cjenky

Hi, I sat this test back in October. If you are a native speaker the test is relatively easy so long as you familiarise yourself with the format and are ok on a computer / typing! My hubby downloaded me the pearsons academic test book and cd rom. It helped a lot. I certainly suggest you try to get this. I worked my way through the book every evening in the 3 weeks running up to the test and it certainly helped. I scored superior. You are in a room with others in little booths, the speaking part is first. I was the first to arrive so I had just finished my speaking part as others arrived and started theirs. At this point I was onto writing and the sounds of others speaking was a little off putting. Like I say I found it quite easy, easier than I expected you just need to get yourself into the zone. I closed my eyes on the repeat sentence and really concentrated. You have to as you only get one chance to listen to it. I cannot comment on the IELTS as I never sat it but fro what others have said, PTE is not easier but I think its more fluid. Good luck

Once you have submitted the application and paid the fee, everything appears in your immi account. Here you can upload documents. Good luck

I had correspondence from CO in just over 3 weeks. You may not even know you have a CO. As you have uploaded form 80, police checks and medicals they may not need any further information and you may get a direct grant, never hearing from a CO. Fingers crossed for you:smile:

I did just to be on the safe side

I did submit 1221 for myself also, it wasn't asked for on my list of documents but I did it anyway. I just hope it is a good sign that they have asked for Medicals and police checks. Fingers crossed for us both.

I also submitted form 1221 but they have still asked for form 80 for both of us. I had already started filling it in just in case so not a big issue.

They asked for proof of relationship with Spouse. I am hoping this is just because I uploaded the marriage certificate under the wrong section. Yes they asked for Form 80 for both of us. I waited for CO to request medicals and police checks to give us a longer validation date.

Hi, I didn't submit a reference for Vetassess I did a statutory declaration stating it would jepodise my job if they knew of my intentions to emigrate. I had no issue with this, just an option for you. I believe a reference from HR is fine as long as they list your duties etc.

I applied on the 7th February and I had the first correspondence with CO yesterday requesting additional evidence, medicals and police checks. So just over 3 weeks for me.

Thanks Captain C, great advice as always. I've just logged onto my immi account and I have uploaded the marriage certificate under identity evidence as there was no recommended option for relationship evidence. There was on my husband and I had uploaded it with his documents. I have done as you advised and uploaded it under relationship evidence with my document uploads. Pheww thanks again I think I can stop stressing now. Cheers

Thanks Captain C, The only thing that I can think of is we got married abroad (Dominican republic). Our marriage certificate is in Spanish although I uploaded the official translation also. Do you think this may be the issue??

Hi all, I applied for state sponsorship 190 with NSW. Submitted all my documents to immigration minus police certificates and medicals. I received an email from CO today asking for evidence of relationship with my spouse. We are both British by birth, we have been together 13 years and have been married for 7. I uploaded our marriage certificate along with all the other documents. This has thrown me a little, why would they ask for proof of relationship??? I can understand them asking for this is something looks suspicious but I don't know why they would ask me for this. So do I need to provide evidence of the whole relationship or as in a defacto or marriage visa do I just need to prove the relationship for the last 12 months? All our household bills are in my name minus a catalogue and Virgin media which are in my husbands name. I did change my surname on all the bills when we got married. Obviously my husband is registered at the house via electoral roll and council tax but his name does not appear on the bill. The mortgage is in my name as I purchased this on my own and it would cost £800 to add him so we just didn't. What evidence should I submit? We can get statements from friends and family and we have wedding photos, other photos from holidays and at parties etc. Any advice?? TY

Hi, if it does not have an expiry date on the assessment it is 3 years

As I said "as long as he meets the pass mark and you fit the criteria"

A 489 & 190 visa are state sponsored so you don't need a company to sponsor you. If your hubbys occupation is on a states list then apply to the state, as long as he meets the pass mark and you fit the criteria then there is no reason they wont sponsor you. Good luck

You don't have to actually provide a reference for Vetassess. I did a statutory declaration as I didn't want work to know of my plans. I also sent wage slips, P60's,Job description and employment contract. If you have these I don't see you having an issue....I didn't Good luck

