WelshBen

The agent they spoke to told them they might need to be out of the country for up to 9 months depending on processing times, so it has spooked them a little. That is why I am curious if the permission to apply onshore is an option.

I will speak to an agent to see if I can get some advice.

Hi all - I am after some advice regarding the 870 Sponsored Parent Visa.

My mother and step father are investigating ways to spend extended  time in Australia with our family based here. They are not suitable for a permanent visa due to failing the balance on family test.

They are interested in getting the 870 visa for 5 years with a plan to potentially extend a further 5. What is putting them off is the requirement to have to leave the country for a few months in between visas.

I have read about requesting to ‘permission to apply onshore’. How does that work? And could they potentially request a further 5 years whilst remaining in Australia?

Many thanks for any advice!

I believe its a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) - I believe it is for 12 months but I will have to check. They intended on being here for 4 weeks.

Hi all - I'm looking for a bit of advice.

We are Australian citizens, and currently have my in-laws staying with us on holiday. They were due to return in around 2 weeks but obviously the corona virus is causing mayhem throughout the world. They would like to stay with us during the outbreak as they are very concerned about travelling (my father in-law has had lots of health issues in the past). We are very happy for them to stay and are a huge help looking after the kids whilst we work from home. 

Are there any implications of them staying? Would they need to apply for a visa of some sort? If they have to travel back, it obviously needs to be imminent.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I always use this one - http://www.paycalculator.com.au/

I attended my ceremony last week, after a super quick process. Here is my complete timeline:

Date applied: 20/11/2016
City/Council area: Brisbane / Ipswich Council (Springfield Lakes)
Online / Paper: Online
Date received the acknowledgement email: 20/11/2016
Date Test Appointment email received: 28/11/2016
Date of the Citizenship Test: 1 /2/2017. Rearranged to 11/1/2017
Approval Letter: 17/01/2017
Date of Ceremony: 29/03/2017

I also work as a contractor in the tech industry, and can definitely can be described as a 'serial contractor'

I think you may have just been unlucky. I've recently moved up to Brisbane (currently working on the Gold Coast) after four years contracting in Melbourne. I've had zero issues in any of my roles so far. I was speaking to one company about a contract role, which suddenly changed to a fixed term - but that instantly ended my interested.

Personally I'd try another role in Brisbane before considering working away. Good luck in whatever you choose!

Hi all - here is my timeline:

Date applied: 20/11/2016

City/Council area: Brisbane

Online / Paper: Online

Date received the acknowledgement email: 20/11/2016

Date Test Appointment email received: 28/11/2016

Date of the Citizenship Test: 1/2/2017. Rearranged to 11/1/2017 (they could not do any sooner).

Point Cook over in the west might be worth considering on that budget.

Thanks mate - I appreciate it.

I'll PM you now.

Hi all,

I have just made the move up to Brisbane from Melbourne and have recently commenced the job search. I am an experienced Senior Test Analyst and getting the run around from a couple of recruitment agents (nothing new there).

Does anyone have any contacts in recruitment or can recommend any agents that will be worthwhile firing my CV over to?

Many thanks,

Ben

Thanks guys,

 

Somehow the notifications havent worked and it's only because I logged in today did I realise there were some helpful replies so once again thank you all. It is quite interesting really, my perception has been go CBD for all work, go out for all life.....but it isnt so. Come to think of it, its only after I spent about 5 years in the UK did I know where my kinda jobs were based so all depends on where I end up really......

@WelshBen : So where are the other clusters of IT companies in Melbourne outside of the CBD? Or is it just spread all over?

 

We are keen to settle down as soon as possible after we move. Dont want to spend a year renting and then move into a property, mainly because we are settled here and enjoy not renting after almost 8 years of it.......guess sometimes key decisions like purchasing may need to wait a while!

 

KnK

Hi KnK - from my experience the CBD is the place with the majority of banking and financial services roles are based. I have worked a little out of the city on St Kilda Road, Richmond and Abbottsford and also further out in Box Hill.

Hi,

 

As we progress through our options of where to set camp in Australia, we are now making ourselves to also explore Sydney. Since all our research focussed only on Melbourne with IT jobs requiring travel into the CBD, I am now trying to understand if its the same in Sydney also?

