silencio

Although I cannot answer your question it would only be normal behaviour of any government agency to put the citizenship application on hold. In my opinion DIAC will question and further investigate why somebody never set a foot into the sponsored state will in any case cause at least delays or any forms of discipline action. However, DIAC wants to know if you have permission for leaving from the sponsored state or not. If you have permission everything will be all right. If not then they will at least investigate... We always stick to the rules, give it a go for 2 years and won't have any problems afterwards when it comes to citizenship. It's a contract, no matter if it's 'only' a moral obligation or not. People who don't adhere to rules will get into trouble sooner or later, so it's very short sighted for migrants who wish to become citizens not to stick to Australian migration rules. I would recommend that migrants take SS very seriously. We're all adults and as adults people who are not willing to settle in the sponsored state can gain permission to leave from the State Government. It not only makes sense, but all hassles and delays can be easily avoided.

There is a change announced on immi.gov.au/legislation/amendments/ ,coming into affect on 28th October 2013 regarding visa working assessments/requirements. Let's see what that means. Hopefully, nothing worse for temporary visa holders 'in the pipeline'

Ilessur and Rupert you are both right! Rupert with his/her comment that a good CV is a good CV, no matter if you search for a job in the UK/Europe or here. I would add an outstanding CV is the one which will bring you the job interview. Ilessur is also right, because I also live in Adelaide and I completely agree with employers attitude here against hiring migrants in the first instance. Except, when there is a skill in demand, then a migrant is highly acceptable. I had extremely problems of getting a job here. After gaining a local certificate/qualification I got a job in a European company. I would recommend not hiding the fact people come from Overseas rather than I would say hide your age, at least 10 years, when you're over 40 (like me). It's better to 'cut off' some years, Adelaide's job market is completely behind other cities. Here's more discrimination against age and certain ethnic groups in comparison to Sydney or Melbourne.

Have you never thought about going to Centelink asking for financial assistance? Your hubby should be eligible after that time period assumed he has worked one year full-time in that time frame.

Hi GWOR, is your job on the SOL (Skilled occupation list)? Or a state which could sponsor you (list for state sponsorship)

People can join the matching lodging gang regarding gathering information how long it would take to get a visa (so did I joined my lodging gang). There they can compare. Passing initials from CO's and personal information should not be discussed publicly in a forum like this which is respectable and only exploited by some people writing about CO's just for prattles sake.

Weird thread, completely nonsense! Would only make sense to ask this kind of questions when people have something to hide and are afraid of being caught, maybe with false documentation.

How sad to read this story! I would also recommend to contact Work Cover and Fair Work asap. You need some help, at least from the ombudsman from Fair Work or councelling before you might develop a mental health issue or other health issues.

Have you also taken into consideration doing a tafe course in mechanical engineering? With an Australian qualification in your resume from tafe you could also get one of your trainers/principal lector as a referee which would make a good impression on potential employers and substitute your missing 'local work experience'. Okay, you need at least 6 months to finish courses at tafe and some money. In South Australia we have this 'skills for all' initiative, where you are subsidised by the state regarding not paying the full amount of fees (I know that temporary visa holders are also eligible). At the moment potential employers are very picky due to the slowing economy and because for 1 advertised job they get at least 100 applications, sometimes up to 400.

What is cisco? Never heard that term... starlight7 is right, qualifications on the skilled occupation list cannot expire. I think you mean your references are out dated due to everyone you knew has retired.

State sponsorship and the visa process itself is a business. Australia get some good people with skills and fresh money as well. The whole SS is more a wish list based on data gathered many months ago. I wish you all the best Maggie! Hopefully, you'll land a job soon.

