JoannaAch

That's a lot! I paid only 200euros per adult in Germany (Frankfurt) 7-8 months ago...

I also applied on my own and I got a 190 visa for me and hubby with no problems, pretty quickly. Even though my case was very straightforward, as I only claimed points for Ielts, qualifications, age and state nomination, there were at least a few very confusing steps in the application process when I had to ask for advice on the forum. The whole process was pretty stressful for me, but there was no way I could afford an agent (I'm a PhD student).

Thanks! I will ask my vet to make a new entry for that vaccination in the passport. It's very unfortunate that I can't fly her with PetAir, I would really appreciate a company that takes care of all the formalities for me. With the one I chose from Germany, I have to do everything myself. Thanks again for your advice! Jo

Hello everybody, I have picked up the RNAT test results for my cat yesterday, they are way above the required 0.5IU/ml and now I wanted to get an official government vet to sign the RNATT Declaration. Here is where I am confused - on the Declaration the veterinary signs that he/she has seen the "rabies vaccination certificate", can someone advice me what that is? Is it just the sticker with the name of the vaccine and vet's signature in the pet passport? Or do I need some additional certificate? Also my vet stamped a wrong validity date next to the last vaccination (2014 instead of 2016) and changed it by writing over it with a pen. Would that cause any trouble later? Thanks! Joanna

Hi, do you have a skills assessment for that degree? Maybe asking VETASSESS for points advisory letter will help? Here is info from DIBP website: A Doctorate generally comprises more than 4 years of study, involving extensive research, coursework, exams and the writing of a thesis/dissertation. How long was your research for? Also, do you write a thesis to get a MD at your university? I also remember a person with a MD writing here that had problems when claimed 20points for a MD degree from Germany. But I think in Germany it takes only 2 years to get a MD, which is not comparable to a PHD or an UK MD that takes 4+ years... Maybe you can somehow search for that thread? I hope that someone here will be able to help you with more precise answers... good luck!

It's actually good to know that most Ozzie employers are this way - I got a job offer by email 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything for 1 week, emailed them again only to find out that the person that wants to employ me is on a 3-weeks vacation... But in the end she send me the formal job offer and promised to send me a contract "soon" (probably in a month...). I guess they are just not in a hurry like the rest of the world

Hi, I can't tell you if it is possible to use different cards, maybe someone else will be able to answer. But I think the easiest way (and that's what I did) is to go to the bank and increase the daily limit on your credit card for a few days, make a payment and change it again.

Hi Alan, Thanks for your help. But the withholding tax is paid only from the interest, not from the whole amount that I transfer?

That's really great! 10 days is almost nothing... My cat is booked for a rabies antibodies test next week, so hopefully she will be ready to travel in June or July next year. thanks for sharing the good news!

Thanks! In that case I will transfer my savings as soon as possible:)

This topic has been discussed many many times before. Shortly, the commitment to stay in a sponsoring state is a moral, not a legal obligation and therefore has no impact on visa or future citizenship application. If you really want to (although as I mentioned before it is not needed for anything, just for yourself) you can email WA and ask them to release you from the commitment, I am pretty sure that after 6 months of job search they will advise you to move to NSW and take a job.

Hi, I am moving to Au in around 4 months, I already have A NAB account and now I am wondering when will be the best time to transfer my savings (from Germany) via Moneycorp. I read somewhere that 10% tax may be deducted from money sent from overseas if the owner is not an Au resident. Is that true? I can always transfer the money after I arrive in Australia... Any advice is highly welcome:)

Thanks for sharing the information you got from the Department. Even though I wasn't expecting there to be any problems, it's good to get an answer from an official source. I also can't move to my sponsoring state just now (although I still hope to do it at some point as that is where I want to settle permanently). For some jobs, it does not matter if you apply from overseas or if you are local. Even before arriving in Au I can see that it might be hard for me to get a job in my sponsoring state, which is why I emailed the state and they replied straight away that if I can't find employment, I don't have to live there and that I should go where I have been offered a job. I don't think comments how people should be forced by law to live in the sponsoring state are fair - DIAC has not put a condition on 190 visas for a reason. I am sure there are some pretty smart people that decided that should not be a actual obligation and I don't see a point in questioning it.

