PaulSwann

Thanks Craig and Westly appreciate your help, confirms my understanding just annoying that DIAC case officer tells me it depends on the case officer I'm allocated. They say I don't meet their policy requirements for my work experience to be recognised, yet they don't seem to have a policy for what constitutes a first cousin!

Hi Katie, yes this is down to me having no degree prior to CIMA and it is frustrating they won't accept from the completion date. thanks.

Hi All, having had bad experience of the DIAC website and guidelines I wondered if anybody can offer clarification on how DIAC define a first cousin? My wife's cousin lives in wa and willing to sponsor us. They have the same grandfather but different grandmother. My interpretation and most definitions say that aunts/uncles are irrelevant and the main thing is they have one grandparent in common. However some research has shown that one grandparent would make them half cousins. My case officer from a previous visa app advised nothing seems to specify that they have to have same grandmother and grandfather but she can't be certain. If the case officers don't know how are we supposed to know? Anybody got any personal or professional advice? Would be greatly appreciated, thanks. Paul

Thanks Blossom, I looked into it the official definition is that you just need one grandparent in common, I just want confirmation from DIAC before I proceed. Once bitten, twice shy

DIAC have confirmed what I expected that they will not recognize my work experience, they have advised me to withdraw my application and apply for a refund based on the guidance notes not being clear. Craigyboy, thanks for your advice re your personal experience, this is what I'm leaning towards and yes if I do I will attempt the IELTS again and failing that yes go down the 489 visa as my wife's cousin is a PR in WA so should be able to sponsor us via a designated visa to gain an additional 10 points. I have asked the DIAC to confirm that one grandparent in common is sufficient to be classed as a first cousin, although this is the official ruling from my research I can't find confirmation on the DIAC site that this is also there policy. CPAivy, I do not hold a degree, I never went to university so started CIMA from the foundation level and this is adjudged to be equivalent to an Australian Bachelors Degree which entitles me to 15 points for education.

Thanks Alan. Thanks also Westly, I appreciate your advice. I did put forward my case based upon the argument you highlighted in red as this was the guidance in the booklet and await the final outcome. However the original response disputes that it was not at a skilled level because I was not a member of an institute.

Hi Alan/Blossom, No I did not shop around, I was recommended to the agent and whilst I would normally shop around the price deterred me from looking into it any further. The $10k did not include my visa fees or any additional costs. I'm not normally a pessimist however I'm not holding out much hope on a change of heart from the DIAC. Will await the outcome, I was just hoping to have a clearer idea of my best options if the outcome is as I'm anticipating. Thanks, Paul

Hi Rupert, thanks for your reply. Yes I have been contacted by my co at DIAC and they have given me 28 days to provide further evidence but indicated that they are unlikely to accept my claims for any work experience before I was a member of CIMA. I was also shocked as was convinced from the guidance booklet and my calls to DIAC I had ticked all boxes. If they deem my work experience as not skilled I will then be given the option of withdrawing my application or appealing. I am worried if I appeal and lose this will count against me for future applications and it also reduces the time I have left to obtain a visa. If I do withdraw I risk losing the $3k I paid to lodge the application, I will have to lodge an appeal for a refund which will no doubt take time. I got 30 points for my age, 15 for my qualification, 10 for my IELTS, I missed out on an additional 10 points for IELTS by 0.5 of a band on the written element. Frustrating as if the guidance booklet had indicated that my work experience would only be counted from the date I was officially admitted to CIMA, I could have re-sat IELTS or requested a remark, I also had the option of the 489 visa through my wife's cousin but opted 189 visa based on the guidance booklet. I can still go down the 489 visa but would have to pay again and await there decision on my refund appeal.

Hi All, I arrived in Perth in Sep on a 417 working hol visa with my wife. We intended staying in Perth until Jan and then move on to Adelaide or Melbourne. We both got jobs within a week of landing, my wife has a cousin here and we made good friends and settled in quickly. We decided to look into permanent residency and other visa options, I am a CIMA qualified accountant and on the research I did was confident I could achieve the 60 points required. We decided not to use a migration agency as the one we were put in touch with wanted $10k to submit it which we couldn't afford, also based on the guidance provided in the DIAC booklet for 189, 190 & 489 visa it seemed fairly straight forward. I sat my IELTS (overall 8.5, lowest score being 7.5 for written element) and had my skills successfully assessed by CPA. The problem I am having is that DIAC will not recognise my work experience before I became a full member of CIMA in 2011 and which would entitle me to claim no points for overseas employment. I completed all my exams in Nov 2007 and I worked as a management accountant from jan 2006 for a large PLC company, I have references for all my work including a full portfolio signed off by my managers. I have also pulled together a skills matrix which makes it easy to see that I was carrying out all skills required under both ANZSCO and CIMA requirements from 2006. My frustration is that the guidance booklet stipulates that you need to provide references containing particular points, which mine do. It mentions that CPA may provide an opinion, DIAC have acknowledged that it isn't mandatory and even if CPA do acknowledge the work experience as skilled they still probably won't accept it. I expect to hear back from them in next week for a decision on whether they will accept my references and portfolio as sufficient proof of my work experience. Despite the evidence clearly proving I was carrying out all the tasks expected of a management accountant I really don't expect them to change their initial thoughts. I will then have the option of withdrawing my application or appealing. Sorry for the long winded post but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Paul