Sorry to read and hear that some of you folks don't like it here! On the one hand, I feel sorry for you, that Australia supposed to be a disappointment. But never underestimate the time factor, give yourselves more time. After a while new people will settle and will find a job! We also got a price shock when we came here, it will disappear when you earn Aussie dollars. And by the way, not everything is more expensive than in the UK/Europe. The economic situation is not as good in Australia as it was a couple of years ago + high competition for all sorts of jobs. On the other hand, I will never understand why people apply for a Australian visa and are not willing to start from scratch which means starting OF COURSE with a lower salary and a lower position than in Europe. Australia is not 'England under palms', it's completely different in culture, values etc. It's still a privilege and a honour to obtain Permanent Residency. Many people would do anything for coming and living here... My advice would be don't come here with any expectations and don't research only on the Internet and knowing Down Under only from hearsay! Come here for a validation trip and research potential employers and rentals in reality and not on that realestate-fairytale websites only. The most important thing to do is to reflect the motives why you want to migrate and than asking questions 'Can I really live without my family and friends? Am I willing to start in a new country without any support networks? How will I deal with setbacks? Will I be satisfied in a junior job role for a while though I'm an experienced senior? Do I have enough savings to make ends meet without a job for a while? Am I really ready to be challenged?' That's the kind of questions my hubby and myself asked ourselves before we moved. We also had this low moments, especially in the first year. Not having a job for weeks, not knowing how it will go on. I struggled to find a decent job but was always determined and persistent. I would say in my personal review persistence is the most important factor for me,besides of being a personality who likes adventures and living in a foreign culture/country. Last but not leas everyone is different and so is every migration story.

With house sharing like you mentioned, going to cheap groceries/supermarkets like Aldi and without a car it's possible to survive on this as a couple modestly.

PR is more than a guest status, I am a taxpayer like any Australian citizen! So why should I wait 7 years to become a citizen, when I'm not a criminal and a hard-working taxpayer and we migrants are all here to enhance and build up this beautiful country. A longer waiting period would be arbitrary and gratuitous.

Aussie military only takes on PR's who are eligible of becoming Australian citizens, so that means nearly 4 years wait for new arrivals, too. Regarding the 15 % visa fee increase I found it sad for new applicants, but on the other hand everything gets more and more expensive, so do the visa fees. Of course, easy to say for me, because we managed to come here before that happened. Moreover, with the new visa scheme which makes migration more difficult there a fewer and fewer applicants anyway. So there is a earnings gap for DIAC which will be refilled by the remaining visa applicants.

It's an interesting thread. In Germany migrants have to wait 8 years. I'm from Germany, so I know a lot of migrants. Also a citizenship test has been introduced a couple of years ago. But my mother-in-law had to wait 28 years because she didn't want to give up her British nationality. In Germany you couldn't hold 2 nationalities like Britain or Australia does, they changed this rule in 2010 or so but only for migrants from the EU, all other have to give up their old citizenship which I found ridiculous in modern times (okay, this would lead to another discussion). A 4 years wait for obtaining Australian citizenship is long enough, I doubt that people only stay that long for getting citizenship. But in the old days where migrants only waited 2 years I knew some German fellows and Brits as well who did so. They didn't like it here that much but held out in order to return with a citizenship certificate just in case they would change their mind (most never did).

Welcome Chris:smile:

You're welcome. Sorry, that you missed out only by 0.5. IELTS can be very tricky (most people have a weak section). Some members resit the test because of this. I don't know if this might be too late for you or not.

Yes, because you've a 7.5 in writing and therefore you cannot get a 8.5 in your visa application. You need at least a 8 in every section of IELTS to get 8.5 as an overall score. Your IELTS cert overall result is not of interest for DIAC. When you read the booklet for your visa it's well explained how IELTS count towards your visa application (each and every section must be a 8 to get points of result 8)

You have to be in the country, like others said before, the job situation is not as good as it was for example last year. A lot of people here were made redundant or employers have cut off hours.

4.5 points for the 2nd applicant was also valid when we migrated. I would recommend your partner does his IELTS asap, otherwise you have to pay the 2nd instalment (in case your partner hasn't got a passport where English is the mother tongue, British, Irish, US, Canada).

That's correct!

I also buy my prescriptions at chemist warehouse. By far the cheapest pharmacy (saying this I don't like making propaganda) but others charge a lot more which I found out when chemist warehouse was not available in a so called 'emergency' situation.

The labour market is definitely slowing down. There are barely jobs available in comparison to 1 1/2 years before, when we arrived (and at that time we already thought it was quiet!!!)

Thanks Catalyst 2012 for clarifying. I appreciate that.