 

Since Sydney has organically grown outwards, I am hoping there are IT or tech parks dotted around other smaller towns. Probably not as much as the UK where jobs in the South are just not in London or the Thames corridor but also in a number of smaller towns for example Reading, Basingstoke, Hook, Newbury, Theale and so on......

 

Is this the case in Sydney too? If I am being specific then I am on IT PM focussed on Telecoms and Delivery plus Consulting so any ideas on the spread of IT companies outside the CBD will help us in identifying potential suburbs to shortlist for our recce. I do know we have to up our budget to about $700k for a decent place an hour away from the CBD but what if there was IT work ad companies outside of the CBD?

 

Any insights?

 

Thanks

KnK

I work in IT and have lived in Melbourne for just over 3.5 years. I'm on my third role as an IT Contractor, and I am still yet to work in the CBD.

Thanks Pom Queen - those prices seem quite reasonable, although no doubt they will have risen along with everything else in the last couple of years. Still, that's less than I was expecting.

I've done a quick Google search and there's heaps of companies, although they all want contact details before providing a quote - I'd rather wait until I have dates before being hassled by them. Maybe after your experience I'll give Crown a miss!

My family and I are planning on making the move from Melbourne up to Brisbane in the next couple of months. Due to having a toddler and a young baby, hiring a van and doing the move our self isn’t really an option. Therefore has anyone made a similar move that can recommend a good removalist company plus and idea of cost? During 3.5 years in Melbourne we’ve acquired quite lot of possessions (plus 2 kids!) so would be moving the contents of a 4 bedroom house.

Also, what would people recommend doing with our car? Is it possible to get that transported up or would I be wiser driving that up myself over the space of a weekend?

Any advice would be great – thanks.

Oh wow just read that link posted above so it's illegal in WA! What would they do if u had it in your luggage? n got through with it n then what would happen if you were caught smoking it at home or something? I'm glad it's illegal there as I think it's dangerous n stupid. Oh well now u know, move to Victoria or give it up!

The sale of the liquid containing nicotine is illegal throughout Australia I believe. It is not illegal to use, or to purchase from abroad.

There are lots of shops in Australia that supply the equipment and zero nicotine liquid. I order my liquid containing nicotine from either NZ or the States.

Thanks both.

I have discovered that the birthday certificate is going to be the issue. I have emailed and called (on hold for up to an hour stints since 9am this morning) and unable to get a response. I will try calling into the office in person first thing in the morning with all of the required information, however I think I'm resigned to being just too short notice - I'll keep on trying though!

Yes - you can get a passport in a hurry by visiting the Passport Office just outside Parliament Station and paying extra fees.

Perfect - thanks for the reply.

Hi all - we have recently had a new baby and are considering a last minute trip back to the UK for Xmas. Can anyone advise if it would be possible to secure a passport for the baby (an Australian citizen) within a couple of weeks?

We we have not posted the birth certificate forms yet, so assuming we've left it too late. However. Now have a long mandatory Xmas break that I wasn't expecting so wondering if a UK trip would be possible.

Has anyone ever done anything similar? Thanks!!

The Imperial as stated above is probably the best known bar for watching it.

You will find lots of bars all over that show it though. The Sports Bar in the Crown Casino and Elephant and Wheelbarrow are a couple of other options.

I’d be interested in seeing the responses here too.

I live in Melbourne which we love, but after completing the two years here for State Sponsorship we’ve been considering trying another State.

Sydney definitely offers me greater career opportunities. What puts us off, is the house prices appear insane. The salary increase that working in Sydney would provide, does not seem to compensate this. For this reason we are considering Brisbane instead

I’ve flown with Singapore Airlines quite a few times, and again next month - undoubtedly my favourite airline. With regards to the films, the ones shown on the website are not the only films they’ll show, just the new films for that month. They generally have a large selection from the previous few months also.

Myself, partner and 10 month old baby are potentially moving to Brisbane from Melbourne in October this year. Nice to see some others making the move, I'll be keeping an eye out for any updates.

If you're going to be applying for in demand roles in a competitive market, I would assume Australian Citizens and Permanent Residency holders will have a huge advantage over you.

Maybe consider going the PR route before you come over?