fiftyeight

Hello friends,

Would anyone be able to point me to a source where I could see the online application form for the 190 visa, so I can prepare all the answers prior to getting an invite?

I searched online found a video showing the 189 questions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBWrg9ksAmo). If the 190 visa application form is the same as the 189 one that should suffice.

Kind Regards

Hello!

I would like to ask if anyone here has done the ACS professional year program and could share how long it took them to subsequently get a skills assessment from ACS (and to get a 189 visa if you've done that).

I am curious as to whether processing after professional year, especially by ACS, would be relatively fast, because it is their own program so I would assume they would not have much verification to do.

Cheers!

Bear in mind too that Aus may well have a change of government in September and anything could happen with respect to migration pathways. I don't think there is any such thing as a sure student to PR pathway, it's a huge expensive risk but if you have lots of money to spare then go for it.

Yes, that's true, it also seems (according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2013#Polling) that "the Coalition" is about to win.

And from what I see they're more anti-immigration and I read on their website that they intend to cut immigration from 28K to 17K per year.

Response to your new post which was closed before I submitted it.

 

Three years is a long time, anything could happen, a couple of years ago they changed the rules on how long overseas students could stay post graduation (is this the graduate temporary visa you mention?) and a lot of students who had started courses (at great expense because they thought it would lead to PR) ended up having to return to there home countries.

 

 

i doubt there are any more certainties in Canada but I do know there have been a lot of changes with Australian immigration law and I don't think the changes are over yet - there is quite a lot of anti-immigration sentiment at the moment and the government will no doubt have a knee jerk reaction to that.

 

 

Assuming nothing changes, I don't quite follow how you will have enough experience to apply for a skilled visa. I would also not even consider that they may sponsor an off-list occupation, I wouldn't read it as WILL I would read it as CAN.

 

 

I'd do your degree in the UK where you won't cop overseas student fees and apply to Australia when you have sufficient experience to be considered skilled. Australia will still be here in 5 years Unless of course you can easily afford it and want the adventure of being a student overseas in which case fill your boots and enjoy It may or may not lead to PR & quite frankly after 3 years here you may no longer want it!

Thanx a lot for your advice.

I wanted to be a student overseas way before I though about PR, I travelled not long ago in Oz and Canada and liked both of them and thought it would be nice to have a chance at PR.

I agree that there's a chance after 3 years I won't even want to stay in Oz.

As for the student graduate visa change, what change did they do?

It seems like the only change has been for the better, i.e they made it easier to get a student visa by adding the post study work stream.

As for the experience, my plan was to get a year experience while I'm in Oz.

If you look at the categories in the points test, experience in Oz gives you 5 points even with one year experience. I wanted to get it while I'm on the graduate visa or 489 visa. I'm not sure if work experience is obligatory. I could probably get 65 points even without the work experience (Bachelor degree 15, 30 for my age, 10 for IELTS, 5 for studying in Oz, 5 for studying in regional area)

If I score higher IELTS than could get to 75.

As you said before, this could all change by the time I finish, but that's just how I would do it if I finished my degree now.

By the way, Canada I feel is safer beaus they didn't touch the student visa rules in the alst 4 years as it appears and if they did, it was to make it easier.

Also the equivalent of the Skilled Occupation list is much broader and doesn't seem to change so much

Thank you again

I know it's a weird question.

I'm trying to decide whether to go to Oz or Canada for IT degree.

In Canada I most prob. will have a route to PR after.

But I prefer Oz for the climate (yes it is that important to me), in Canada I am pretty much limited to living in some specific places in BC as far as places I'd actually want to live.

Still Canada PR still has value to me and I do like Canada as well.

Anyhow if only I had some way of estimating my chance of actually getting PR in the future if I go to Oz it will make my life a lot easier.

I am going to do a Bachelor of Computing or a Bachelor of Science with major in IT.

I am going to University of Tasmania which is a regional area.

Study is 3 years.

Who knows what will be in the end of 3 years.

Presumably I'll get a graduate temporary visa

Then, If the visa rules stay the same as they are now I can do:

489 visa Skilled - Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) - TAS government sponsors you if you have occupation on SOL, if you have occupation in CSOL it will sponsor you as off-list nominee. If this works I will almost surely get PR with the 190 Visa, TAS government also sponsors for this if you work there 3 months.

189 visa - Skilled Independent (subclass 189) - If can't find work in TAS (IMO with 489 visa I can do any sort of work, doesn't have to be in IT) but do find IT work somewhere else I can apply for this after 1 year. According to my calculation I should get at least 70 points with the current system. If I manage to get IELTS 8 it'll be 80 but that can be pretty hard AFAIK. Maybe also possible to do professional year but not sure if that year counts as part of my graduate visa and then I won't have enough time left to find work and work for a year (assuming graduate visa is 2 years)

I know this is loads of info, but maybe some migration agent will see this and have enough experience to give me an estimate of my chances of getting PR.

