me but I could imagine others being a little anxious and nervous when they arrive. So just learning to keep cool and to think clearly undr pressure is important too. Good luck! Stephen

Fantastic thats a great help!