AJ235

Thanks for looking that up. I only applied last Thursday. Going to give them a call this morning and see where it is up too. I agree, surely others have been in this position and need it urgently.

Hi Snifter, yes I have done this. They advised that they don't have a priority service for this and I can't collect it in person either. All they could do was send an email requesting it to be looked at as a priority but couldn't give a definitive answer on when I may receive it.

Thanks for the replies. I could get her an Australian passport in 2 days, however, I can't apply without the evidence of citizenship certificate. Thanks Nemesis - that is definitely worth looking into. I will be close to London and after looking online it would seem that I can get an Australian passport from there of someone forwards me the evidence of citizenship.

Hi all, Wondering if someone who may have been in a similar situation could advise... My husband and I are both permanent residents in Australia (waiting on citizenship ceremony) and my 3-month old daughter who was born here is entitled to citizenship here. We need to urgently travel back to the UK due to the death of a relative but are having difficulties re; a passport for her. We can't get her an Australian passport as we don't have the evidence of her citizenship (we have applied but they can't say when we will get this) and I'm worried about her having difficulty getting back into Australia if we get her an emergency UK travel document (we have applied online for her UK passport just before this happened). I have called the British Consulate and can get her an emergency travel document but will she has issues arriving back in Australia if she isn't on our visas and doesn't have an Australian passport? Any advice would be great on how we can get back to the UK and then back to Australia again! Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone would be able to help or advise me where to look...my mum is looking to buy a house in Northern Ireland but she wouldn't be able to get a mortgage. She would need a mortgage for about 20,000 GBP after putting the rest down as cash (The purchase property of the house would be about 90000 GBP). I would love to help in in some way and I'm wondering if I would be able to get a mortgage for that amount to buy the property. The property is in Northern Ireland and I am a permanent resident with a stable job in Australia. Is this possible? Google searches is very confusing for buying overseas! Many thanks in advance, AJ

Hi all, If anyone is experienced in drug and alcohol counselling and working with a forensic population, my employer is currently recruiting and are willing to offer sponsorship (most likely 457). The positions are based in regional Victoria (Shepparton). Please send me a pm if you are interested or would like to know more. Thanks

They have started May. My visa was granted yesterday and I applied 1st May. I'm also Melbourne and it was processed in VIC. Occupation is drug and alcohol counsellor.

I would assume May because I didn't apply for the visa until 1st May after the nomination was approved so I would have gone into the normal visa queue.

Thanks! Occupation is drug and alcohol counsellor

Hi all, It's my turn to share the good news! PR granted today- timeline: Nomination applied 18/12/2014 Nomination granted 28/04/2015 Visa applied 01/05/2015 Visa granted 04/08/2015 Direct entry- MA used for nomination, no MA for visa. From low risk country and included form 80, police checks and medical. No change or request for info - went from application received to finalised. Good luck all- looks like May has started! Processed VIC

Hi drpepper, I agree with verystormy; my employer started to do it themselves but when they realised how much was involved (they had only ever sponsored on a 457 before not a 186) they decided to get a migration agent to do it. I did my own 186 direct entry application (still waiting on approval) which is very straightforward if you have a straightforward case (all work references etc) but I run into a problem getting a work reference which with the stress of trying to get sorted I then wished that I had of used an agent! Although a lot of money, if you are not 100% sure that your application is straightforward and that you have all the required documentation, I would seek some advice. Some do a visa application checking service and that may be a bit less. Also, is the $4000 for the employers side of the application as well as yours? Maybe your employer would pay for a migration agent for their application and then you could pay for your own? Good luck!

Hi dunesurfer, i'm not an accountant or tax expert so hopefully someone can come along to who is, however, my brother left Australia last year and he came away with about 70% of the amount he had in super.

Hi Peach, I think close to it, yes. I spend at least $200 per month on fuel and the quote also includes comprehensive insurance for a multicar policy with my husband and his car (i source the insurance myself as it was cheaper than they quoted and they just included this). Also registration which is $700 per year. I'm seeing my tax agent next week for end of tax return so I may ask him then! Hi Bungo - yes you can do it on a new or used car that is over $10,000. They pay the finance remaining on the car and you effectively pay that amount to them in the lease agreement.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I currently pay $685 on just the finance payment per month and that has just under 3 years left. I have been quoted $754 for a fully maintained lease for 2 years with a balloon payment of $9000. I have also just gone up one tax bracket so with some of the payment coming out pre-tax it should drop me a tax bracket again. I am inclined to think that this is worth doing but perhaps I should get some financial advice to make sure.

