termis

Cheers - thanks for the answer.

Question for anyone who's gone through the process of becoming an Aussie citizen through naturalization: -- Does one have an opportunity/option to change their name during the process of taking up Australian Citizenship? I ask I'm looking to officially "change" my name (just a small variation in spelling - the current official spelling has caused some minor mix-ups at times). I know that some other countries give this specific option during their naturalization process (i.e. I personally know of couple individuals who officially changed their names when they took up U.S. citizenship). I also know I can also officially change my name through Registry of Birth, Death & Marriage, but wanted to first find out if this could be done at the time of applying for Aus citizenship, which I'm eligible to apply for later this year (it would also potentially save me some $$$, and coordination of handling two sets of documents between DIAC & RBD&M).

Just take a guess and write down that dates are guesstimates in question #x in the additional notes at the end of the application. I did this for some travel dates and it was fine.

Most of the information around seem to state that you need to stay at least one year with your employer before you're in the "safe" zone (that is, you've made a "genuine effort" to stay with your employer). http://myaccessaustralia.com/rsms-visa-applicants-need-to-stay-with-employer-2-years/ If you being where you are is causing your mental health to deteriorate, that can be a factor in DIAC's decision as well - I'd just have some documentation to back that up. Even with all that said, DIAC can still technically cancel your visa up to 2 years, so nothing is guaranteed - it's a gamble on your part if you leave your employment early. Other than immigration potentially cancelling your visa, if you've signed an employment contract of any sort with any clauses, there may be issues you'll have to sort out outside of immigration issues (i.e. you having to pay back for any costs relating to relocation, visa fees, etc. that your employer may have paid for you).

This will be discretionary call made by the CO. I hear from several sources that they can, and have, accept medicals slightly over a year. As a reference, me and the wife took medicals on 11/11/2011 (was used for another visa initially). We finally applied for RSMS (DRC) on 11/10/2012, and by the time our decision came around, it was 10/12/2012 -- more than a year from the time we took our medicals. If your application has already been in for 9 months, you're probably going to be okay.

I'd maybe stick around until the visa comes through at the very least. After that, I'd just march straight into his office and be up front with him. That is, if he's looking to fire you, he'll have to be the one to make the call - you have a legal obligation to stay on for two years, but he also has that same obligation to keep you on for the same time. It he eventually does get rid of you, you can explain to immigration that you did your part in trying to make the job work. I'd also start looking around just in case. Either way, best of luck...

187 Granted today! Timeline in my sig below, and further details in 187 thread: http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/162603-rsms-187-visa-timeline-7.html

Hi All, just got the good news. My 187 was granted today. Application processed in Melbourne, Low-Risk Country, Occupation: Logistics Manager. Good luck to the all of you. Your time will come... 31/05/2012 - RCB Submitted, WA; 27/06/2012 - RSMS Nomination Submitted, DRC, Melbourne; 27/07/2012 - RCB Approved; 01/08/2012 - RSMS Nomination Ack Letter; 09/10/2012 - RSMS Nomination Approved; 11/10/2012 - RSMS 187 App Lodged - DRC, Melbourne; 14/11/2012 - RSMS App Ack Letter; 10/12/2012 - 187 Visa Granted!

You already received a few answers from others here but don't seem to want to believe it. I also got a simple "You got RCB approval" e-mail from my agent - no official letter or anything like that. Why don't you submit your nomination/application already instead of being so hung up on this?

Likewise bud - keep me posted on how you go, I'd certainly be interested to know how your app is progressing. Good info to know, so thanks for that. I haven't heard of anyone's 187 going through just yet. However, I am reading about previous RSMS DRC apps that were lodged in late June starting to get approved, so hopefully we start hearing about 187 app decisions as well - at least for DRC apps. Not to mention, if this board is an indication, I don't recall reading many folks' timelines applying for RSMS visas around July-August (most people around this time applied in bulk before the 1 July change over date), so hopefully that speeds it up even more for those of us who applied not too long ago.

