cjenky

Hi, our 190 application is currently in progress so fingers crossed 1) our visa is in fact granted & 2) hopefully we don't have too long to wait. Although I don't want to move too far in front in terms of planning and next steps (just in case we fall at the final hurdle) we are struggling with how people decide on where they want to live. Ideally we don't want to be in Sydney and are thinking one of the smaller cities would suit us better. That being said one of my best friends lives in Sydney and has done for the past 10 years so in that regard Sydney could be the ideal starting point for us, we would already know people and maybe it would help us settle quicker?? Our other options are Newcastle or Wollongong, how easy is it to get jobs in these places? I am a project administrator currently working Logistics and Exhibitions but I would do any admin job (in fact id do anything if it came to it) the hubby would like to work in the horticultural industry (again he would be willing to do anything...van driver etc) Ideally I would like to secure a job before we leave but realistically this probably wont happen, i'm finding it difficult to get my head around where we should move to when we don't know where we are likely to find work. Don't really want to move somewhere and then have to up sticks and move again because the job market was not as good as we thought. Really busy city life is not really for us, we enjoy the countryside and wide open spaces. We are a couple in our 30's with no children and are past the wild party stage in our lives. We want somewhere with plenty of space and a nice communal feel. NSW is so vast compared to the UK and we are overwhelmed with the options and really don't know how we are to decide where to go. How did everyone decide where to go? Any pointers would be great. Thanks

:ssign18:Best of luck with your application

I work in transport in the UK so get all the bulletins and emails through regarding migrants in Europe, plus I get the lowdown from my drivers on the continent. All the ports (Calais, Zeebruge, Rotterdam) are crawling with migrants trying to get to the UK. Our drivers have brought footage back to the office and its scary business. As a tourist though I think you should be fine in the places you are going. Scandanavia I do know have closed their borders and upped security.

I think they are looking for track marks / evidence of drug use. He told my husband to remove his socks and checked between his toes.

No my occupation was not on NSW list it was stream 2. I wouldn't bother uploading anything extra if it is not relevant to your application. If they want it they will ask for it.

Our medicals at the Spire Manchester were £260.00 each but you get 10% off the second adult. £45.00 each for Police Certificates. From memory my skills assessment was $630.00. Visa application cost was about £2700.00 for 2 adults. That's it so far as our visa has not been granted yet!!! So I think the big costs are still to come. I've had quotes to ship our 2 dogs and with quarantine it looking like about £5000. Ive also looked at a move cube for our stuff and that's approx. £800. Of course there is then flights, money for rent / living while we look for jobs. Don't forget to factor in your validation trip if you don't intend to move straight away

That's strange, I completed my application over a number of days, saving it each time. You most certainly can save the application and go back to it later. Perhaps try using a different browser?

NSW are inviting occupations that do not appear on their skills list through the new stream. My occupation was not on the NSW list but I was also invited to apply. I got another email shortly after my invitation advising there was an issue with the system and not all occupations were showing. I was asked to choose any occupation on the list and submit a separate word document with the application stating the occupation I had selected (the incorrect one) and my actual occupation and Anzsco code. Hope this helps

Hi, the first thing you need to do is locate the occupation you will be applying under on the CSOL / Sol list. Once you have the Anzsco code for your occupation you can then look to see what qualifications are required. I know for my occupation in needed a AQF Diploma. I only had a NVQ 3 which was not equivalent to a AQF Diploma. A AQF Diploma is equivalent to a NVQ 4 / HND / HNC I did RPL to up my qualification. Your best bet in the first instance is to do as above and find out what you actually need for your occupation Good luck

Ha Ha, yeh I wasn't expecting it either, but the doctor was great and it was over in a matter of minutes.

We had our medicals done at the Spire Manchester Friday just gone (18th March) and thought I would give a low down on what it entailed for others that are stressing about their medicals (I now I was, I was a wreck and was totally dreading it) Our appointment was at 10am but we arrived about 09.30. All the staff were lovely and made us feel at ease. We were first taken into see the administrator at about 09.45 she went through the process with us, what we were to expect etc, took a copy of our passports and took a photograph of us. We then returned to the waiting room. The nurse then called us in. She took down our weight and height and gave us a simple eye test. She then took blood for the HIV test and took our blood pressure. (Mine was high as I knew it would be, it is not usually but I was stressing about the whole thing) she reassured me and said not to worry as the doctor would take it again once I had relaxed. We then had to provide a urine sample. Others have said the nurse did the dipstick test in front of them but she didn't do it in front of us?! We went back to the waiting room and the doctor called us in. Firstly he went through our forms and asked if we had ever had TB, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc, just basic questions and had us sigh the HIV consent form. We were then asked to strip down to undies (was not expecting this but hey ho) and sit on the bed. He checked reflexed (the rubber hammer on the knees) looked in our eyes, ears and mouth, checked around the neck area. Was then told to lie down on the bed (he took my blood pressure again at this point, which was back to normal thank goodness) felt around the tummy area and bent legs (checking mobility I guess) he listened to our chests and that was it. Then it was off down to X-ray. Chest X-ray done in a matter of minutes and that was it. We were out by 11am so all in all just over an hour for both of us. We were told they would upload results in 3-5 days but when I checked immi account on the Saturday morning they were uploaded. I checked again today and our medicals are showing as finalized. I was sure I would be referred as I have psoriasis on my arms and knees so I am chuffed about that. I guess were onto the waiting game again now but so pleased we have the medicals out of the way. My advise is try not to stress about the medicals, there is really no need to.