I first checked my occupation was eligible for migration. Unfortunately not on the sol so 189 was out. However it is on the CSOL so I had to go down the state sponsorship route. Next step was to see which state was sponsoring. I then applied to have my skills assessed (This took a Looooong time to come back - 17 weeks) Unfortunately for us by the time we received the skills assessment back all states had stopped sponsoring my occupation (just something to bear in mind if you choose to go down the 190 route) Anyway NSW opened up to us so I then sat the English test to boost my points. Once I had the points I needed I them submitted my EOI. NSW sent an invitation to apply mid December. This came back 12th January along with an invitation from Skillselect to apply for the 190. Hopefully lodging tomorrow. So in a nutshell for the 190 1. Skills assessment 2. English test (If needed) 3. EOI 4. State sponsorship 5. 190 application 6. Medicals & Police checks (When requested by CO) 7. Make your move and enjoy your new life in Australia Good Luck

I first checked my occupation was eligible for migration. Unfortunately not on the sol so 189 was out. However it is on the CSOL so I had to go down the state sponsorship route. Next step was to see which state was sponsoring. I then applied to have my skills assessed (This took a Looooong time to come back - 17 weeks) Unfortunately for us by the time we received the skills assessment back all states had stopped sponsoring my occupation (just something to bear in mind if you choose to go down the 190 route) Anyway NSW opened up to us so I then sat the English test to boost my points. Once I had the points I needed I them submitted my EOI. NSW sent an invitation to apply mid December. This came back 12th January along with an invitation from Skillselect to apply for the 190. Hopefully lodging tomorrow. So in a nutshell for the 190 1. Skills assessment 2. English test (If needed) 3. EOI 4. State sponsorship 5. 190 application 6. Medicals & Police checks (When requested by CO) 7. Make your move and enjoy your new life in Australia Good Luck

Totally agree with you. I don't think I have read and researched as much in my life. To be honest it is pretty nerve wracking going it alone for the very reasons you have said, but this is our only option im afraid.

NSW -Except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the central coast Victoria - Except Melbourne metropolitan area WA - Except Perth and surrounding areas Queensland - Except greater Brisbane area and the gold coast South Australia - All Tasmania - Al Northern Territory - All ACT - Not included

We are handling ours ourselves. So far so good. Got through the skills assessment, English test & state sponsorship so far. Just preparing to lodge the 190 (Gathering documents etc) hopefully submitting tomorrow. I think as Lady Rainicorn said as long as your case is straightforward there is no reason why you cannot do the process yourself. Be prepared for a lot of reading and research though. Once you understand the process and in what order you need to do things you should be ok. Good luck

I had to send payslips and P60's for skills assessment

By accepting a nomination from the NT you are agreeing to: live in the NT and work in your skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation in the NT for no less than two years from your visa grant or arrival, and keep the Department of Business informed of the status of your visa application, when you arrive or when your visa is granted, and your current contact details for a two year period, and participate in surveys conducted by the Department of Business to enable assessment of outcomes from nominated schemes for the NT. I think I did read somewhere that if you struggle to find work and contact DIPB they do on occasions make exceptions. It is worth contacting them to clarify

I didn't, I know some states ask for it but NSW is not one of them!

Hi, The answer to your question is no. They give you a wipe board (A4) and a pen to take notes and that's it. I found when I was practicing is you really need to get yourself into the zone. I closed my eyes and really concentrated on what was being said in the repeat sentence. Repeat lecture was a little tricky, I basically just took bullet point notes whilst listening to the lecture, I really thought I would score badly on that....but I didn't. I just kept talking, they are testing your fluency as much as content. The only thing I found quite off putting was the other test takers speaking around me. I was first in the room and had already completed my speaking part by the time the other test takers came in. By this time I was on the writing section and there were a lot of people around me talking loudly, it threw me off a little. I wasn't expecting much when I sat my test as I felt terrible and had an awful migrane but I walked away with a superior score. If you practice to get a feel for the format of the test and you're mother tongue is English you should be just fine. Just focus and get yourself in the zone....worked for me....good luck