Just received my application acknowledgment letter today as well... Hopefully next letter I get wil be the grant letter! Just a recap: 31/05/2012 - RCB Submitted, WA 27/06/2012 - RSMS Nomination Submitted – DRC, Melbourne 27/07/2012 - RCB Approved 01/08/2012 - RSMS Nomination Acknowledgement Letter 09/10/2012 - RSMS Nomination Approved 11/10/2012 - RSMS 187 Application Lodged - DRC, Melbourne 14/11/2012 - RSMS Application Acknowledgement Letter I get the feeling Any might've needed that bridging visa quickly and a note was sent to immi to get it acknowledged quicker (and thus granting of the bridging visa)? I don't know if it'll have an affect on speeding up the decision, but it probably didn't hurt her case by any means. Hi Llee, sure thing. But to be honest though, I'm not sure if they'd offer the most value for a case that's mostly done (it seems like you did most of the work already if you already lodged the nomination and all) - they're a big corporate firm, so pm me if you're still interested and I'll pass on the information.

I don't recall the exact details of the info as my employer hired the agency and the agency mostly coordinated directly with the employer at these two stages. However, the employer providing documents at the RCB and nomination stage was certainly the major part of it rather than me -- (as the visa application was mostly my info rather than the employer).

Hi Llee, They didn't ask for any additional information from my employer after the acknowledgement letter and approved my nomination as-is. In your case, if haven't given you the approval letter, I would still urge your employer to hand over the information. FYI, my approval letter for nomination went something like this: I, (Case officer name), being a delegate of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship for the purpose of sub regulation 5.19(1B) of the Migration Regulations hereby approve the application of (Employer name) for approval of a nominated position for a (Job Position) as an approved appointment on (date of approval) If you didn't get any letter stating that, I'd definitely still send what they asked for (or get on your employer to send it to them). For what it's worth, my employer is a quite sizable company in Aus which in cases I hear that immigration won't need as much detailed information in such cases.

Good to hear jaskiratsingh. I applied not long after you (DRC on the 11th Oct), and no acknowledgement letter yet, but hopefully I hear something soon like yourself. My timeline: 31/05/2012 - RCB Submitted 27/06/2012 - RSMS Nomination Submitted – DRC 27/07/2012 - RCB Approved 01/08/2012 - RSMS Nomination Acknowledgement Letter - DIAC File Number Received 09/10/2012 - RSMS Nomination Approved 11/10/2012 - RSMS 187 Application Lodged - DRC

Hi pj, are you DRC?

Hey there, I applied on the 11th of Oct and nothing yet myself. According to my agent DIAC was quoting 3 weeks for sending out acknowledgment letters, so if that's true, yours should be coming around.... Waiting for mine too.... Good luck and post once/if you hear something.

Hi all, I received my nomination approval on the 9 Oct, and I've submitted my 187 application on 11 Oct as decision ready, but I haven't received the acknowledgment letter yet. Question to those who got the ack letter already: On the acknowledgment letter, does it indicate that your application was accepted and certified as decision ready or not?

Hi all, Been lurking for awhile - Just been waiting like all others, seeing what's happening. Here are my dates: 31/05/2012 - RCB Submitted - Perth, as Supply & Distribution Manager 27/06/2012 - RSMS Nomination Lodged – DRC, Melbourne (sans RCB approval - understood that DIAC made exceptions around this time due to the backlog) 27/07/2012 - RCB Approval 01/08/2012 - RSMS Nomination Acknowledgement 09/10/2012 - Nomination Approved 10/10/2012 - 187 Application Lodged - DRC, Melbourne, Low Risk (to be lodged anyway... it's the 9th right now...) Had to submit that Nomination Pre-1st July in order to use the pre 1st July RCB certification, but couldn't submit DRC application at the time (waiting for one of the clearances to come through). Now everything is in hand, DRC app being lodged tomorrow. Hoping that this last stage won't take too long...

Theory test was part of the course in my case (and done within the truck driving school compound). I'd imagine it's similar for most places that does this type of training.

Hi Scot, There are government-subsidized programs that I know are much cheaper (and it's much more thorough as well). Of course, you have to be eligible (and also have the time) to do it. I'd imagine there are similar options in WA... Here's an example of a subsidized course in Vic: I did something similar (though it wasn't a Cert II like this one) http://www.deca.com.au/coursedetail/Job_Ready_Qualifications/Certificate_II_in_Driving_Operations_Truck