Thank you

There is no such thing as 'common' for students to be let down by visa laws. They don't change very often. As I said, my skills assessment requirement was the first thing that changed. It went from 900 hours work experience to 900, plus another year, in which time they come and watch you work etc. Lots of people were annoyed with trades people not having to have the same work experience as other people. In my opinion, and from seeing a change in students towards IT, it won't be long before the same thing happens.

Thanx for your responses, could you tell me a bit what else went wrong? what did they change?

Also, could anyone tell me, once I finish my studies and I want to apply for the Skilled - Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa or the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485),

do I get to stay in Australia until there is a decision? I mean the student visa ends about two months after study ends, what if they dont have a decision by the time my student visa expires?

Also, the Temporary Graduate Visa Post-Study Work stream says "for international students who graduate with an eligible qualification. This stream is only available to students who applied for and were granted their first Student visa to Australia on or after 5 November 2011. A visa in this stream can be granted for up to four years, depending on the qualification".

It doesn't seem to say anything about the Skilled Occupation List, do you get this visa regardless of your study subject?

The IT applications are most commonly assessed by ACS. However as mentioned in post #2, the skills assessment is quite a demanding one and will require several year of work experience.

According to this: http://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/7324/Summary-of-Criteria.pdf

Recent Oz graduates are exempt from work experience.

This plan is getting very dependant on the current immigration laws though.

I'll probably first have to apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) or Skilled - Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa so I can get the 3 months work experience.

If you look at the job you would be applying for there should be a code for the place which does the skills assessment for each job. Find that then go to their website and see if they list it there. Some do, some don't.

Hi, I found the website and it sounds like I could do it.

It sounds like you just need a degree.

Does that sound right?

I'd also love to hear more opinions of whether it's more common in Oz or Canada for students to be let down by visa law changes if anyone knows.

But have you checked what you need to pass the skills assessment? You can't apply without that.

Hi, thanx for your message.

I did not check this, can you tell me where I can get this information?

No Tasmania requires only 3 months work experience in order for them to give you state nomination required for the visa. You still need to meet all of DIAC requirements for the visa. http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/visas/subclass-190/ which includes a skills assessment and requires 60 points, state nomination only gives you 5.

Hi, thanx for the clarification,

I believe I can get 65, or even 70 points (30 for age, 10 for IELTS, 5 for Regional area studies, 15 for Bachelor Degree, 5 points for State nomination, and if I work there 1 year than another 5 points).

Maybe I can even get the IELTS to a better score and get another 10 points)

Thanx a lot for the reply, this problem I think will be in Canada as well, I'm mainly trying to think which country is more likely to chnage its laws, or just how likely is oz to change its laws.

My heart says Oz, I just love that country, but it's scary to think I might not be able to stay after my studies

Hi, the visa I linked to from the Tasmania immigration office shows a pathway for Tasmanian institution graduates which demands only 3 months work experience.

My main concern is actually that they will change the immigration rules, I hope someone

who has some experience can tell me how volatile the immigration rules in Australia are,

and how likely is this to happen.

Hi, I plan to start Uni. in July in Tasmania, I applied for a student visa both to Canada and Australia, just in case (Been accepted to one uni. in both).

I love both countries and been to them and this is a very hard decision for me, because wherever I go I'll probably and up staying if possible. but I want to increase my chances as much as possible.

There is a PR route in Tassie which seems very promosing: Migrating to Tasmania | Subclass 190

The conditions are graduating from a Tasmanian Institution and 3 months work experience.

But how volatile are the visa rules in Australia/Tasmania?

Is it probable that this visa route will be closed by the time I finish Uni which will be in three/four years, or that my major (IT) will fall off the Skilled Occupation List?

I don't know if I should count on that, of course I'd like to study abroad even if it gives me no path to PR, but this is still a big deal for me and if I'd find that I'll be able to immigrate to Oz after the end of my studies I'll be the happiest man on earth

Thank you for any advice on this

A cyclone is like a hurricane with 150Kph winds - yes its bad wherever you are there and the rain is like a power shower and not like anything in the UK. surely you have seen hurricanes on the news? April/May in Cairns is not the most humid time and it also gets dark about 6pm so you can't really do much in the evenings. I did a week in Townsville just before Christmas and just walking 200m did me in. I have to work up there for one week a year seeing customers and my company wont let me go in the summer months as it is too hot and humid.

Hi, I've seen hurricanes on the news.

But I'm not entirely sure what it means for the residents.

Are the hurricanes in Cairns dangerous? do they kill people?

Should I be worried about it if staying in Smithfield?

Do you have to stay inside for days?

I'm just not sure what to make of it

You may find Hobart an 'easier' place to live, if you arent totally happy with very high humidity Cairns can be very oppressive. I love Cairns and usually went twice a year but could never live there because of the weather.

Thanx for the advice guys, the humidity and heat do not scare me that much, mainly because I've been in very humid hot places before for extended periods, and of course I'm not a big fan, but I can deal with it.