Hi all, I'm just wondering what peoples thoughts/experience are with a notated lease through your employer? I have a car on finance and I have received a few quotes about changing this to a notated lease instead. When I do the math, it seems better to go with the notated lease, everything is included and I save some money on tax. I will eventually own the car as there is a balloon payment at the end of the 2 year lease. Any advice or things I should look into first? Many thanks

Hi shanners, its hard to predict if you will be asked for it or not. I just completed one for my husband and I anyway because if your application gets assessed and they do ask for it, you go back in the queue for at least another month. It takes some time to complete it but I think the more you provide with your application the less likely they will ask for additional documents. Good luck!

Could anyone recommend a good RMA who is experienced in the 186 visa? It may be worth getting some advice as to if the supporting documents I have will be enough or if I should gather more evidence. Many thanks

Thanks Ozmaniac, that makes me feel better. I already submitted my application and supporting documents. Over 2 of the years are from a 457 visa (2 different employers) in the nominated occupation and for the 457 I included my 2+ years in the nominated occupation from the UK so fingers crossed it is all ok.

Hi all, Wondering if someone could advise - with the 3 years work experience needed for the 186 (I am applying direct entry), does this need to be shown on the skills assessment? I have a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS, however, it states that "at least one year/s of employment is assessed as highly relevant to the nominated occupation and completed at an appropriate skills level in the five years before the date of applying for this skills assessment. The employment described above meets the minimum requirements for this occupation". The problem I see is that it only lists one job for a 12 month period, it doesn't list the job I was doing for 2.5 years before that even though it was pretty much the same role. The skills assessment was also completed in April 2014 so I have over another year to add to that. In total I have 4.5 years in the nominated occupation but this isn't reflected in the skills assessment - will this affect my application? I have employer references, payslips etc. Many thanks for any advise.

Thanks MaggieMay. I will only add the birth certificates as national identity documents then. I will contact old employers to find out exact dates or look out old payslips as would like to be as accurate as possible. Does the go for trips to other countries for form 80? Add a cover letter if you can't remember exact dates? Many thanks

Hi everyone, Im in the middle of completing the online application for 186 visa direct entry. Nomination approved 2 days ago. Hoping someone could help with a couple of questions: 10 years employment history is asked for: how important is it to provide the exact dates? With the national identify documents, would it be worth putting both UK and Australia driving licences and birth certificates? I haven't made it to be end yet but I assume you upload all your documents at the end? Many thanks AJ

Hi all, Nomination has been approved today (22/04/15). Nomination was submitted via MA on the 18/12/2015. Visa application has not been submitted yet as was waiting for the nomination. Good luck to those still waiting!

Hi, You can only get your medical done through the approved immigration clinic which if you are living in Australia is Bupa. As you have been living in Australia you will also need an Australian Federal Police check (you can do this online and it is about $45). The medical cost will vary depending on what you are required to have done (my medical cost about $350 and I had it done in Bupa in Melbourne). You will also need to have police checks done from every country that you have lived for a period of time. Check the immigration website for the acceptable police authorities in each country. You don't need to be invited to have these done as you will require them for a permanent visa. For the medical, however, you will need to create and account and fill in the medical questionnaire to get the medical referral letter as this tells you what tests etc are required. The medical can take about 2 hours to do when you are there and then they say 5 days to give the results to immigration (if all straight forward and you don't need any further medicals etc). The police checks vary according to country, the Australia one was very quick and only took about 2 weeks and my UK police check took about a month. Good luck, Amy

Hi psych, I'm pretty sure if you are going direct entry then you need a positive skills assessment from the APS. The APS is the only one that immigration will accept. Having full registration with AHPRA will support your application to the APS but it will not be acceptable for immigration purposes (this is what I was advised when first looking into applying). Good luck!

Hi, It depends if you are a fully registered/chartered psychologist in the UK as an undergrad and masters doesn't get you registered in the UK like it does in Australia. Unless you can show that you were a fully registered psychologist in the UK you won't get a positive skills assessment for migration as a psychologist. To get registered with AHPRA you also need to have an assessment of your qualifications conpleted by the APS. I have a UK undergrad and a masters and I am having to do a 2 year internship program in Australia to be registered but I was a registered psychologist in the UK either. If you are a psychologist and get a positive skills assessment you will be eligible for migration but you won't get unconditional registration with ahpra until you do a 3 month transisitional program and sit the psychology exam. Hope that helps! AHPRA are not easy! Good luck, Amy