mikeyd

It's all simple enough to do yourself, I did last year, the wife just let me get on with it and signed anything she had to or attended medicals. As it's a timely process, you have so long to research or ask on here if you need help. I started early 2014, grant came Oct 2014. Much of that was waiting for stuff to come from the UK. You'll manage fine

I've never put info into the tracker!

Were both onshore. He was 10 weeks from application to grant, mine 8.5 weeks

A friend got his in 10 weeks not that long back so I've been expecting a little more of a wait but I had everything front loaded shortly after applying from that friends advice so shows how easy it can be made for them, also backs up my point above about the agents not being needed. Thanks all for the advice to anyone who helped, I'll happily help anyone out to pass on what I've learnt

I just got a direct grant. Didn't expect it quite so soon. Perfect timing as work is slow in queensland. Applied 17th August

Don't use an agent is my advice. It's a relatively straight forward process if you take your time and read the info on the immi website. I was surprised how simple it all was in the end. Going by timelines, I'll potentially have a direct grant a week on monday then I'll be able to say for sure! Or pay me to be your agent!

I'd say there's still a few weeks until August applications see a CO looking at their stuff. The June applicants are all getting theirs accepted by now so around 10-13 weeks generally seems the time it takes

Received our UK PCC's and had our medicals on Friday, X-ray's Saturday. Just need to upload the Police certs and I'll have everything uploaded that I think should be needed. Waiting game really starts now as I can't do much more to progress it all

Visas have different costs. No need to possibly scare someone with figures which most likely won't apply to them. Do research on the immi website, it is quite simple once you understand the terminology and there are a lot of visas you may be applicable for. Costs are generally around $3500 for the main applicant and $1700 for any additional. Agents fees will pretty much double this, they're not necessary though

Visas have different costs. Don't scare someone with figures which most likely won't apply to them. Do research on the immi website, it is quite simple once you understand the terminology and there are a lot of visas you may be applicable for. Costs are generally around $3500 for the main applicant and $1700 for any additional. Agents fees will pretty much double this, they're not necessary though

Booked our medicals for next Friday. Also still waiting on UK police certs which they received two weeks ago. No news on a CO yet but I don't expect one for a couple more weeks anyway

Great, thanks. I applied late on Sunday so haven't fully explored everything. Must have missed that option. Moving house this weekend so will get onto it once I know we can get medicals done done in a timely manner and also get a pay packet in for them!

Anybody able to help? I was under the impression when I applied to be able to get a HAP ID, this I'd be able to use to book a medical and have my results come straight through to my application. There is a reference number, starts EGO, is this the same as a HAP ID?

Thanks, and yourself. I'm already in Oz so it's not a big rush as on a 457 already but just want the security as it's not as frantic with work anymore. The big focus is to get the visa and then we can get on with trying for kids and know there's no visa complications in the future for the baby

Applied for mine yesterday. Uploaded some documents even though it says no steps required. Friend recently had his come back after 10 weeks, here's hoping for something similar

Without me going through many threads, what are people meaning by the 'front loading' of documents? I've put in an EOI and had an invite this morning so been through the application and expected at some point to have to upload documents I've been collecting over the last few months. When I got to the end I could submit and pay a small fortune but wanted to hold off to check everything over again and see exactly what I'd be doing after paying the fee. The only document I am waiting on is my UK Police Certificate as only sent that off when I had my IELTS results back. I also haven't had medicals. Just wondering what exactly comes next when I pay the fee as from the last few posts it seems the PCC and medical can wait until after. I have passports, marriage cert, drivers licence, IELTS, skills assessment, Oz Police Cert all pdf'd, plus even got references from previous UK jobs. Just seemed to be far too easy to get to the submit stage (even though its months in the making) and still wonder what happens next? :elvis:

Some good info already. At least I was on the right lines. If the difference between 186/187 and 189 is negligible if not quicker for 189 I'll probably go that way so I am not tied down and with the current economical climate in a mining town, it would ease any worries to know we were free to do as we please should anything happen. my wife struggles to find work here relevant to her experience and degree so it's always been at the back of my mind to keep options open. We're not quite ready to start for a baby and know it isn't guaranteed to happen right away so hopefully we can get a PR first and the rest will fall into place after. I have probably overthought the passport issue. If we apply in her old name, the visa goes on her current passport and we can travel wherever on that. Then whenever we renew it, change name and update the government. She has a qld licence should she need proof of new name anyway Time to look at the 189 application in detail then :wink:

Mackay has come down in price a lot in the last year, however it also isn't that secure work wise at the moment as the mines have cut many jobs which in the end makes the region tick along. It's a very nice place to live compared to the UK where we were in a big city. I have lots of positives for Mackay, few negatives but couldn't comment on the Sunny Coast