It's a very interesting question, but I think the ones that didn't have problems with getting citizenship, won't be positing here (as they don't need any help or advice). On the other hand, there hasn't been anyone on this forum who reported to have such a problem, which might mean that nobody did:) As for investigating if someone lived in the sponsoring state and delaying applications - I don't think that is possible. The rules for applying for citizenship are very clear and nowhere it states that the commitment has anything to do with it. Also, citizenship is granted by the DIAC and I doubt that states governments have anything to say about it.

That's great, I hope I will also be able to sign my contract soon. I just hope the whole thing won't take too long. The recruitment process was painfully slow and I need some peace of mind after few months of job applications and interviews.

Thanks! I was hoping it can be done by email. So I don't sign a contract before I arrive, just the offer letter?

Hello everybody, Last Friday I got an email from an employer that she would like to offer me a job I interviewed for a few weeks ago:) I am really excited! I have a PR visa and I am wondering what is the process of accepting an offer if one is overseas. The employer told me that as soon as I inform her when I can start, she will send me a formal offer - I have never heard about such a document (except for google) and so I was hoping that someone will share their experience with me. Is that document usually sent by post? How long it takes for them to prepare it (on average - more than a week or few days)? Should I expect HR department to ask me some questions regarding my visa or any other formalities before I arrive? I am really nervous and would like to get all the paperwork ready so that I can fully concentrate on my current work (finishing my PhD)... Thanks in advance for any advice! Jo

Right, sorry - I used a wrong word as it is not mandatory. Anyway, the 2-year period when you should supposedly live and work in the sponsoring state starts after you move permanently.

As for the first question - the 2 year mandatory residency only begins when you move permanently. For your second question, I would guess that as long as you live and are employed by an agency located in the sponsoring state, it doesn't matter where you do the work. You will still be paying taxes etc. in that state.

If I were you I would try with University Lecturer first, as: 1. Victoria requires 5 years of experience for Life Scientist nec and they are also very picky about the exact research field you work in. You can't tell if they are sponsoring Microbiologists at the moment and you may waste a lot of time waiting for them to process your application. There is a report called "Final-Biotechnology-Skills-Review-August-2010" were they list skills that are really needed. You can download it online, but it is already 3 years old... 2. NSW sponsors all applicants that fulfill the minimal criteria - you don't risk getting rejected. Also, I think there are more job opportunities in NSW than anywhere else and it is easier to get a job. 3. I can't tell anything about QLS - only that I do not see that many jobs advertised on any website with science-related jobs. Although that might not mean anything as there would be also less candidates applying for each. Hope that helps! Good luck with your application. J

Hello everybody, I am looking for shipping company from Germany. I have checked Sevenseas but shipping from Germany is much more expensive than from UK. 4 large boxes from London to Sydney cost 170£, while same boxes from Germany cost more than 400€ - almost two times more. Has anybody shipped their things from Germany?

I am not sure if it will be important to anybody - but just in case: PhD students from universities all around the world can apply for a GRADS program with Malaysia Airlines (10euro annual fee) and get extra 10kg baggage allowance for flights from Europe to Australia (and probably everywhere else). I think it is a great option for students/workers that book flights from countries where MA does not offer migrant fares.

I think claiming points for qualification is easier than for work experience (less documents are needed). Just make sure that the VETASSESS result mentions that your PhD is at the required level and comparable to an Australian PhD. I am sure you will get at least 7 in all bands in IELTS. Do you work in English? Yes, I claimed 20points for IELTS, no points for experience and 15points for Bachelor degree.

Hey, As per my understanding - you should be able to claim points both for the degree and for any work experience after the degree assessed by Vetassess (probably B.Sc. in your case). Although, if I were you I would look for some extra points elsewhere and play it safe by claiming only points for one:) Have you already done IELTS? It should be easy for a scientist to get more than 7.0 in all bands, which will give you 10 extra points. Have you received a Points Test Advice for your PhD degree from Vetassess? It's not necessary, but better to have if you want to claim 20 points for a PhD outside Australia.

I would still email them and try to explain why you couldn't apply in time. But maybe think of some better reason... Based on my experience they are not that strict with the requirements to wait for a second chance/invite for X months. Also, they can't tell if you have lodged your application, DIAC only informs them when visa is granted. So you need to inform them anyway.