Sol2Oz

what a sad documentary

Back in the day, (in the 80's) the United States stupidly handed out multiple entry visitor visas for up to 10 years, and people used to take advantage of them, they'd do exactly that - visit, find work and stay illegally. Now, the people who were taking advantage of the system are complaining that the government is hunting them down like the gestapo (after the september 11th incident) and throwing them out of the country - even after having stayed the 10 years.

Well, the ageist attitude, I'm almost sure is most likely tied to small businesses. That's why I'd never work or apply to work for a small or medium business for that matter - young or old, I'd never look at them unless I was starving and desperate. I find small businesses to be the culprit of many of these discriminatory practices. Corporations and government agencies are the ways to go, really in terms of age, sex, colour etc. Now, this is not to bash small businesses - I think they're good for buying or getting services from, but never to work for. For me to work for a small business, I would much rather create one myself. Also, the majority of the people in Australia are actually considered older. The median age is almost 40, with a skew to an aging population! And the only reason why Oz's median age population hasn't skyrocketed to a median age of probably 50 is because according to the latest statistics plenty of immigrants from "younger" countries like India, the Philippines and China are being accepted in. (At least these cultures tend to value seniors).

Of course it's illegal! Stop trying to discourage people who are 45 and over!!! :arghh::arghh: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/age/index.html http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/legislation/index.html#Age

PS, I'm not over 45, but just saying.

Yeah, but that's assuming that you won't be able to carry the pension from your former country. Obviously, if you're 45 years old, you should have already accumulated some type of pension in your country. Also, if thousands of people from disadvantaged countries are doing it on a day to day basis, well why can't we?

But they won't know that you're over 55 unless you've led the fast life and look horrible or tell them.

Sorry, I meant 17 years. You can still do a lot with your savings. As for the retiring at 55, in which country can that happen without being heavily taxed?

THANK YOU!!! The same thing happened to me when the banks raised my interest rates from 4.9% to 29.99% - I will NEVER get tired of repeating my story and I will post it here and everywhere till kingdom come. My husband left me to pursue a love affair at the same time my interest rates went up on credit cards that he used, but guess who had to pay? None other than yours truly since my name was on them. Well, I rang the banks asking why my interests were raised when I was a longtime customer and someone who made timely payments. I also literally begged them to reduce the interest rate because I was going through a divorce, but they straight out told me they couldn't do that because of the financial crisis and that my good credit history has nothing to do with anything, it was just their decision and that was that. I asked to speak to a supervisor, but the only thing they said was that I'd have to default in order to be considered for any type of reduction as "this account is not eligible". I was in shock that they can treat someone like myself who had always made timely payments in such a nasty way. In the meantime, I literally went hungry to pay the greedies. I'll never forget when the blokes at work would eat the lunch their wives prepared for them and the office would smell so good, and there I would be starving because I had to ration my meals. Well, one day, my brother visited me and saw the horrendous conditions that I was living in having to pay rent, my legal divorce fees of $350 an hour to another greedy solicitor for a divorce that lasted 3 years in court (another crap story), and then the credit cards with those outrageous interest fees. At the end of it all, I had no savings, nothing - even though I have always been employed full time and am university educated that all went out the window with that period in my life. Well, my brother suggested that I stop paying the credit cards, and although I didn't want to do that, I followed his advice because my current life at the time was not sustainable. Today, three years later, I find it's the best advice I have taken: Not only did my life improve dramatically, but I was actually able to eat like a normal human being and visit family. (I was sick of staying weekends home or only being able to visit parks because I had no money despite working a full time job) Now a few years later, when the banks tried to sue me, (or better yet, a junk debt collector), I went to the city clerk and told them that I just could not pay if the judgement went against me. So the clerk hinted at me to fight them in that case. Well,I put on my law shoes and defended myself without representation, and answered the legal complaint. I denied everything and asked them to produce proof. The morons could not produce the bill of sale (from the bank), they could not produce any signed contracts by me, no sort of credit card receipts bearing my signature. The only thing that they were able to show for evidence was a bank statement with my name and address that showed I had made a payment. Well, that was not a problem - I told the court that the statement does not have my signature, is not authenticated (as in statutory declaration :wink:) and that there is no evidence that the statement had ever gotten to my address as there are no certified or registered mail receipts bearing my signature and that anyone can type up a statement on photoshop and parade it around in court. Well, I'm pleased to say that not only was the case dismissed, but so was the entire debt. :jiggy: Now I don't feel guilty in any way, shape or form as I literally cried to the banks to reduce my rates, and they refused in their own greed to comply. So I did exactly what they suggested - default on the debt, only I didn't call them back for a reduction, I just ignored it because if they want to play games, let them, cause two can play that game. Oh and another thing - banks are not supposed to lend out money that they cannot afford to lose, that is ridiculous greed and called fractional reserve banking, it's the epitome of greed and its' part of the reason why Argentina had collapsed and the whole Euro and the US is in trouble.