I've just checked my PTE-A SCORE report and it states the following: Report Issue date - 8th October 2015 Report Expiry date - 7th October 2017 So certainly in my case the validity is 2 years!

I was asked for it for both myself and my husband and weve ony been out of the country 5 times in the last 10 years and only to your usual European holiday destinations.

Sorry......I believe the English test is valid for 2 years

They mark it in 4 sections. Listening, Writing, Reading & Speaking. You have to score 79 out of 90 on all 4 sections to get the 20 points. The main thing to remember with the speaking is to just keep talking as again if you pause for more than 3 seconds the mic turns off. Keeping talking even if its a umm or ahh Best of luck, im sure you will do just fine

What Is your points breakdown? Where there's a will there's a way, i've been on with this for the last 4 years, when I started the process loads of states were sponsoring then a door closed at every turn. It looked like there was no way we were ever going to be able to do it. Then the back end of last year I noticed a new stream that NSW had opened. We just thought why not lets give it a go. Submitted EOI and was invited within 3 weeks. From then till now 3 months and our application is now in. I just kept checking all the states sites to see what / if changes they had made. If you really want it don't give up hope as I said where theres a will theres a way. Best of luck

I sat the PTE -A back in October and scored 20 points. If you are a native speaker and ok on a computer / Typing you should be fine, it was relatively easy, easier than I thought it would be. I disagree with CiderDrinkingCoder though, I do think you need to familiarise yourself with the format of the test or it will just throw you on the day. For example on the speaking part if you don't start talking within 3 seconds the microphone switches off and you move onto the next question. I studied every evening for the 3 weeks up until the test and really think it was worth it. I don't think I would have got the 20 points if I had not practiced. It just makes you more confident on the day and comfortable with what to expect.

Yes we're still in the UK currently. We are in Huddersfield....so not far! Our application is in and we've just been requested to get Medicals and police checks done. Getting a little nervous now, the thought of falling at the final hurdle so to speak!!!

No the agent does not need to come from the state. You could use an agent based in the UK just make sure they are registered. I guess the answer to your question depends on if you have a complicated case or not and how confident you are with research, paperwork and form filling. We have gone it alone, state sponsorship NSW, don't get me wrong it has taken up a hell of a lot of our time and I don't think I have read so much in my life but it is do-able. That said, our visa is not granted yet (we have just been requested to get police certificates and medicals done) so there is still time for them to tell me I've screwed up and lost all our money. Fingers crossed I've not. It's quite nerve wracking going it alone and I guess the experience of the agent takes that worry away.

You do not need to sit the English test if you are a British passport holder (unless your occupation requires you to?) Most people take the test to boost points (I did) Unfortunately you do not get any points for just being English, if you need the extra points you need to sit the test. There is also an alternative to IELTS, I sat the PTE Academic, its all computer based.

If you are a British passport holder you do not need to sit the English test for the 190. Most people just sit the test to boost their points, that's the reason I did it. My husband has not had to sit the test his British passport is sufficient to prove his English ability. So in short no your son does not have to take the test, neither do you unless its for points purposes. Claire

Ive just noticed your user name, where abouts in Yorkshire are you from?

Yes lists are review annually but as nemesis says they can and will update as and when. The only other state is NT as they will sponsor occupations on the CSOL even if they are not on their list as long as you meet some requirements. I believe with the 190 visa it is only a moral obligation to stay in the sponsoring state not a requirement of the visa, so in theory you could apply state sponsorship in SA and then just move to WA! It all depends on how you feel about doing that. Good luck

Hi is your occupation code 399213 - POWER GENERATION PLANT OPERATOR If so the only state sponsoring is South Australia, therefore unfortunately you would not be able to move to WA on state sponsorship.

Yes you can makes notes all the way through the exam. They give you a wipe-able board and pen when you enter the exam room.