SunshineAndSmiles

Love the dr Phil analysis Good guess on my age - I'm early 30s and do think the social circle changes are age related which do make me think the same thing could happen wherever I am now I think about it. I do feel like I'm bumbling a bit which is out of character for me as I'm more of a planner. I do like Sydney, but hadn't until recently really thought that I might not live back in the UK again which does make me sad a bit when I think about it. I've been wanting to feel more settled here so would really like to buy a unit but Sydney is crazy expensive so I'm years away from being able to achieve that. Unless there is a property crash. Not that it's the only way to settle but it would make it harder to up and go. im not sure about a 5 year plan but you have made me think I should put some sort of time frame on it - maybe a year of really making the effort here. thabks for posting - you have given me some things to think about

I've been in Sydney now 7 years and just wanted others thoughts as I'm finding it harder recently. I'm not sure if this is homesickness or just life but it feels harder here now I have AU citizenship than when I was struggling to get sponsored. I never really planned to migrate here and I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to move back to the Uk. Although when I think about actually doing it, it scares me and feels so final. My first few years here were amazing but the last couple I have struggled. I've had job issues (resulting in money issues) and lots of friends moving states / settling down. I did have a great social life but recently I don't feel i have many close friends at all, just acquaintances and thinking ahead I've no idea who I will spend Christmas with. I've dated but not met anyone special and I really find it hard around public holidays / Christmas here. But then the idea of meeting someone here and never living back in the UK scares me! When I think about moving back though I know the life I left in the UK would not be the same and it would take a while to get back into a good job and I wonder if friends will have moved on too. I know I've drifted from my family too - it didn't help that I didn't make it back for a family wedding which caused some upset. But I wonder if I moved back it would be easier to rebuild those relationships than it is from afar. I'm confused as I loved it my first few years so it feels strange to not love it now. Also I never disliked the UK or was unhappy, I just came out on a working holiday visa, loved it and stayed without really thinking too much about it so never planning to migrate or stay this long. Is this homesickness? Or am I just thinking the grass is greener?

If you are still to do the VETASSESS skills assessment, most of the DRC backlog should be clear from pre-June so hopefully that should mean all the 856 DIAC staff can move onto the 186 applications. All the best with both applications!

No waiver. Mine should of been very easy to process - no dependents or secondary applicants, English native and 7 yrs work experience in my profession. Good Luck with yours!

Exciting news for you! So glad it is moving along after the wait you have had so far!

Thank you - I'm in Marketing so not an area like nursing which tends to through quicker.

Oops too excited and posted too soon! Meant to say I will keep following this thread to hear all your news! Perfect start to the long weekend!

Finally I have good news to share. This afternoon I just got my NOM and VISA approved within an hour of each other. Timeline as follows: Applied DRC NOM & VISA at Parramatta on 29.6.2012 Ack letter dated 29.6.2012 No word from CO under straight approval of Nom & Visa today 28.09.12. Exactly 13 weeks so in my case I must of been allocated a case officer within the 10-12 week guideline. I'm really in shock but good luck to everyone. I will keep l

Really interesting crusty! I guess that makes sense - if a MA submits an application as decision ready and it isn't, the MA probably gets a strike and from what I read online on the DRC guidelines, 3 strikes and the MA can't submit further DRC applications. Would be unfair if DIAC only told the MA after the 3 strikes as its not allowing for genuine mistakes to be recified. Ive been emailing the processing centre all day and getting the same 3rd Sept update - I worried they may block me soon lol!

I sorry to hear your experiences. A crap workplace impacts so much on ones well being, even more so than in a foreign country. My interpretion of obligations re: travel costs, based on ABA quote from the DIAC website is the employer has to pay the flights if you request the cost, regardless of how you part company. This is because they are agreeing in sponsoring you to ensure you leave the country - its not a benefit to you but to ensure there aren't lots of 457 visa holders overstaying when they are not working (although in reality, it is a benefit, just that isn't the main purpose). Many people do not get any relocation costs and there is no requirement for employers to offer this, it is a benefit to the employee and anything you need to pay back is based on your contractual agreement with your employer, not based on your 457 visa. I've not known anyone request flights - I suspect most people who leave of their own accord probably tend to pay their own flights. I would be pushing for your flight costs to be paid by your employer because as you assume, I doubt DIAC will be chasing your employer for this once you have left Aus as you have left the DIAC's rationale to chase it, no longer exists. Good luck!

I wish we all knew if our applications were accepted as DRC or not - it would help us manage our wait time as there is a big difference bet 12 wks and 9 months for a CO allocation. I have a terrible feeling mine has gone to the pipeline. I understand what u mean about life on hold. Bur even if it takes longer than planned, most DRC cases should be quicker than if you applied and were put in the pipeline. I'm sure there will be an update on the processing times this wk.

Sorry Natalie - I missed your question to me until now but I see you have been helped by our fellow PIO friends! I'm guessing you have been granted a bridging visa as the 19th Sept is not too far away now...

To anyone waiting to hear from Parramatta and hasn't seen the new update, here is a section of the quote below. 10-12 weeks is their estimate for Decision ready cases to be allocated - a BIG difference from 2-4 weeks which was quoted in June but at least it gives those of us waiting to hear from Parramatta a sense of timings. 9 weeks for me this Friday - though I probably shouldn't get too excited YET LATEST UPDATE – 23 August 2012 Applications lodged with DIAC in the last weeks of June At present we are trying to resolve how we move forward in the most efficient manner with the volume of cases we have on hand, but we are in the process of recommencing allocating cases from our pipeline. However, the volume of cases we have received has impacted on our capacity to allocate cases within the timeframes previously stated. In June we went from having about four months of processing work on-hand to close to nine months. Accordingly under normal circumstances clients might expect to wait for nine months for their case to be allocated if lodged in late June. Certified DecisionReady Applications The issue of volume also impacts agent certified “decision ready” cases, where we also have several months worth of cases to allocate. This cohort of applications remains a first priority for DIAC but sheer numbers of applications received means that allocation to case officers is taking 10 – 12 weeks at the moment which is considerably longer than our usual published time frame of three weeks to allocate to a case officer. Please be assured that we are seeking to allocate cases as quickly as possible but please do not make current status requests unless your application is outside the allocation timeframes outlined later in this message. We thank you for your patience during this busy period.

Hello Eilish I am in a similar position to you. I applied for ENS 856 on 29th June so the last possible working day in Sydney. Im still waiting an ack letter although payment was taken on 29th June. Mine was also decision ready but I'm preparing for a long wait given all the applications. There is a thread on this and many people are waiting and sharing their timelines. Some states are quicker than others at processing. I'm hoping it will be done by Christmas - any sooner will be a bonus for me!