I've been in Cairns in end of April-May and it was indeed humid, but IMO I can deal with it.

I'm more worried about the rain/cyclones thing really and I'd love to hear how bad the rain and cyclones and flood thing is.

Is it so bad that you have to stay inside.

I will be staying in Smithfield if I live there, is it and the city center affected much by these factors?

And also in general, how bad is it?

Hello, I am going to study in Australia for 3 years and might stay longer if it will be possible.

I wanted a place that is outdoorsy as most of the things I like to to do are outdoors such as hiking, picnics, biking, going to the beach if possible.

I have been accepted to Unviersity of Tasmania in Hobart and James Cook University in Cairns.

Of course social life is important to me and the lifestyle will determine how much I'll enjoy my social life there.

I know both Cairns is good for this kind of outdoorsy lifestyle. But I'd love to hear from someone who has actually lived thrtr.

I've been in both thrtr as a tourist before and I loved it, but I've only been in each for about two weeks which makes it hard to know how it is year-round.

My impression was that:

1. Cairns can get very rainy which can make it hard to go out.

2. Cairns seems to be closer to rainforest and national parks then Hobart, and probably from Smithfield where the university is you can get to the rainforest even by walk/bike.

So far it seems to me that Cairns is a bit more suitable for me but I'd love to hear more opinions.

In terms of the weather I like that its hot year round in Cairns, but how bad does it rain? does it actually make it impossible to go out? does it last for days or how is it? do people stil lgo out as much in the wet season?

In the two weeks I was there it actually didnt rain almost at all, but I think I was lucky.

You certainly wouldn't be doing those things by yourself. There are always lots of people walking/jogging around the University and along Sandy Bay Road to the beach. Bushwalking is very big here and the University has its own bushwalking club (in addition to general community ones). Cycling is also very strong here: personally I wouldn't feel too comfortable because the roads are often winding, hilly and fairly narrow....but there are bicycling organisations always supporting the needs of cyclists and the local Council has been very proactive in constructing special bike tracks on the mountain. (I know many use them because they use our driveway to get from the tracks to the road!)

 

One of the (few) retail areas Tasmania does excel in is the outdoor activities market - walking/biking/kayaking/boating/fishing etc. So I don't think you'd have any trouble finding people with similar interests.

Thanx a lot Skani.

Really glad to hear everything you wrote here.

I also found a website called Greater Hobart Trails and I saw many beautiful walking trails I could walk on every morning which makes me very happy

b.t.w Do you know if the bike tracks there are dedicated or people just bike along the road?

I dont know that course in either i am afraid, so i would research how well the two depts have performed and take it from there.

 

I do know that in my own field - geosceience, Tasmania has an excellent reputation.

Thank you for your replies.

From my research they seem to be on about the same level.

Now I'm trying to find more about the lifestyle though and the questions I've asked as this is also a big factor in my decision.

I am doing a bachelor in IT/Computer Science

I'm not sure where you are living at the moment (UK?) so don't know what your definition of "pretty cold" is. However, winter in Hobart is not as cold as the UK and people hike and go biking all year round. Not much lying around on the beach in winter - although some people do surf all through the year.

Yes I live in Brighton so probably colder than Tasmania, but it really depends on the city's lifestyle I guess and the accessability as you said.

I am certain I won't suffer from the cold in Tasmania, and I could probably bike and hike year round without minding the cold, but I am mostly interested in how the lifestyle is for most people in the city, because I wouldn't want to be doing those all by myself

It's nice to hear there are dedicated walkign tracks from the university. I always like to imagine myself getting up early in the morning and do some good old walking or biking before starting my day

Hello, I am going to study in Australia for 3 years and might stay longer if it will be possible.

I wanted a place that is outdoorsy as most of the things I like to to do are outdoors such as hiking, picnics, biking, going to the beach if possible.

I have been accepted to Unviersity of Tasmania in Hobart and James Cook University in Cairns.

Of course social life is important to me and the lifestyle will determine how much I'll enjoy my social life there.

I know both Tasmania and Cairns are good for this kind of outdoorsy lifestyle. But I'd love to hear from someone who has actually lived in these places.

I've been in both of them as a tourist before and I loved both, but I've only been in each for about two weeks which makes it hard to know how it is year-round.

My impression was that:

1. Tasmania can get pretty cold which can make it harder to go out.

2. Cairns can get very rainy which can make it hard to go out.

3. Cairns seems to be closer to rainforest and national parks then Hobart, and probably from Smithfield where the university is you can get to the rainforest even by walk/bike.

So far it seems to me that Cairns is a bit more suitable for me but I'd love to hear more opinions.

In terms of the weather I like that its hot year round in Cairns, but how bad does it rain? does it actually make it impossible to go out? does it last for days or how is it?

In the two weeks I was there it actually didnt rain almost at all, but I think I was lucky.