Good afternoon all. I'm hoping I could get a few opinions to help me make a choice with which PR visa to go for. Currently I've been working as a civil engineer on a 457 for 20 months and plan to stay for a good while longer so long as there's no drastic changes here, my now wife (married in December) is also on my visa. From research I believe I could go for the 186, 187 or 189 visas yet I am undecided. My employer would happily nominate me if I wished to go for the 186 or 187, however I would have to wait another 4 months to have done the 2 years work here so I would probably be looking at the 186 to get things going sooner. I also have thought about staying independant of the company and going for a 189 so I am not tied down. As far as I'm aware, each of these visas costs just as much, has same medicals, checks etc required. What I am looking to find out is do any of the visas come through quicker say if they are nominated by a company, as in do they favour being nominated rather than going independant? Which one is likely to go through with the most ease? We are going to be looking to start a family soon, so is it best to get the visa before the wife is pregnant? I have been told that adding a child onto a PR visa is as simple as a letter to the government, but getting a visa with the child in the application is extra cost, anybody able to help? Also, she is currently on her previous surname on her UK passport, haven't updated as it's a good $400 and frankly, I don't believe she would absolutely have to change it or whether there is a law against not changing it? Will we have a problem with the difference in names when applying or do they use common sense and ask for a marraige certificate to show we're hitched? Many questions, but I think they are the main ones I can think of. I've tried searching and reading the visa progress threads but it's not easy to find the info. Thanks for any help. Any tips etc would be appreciated :cool: Mike

There are always places on the market, it just depends on what you are looking to pay and how many are open to you. Myself and my gf moved to Mackay in July and lucked out, getting a nice place in Shoal Point almost straight away. We love the place, and you will certainly enjoy the relaxed attitude and beautiful surroundings. Anywhere North of the river is what most would recommend, ignore the talk about traffic. Even from Shoal Point I am in town in around 20 minutes. I work in engineering and see much of the planned development. Mackay can't expand any quicker than it is now, yet the demand is high so it will be the same story for many years to come. So long as you have the time to put into applying, you will find a place, just nobody can guarantee how soon it will be

We used Anglo Pacific. Ended up having the air freight as we didn't have a huge amount so it was either £1k to get it there in a week or so, or £500 to take 3 months. Only thing is they're a bit backwards in that they messed up the address to send to, so I've called up to change it a number of times, then get differing accounts from their customer service, one saying they cant change address as it's not in the country etc, just odd. They wont give you any notice of when it will be delivered other than the tracking, so got to keep checking that to see if it's out for delivery.

You're a little ahead of us. We arrived Friday morning after sleeping in Brisbane airport over night, went straight in to town and kept ourselves busy doing the banking/medicare stuff just to keep us awake. Last few days have been about finding any rental companies and doing our best to view/apply for whatever we could. Had a call earlier to say we were accepted for a property in Shoal Point which we loved so very happy, treated the gf to a drive to Cape Hillsborough where she got to see wallabies, kookaburras, even spiders! Very nice place to visit and good to wind down after a busy few days which have seen us needing bed far earlier than we'd expect. Next big thing is finding at least one car, but may turn out to be two depending on where the gf manages to find work. Love this place though, bigger than we expected, gf loves the change of scenery, expensive but then again we haven't started work yet (I begin Monday) so how much goes out seems a lot when nothing is coming in. That will soon change though. Look forward to a new life here!!

Got our 457 approved today. Sent off proof of everything yesterday after having a case officer emailing us wednesday night. The whole nomination part took about 7 weeks, then one week from applying for e457 to getting a case officer, couple of days for approval after that. Now to book everything. Flights are looking so expensive right now but we'll live!

It is a 457 visa so not permanent, good point. We also weren't getting one way flights as it's cheaper to book a return and change it around to whenever you might want to come back to see family etc. I've spent some more time looking at each company and their policies and charges for extra. Yet more info to throw in the pot but until we have the visa I can't even book flights anyway. We haven't a huge amount to send so probably looking at using Seven Seas as they seem reasonable for the tea chests/individual items like TV and bike. So much to weigh up! If we send everything I will just get a flight rather than drive. Spent the last 2 weeks throwing a ton of stuff out/giving to charity so it's getting down to a minimum about now.

Hello all. I have been browsing PiO for a while now as my girlfriend and I are soon to move to Mackay after I accepted a job there. The forum has been very helpful and I have found out so much, for that I thank you all! My current debate is regarding our first journey down under. I am currently waiting on the visa to be accepted but I am hoping to utilise one of the airlines who give up to 40kg for first time migrant flights (emirates/singapore/any others anybody?). This will see us through to Brisbane fine, however, and correct me if I am wrong, but I cannot see the smaller internal flight north giving us the same allowance without paying a small fortune so I am looking at hiring a car for the long drive, we will need the car for a couple of weeks anyway just to sort ourselves out. Firstly am I right in my thinking regarding baggage allowance? Secondly does anybody know if the hire companies will do one-way rentals without penalising me? Any help would be appreciated, thank you