Petkula73

Pozz - I'm on the same visa route as you - 457 transition, no MA, no DRC. Is Form 80 required? On the DIAC website the list of required docs doesn't include this - was it something you were specifically told to include or were you covering your bases? I've part filled out Form 80 but not posted it yet. If I can avoid listing every country I have visited with dates it would be a bonus as I have a job where I've spent a lot of time travelling.

Children don't need Xrays or blood samples. The medical for kids is really simple and for a baby it should be a formality. For my daughter (aged 5) the nurse measured and weighed her, did a very basic eye test (telling what the pictures on a chart were), tested her urine. The doctor then checked her with a stethascope, checked her glands in her next, stomach, spine and ankles. That was about it. Still cost $300+ though! Don't sweat the medicals - they're not so strict unless you have a long medical history or they find something seriously wrong. I passed and I'm in terrible shape...

I've not really much experience here, but the general advice (which we followed) is to submit the visa application at the same time as the nomination. The current wait times seem to be 4 months or so, but I was told yesterday to expect a 5-8 month wait. The best advice is (I think) to get your application posted and then complete and post all the necessary documents on the website ahead of a case officer being assigned -i.e. don't sit and wait as it will take you several weeks to pull everything together anyway. I would also advise you to get the medicals completed once you have the reference number from the application. Regarding the skills assessment and 457 question, someone else probably knows the answer, but my understanding is you can withdraw an application at any stage if you are ineligble. So if you applied for the 186 now and found out later you were ineligble, you would be able to withdraw and apply for a 457. Best of luck.

47,250 is quite a lot though isn't it? 20% more than 2008 for example so they must still want us(!) I spoke to the IMMI today and was told the wait was 5-8 months, but could be less. My timeline is: ENS186 - 457 transtition scheme. No MA, No DRC 20/8 - Nomination submitted 21/8 - Visa submitted 21/8 - Acknowledgement of application 30/9 - Status update - no case officer assigned We have all our documents posted on the application bar the UK police checks (what a total faff they are - can't believe you have to post a blinking cheque in 2013!). If it's all resolved by 31st December I will be chuffed to bits.

Hi I know it's not something that can be specifically answered, but provided the application is submitted correctly with supporting documents etc what is a "normal" time to go from application to grant? Looking at the first posts compared to the later ones, things have speeded up for the ENS 186 route - is that correct? Thanks

Thanks Craig. Bizarre that an old banger worth £500 is worth shipping. We spent 1500 on repairs last year so this might be better option than we thought as the car is mechanically sound and will trundle on for a few more years without issues.

Hi - we have a 59 plate Hyundai i30 1.4ES and wondering if it's best to sell or ship. We bought this with a government scrappage allowance back so got a pretty substantial discount - we paid something like 8400 pounds on the road compared to 13000 list. We have done circa 15,000 miles in it and it's still mint. Looking at an equivalent model here it's about $15K for that age and similar spec so is it worth shipping? Not my dream car, but it's a good A to B machine. Our other car is a 2002 Volvo V70 T5 with 170,000 miles on the clock and worth 500 quid in the UK. Can't see this being worth anything other than selling, but any chance you could advise? We're expecting we'll need to spend at least $15K to get something decent on the road over here. Thanks