Well, at 49, technically, a person still has a good 27 years before they can retire! So that's 27 years of saving up a pension. I see no problem with the age factor in this regard

Or maybe the database is new and employers are unfamiliar with it yet? Either way, are you going to look for work from overseas or are you planning on applying from home? Also, did you validate your visa yet? I don't mean to ask so many questions and excuse me if I do lol, but I'm learning about this process as I go along myself! :laugh:

I got that email as well. I didn't know about that website. In fact, I thought they were going to decommission a similar database. Now the question is, I wonder if employers really use it.

If the NSW sponsorship doens't work, you can always apply for code, "263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer". I think part of those duties are the same as Systems' Administrator. It's on the new SOL.

The most factual statement ever made in a post in all of PIO this week!

Or in Tasmania - I'm sure that's more green over there than any place in the UK. :wink:

try meetup.com. Not that it will create close friends, but it's a way to throw yourself out there :smile:

Just wondering, is anyone updating the Excel sheet?

Sigh! I don't think I will rest until Bloomberg has their Visa! I'm beginning to feel as if I don't have mine and I'm waiting alongside Bloomy! :embarrassed:

What do you mean that Americans work for peanuts? I'm sorry but you don't seem to know what you're talking about. For your information, the US dollar is not equivalent to neither the Aussie nor the Sterling. Also, the US cost of living is tremendously low in comparison to even the European countries, the UK included. But as soon as the Americans make comparisons as to the cost of living - meaning, the high rents typically found in mining communities, coupled with the high value of the Aussie dollar, they - as well as anyone would, will continue to demand the same high wages. I know I would.

I support you too, bloomberg! I just came back from a small holiday and was surprised to see that you haven't been granted your visa yet. It's true, your patience is admirable, but it's time to release the big bad Jambos wolf!! That always works lol

amazing how much lesser time we spend on this thread once we have the grant! I do still have that mixed anxious-exciting feeling, but not of getting the visa, more like if we'll succeed in getting work and moving to Oz

This is so awesome! oh, now we all have to cheer and send good vibes to Your grant needs to be next!! :arghh:

Well mates, looks like it's my turn to liven up this thread :wink: I just received my grant. Just wanted to thank you guys for all of your support,and I wish for those of you who are waiting a speedy grant! Also, this board is an amazing source of wealth - thank you so much again!! By the way, my medicals were finalised on 28 May, and a day later today, I received my grant. :biggrin::biggrin:

I would love to give a !!!!! I think he's done a :hug: :wubclub:

I have everything done and all is marked as "met" in the system except for medicals. I already went to the doctor (at the CO's request) and my results were mailed (not uploaded as we don't have ehealth). It took a whole week for the results to be mailed to Sydney (I was able to use a tracking number the doctor's office gave me). But, they're not showing up in the system. I imagine a huge room filled with medicals from all over the world and the staff having to sort through all of them.