largey88

Same here.

So I have a case officer which is great. Bad news is I think I may have messed up and be entitled only to 60 points instead of 65. When I was doing the application I read the Australian study requirement and was pretty certain it got me an extra 5 points. It seems it doesn't as I wasn't in Australia for long enough. My possible salvation is the fact I turned 25 a month ago and this would push me back up to 65 points. Depends now. I guess they can either push mine back to the bottom of the pile or be nice and reassess my application back up to 65 points. Either way I'm happy I have the case officer because even in the worse case scenario I can always let them know I'm getting a bridging visa whilst they drop me back into the August pile for stuffing up.

So I phoned up DIAC. Told I didn't have a case officer, then she said that it usually takes 8 weeks. At which point I said "it has been over 8 weeks". "No it hasn't sir", so I go, 11th - 1, 18th 2, 25th 3, 1st 4, at which point she cut me off and said she'd pass on my information and hung up. Assuming I don't get turned down, see you all in Aus in a decade or so. :twitcy:

Starting to regret resigning my job, even if it was cathartic. If you look at the website it says processing time is 12 months and then they put the disclaimer that they aim to process 75% in that time and that figure may vary. I just thought it would be quicker based on previous experience of people here being done in 4-10 weeks. It's now been 8 weeks and I've had no word that a CO has been allocated. I'll work out a time to call them tomorrow. I might have to get in contact with my CO to let them know I'm getting a bridging Visa.

Is it worth phoning or are they going to get ratty with me? This Tuesday will be 8 weeks since I applied.

Out of interest, after waiting for this mercurial case officer, how long does it typically take to get the grant?

If you've got 65 or 70 points you shouldn't have to wait longer than a couple of weeks for the invite. If you're on 60 it's a bit of a lottery in terms of the other people who apply. So ... I'm sort of in the embarrassing situation of this being my last two days at work and still not having any sign of my Visa. As an Arsenal fan I'm used to waiting months during the summer for nothing to happen. On the plus side, 11 August Breaking Bad is back.

2 more weeks tops ... 6 weeks in, still no CO.

I want to be in Aus come September even if this process drags on longer. Does applying for a 189 stop you in any way from flying over on a short stay or a work-travel visa?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMcA-HGVo6o

Well it's looking increasingly likely to be 8 weeks which sucks. 65 points, 4th June and no CO yet. Another 3 weeks to go it would seem.

Yes I know that, but that's a maximum. Look at people's time lines in their signatures and they generally get a CO within 4-6 weeks. Either way, mine is likely to take exactly 8 weeks now. I can see how perhaps being slow, expensive and inefficient will put off people who aren't serious but once I've handed over two grand I think it's pretty clear by this point that I'm serious. I've handed over a months wages so it'd be nice to think somebody is working hard processing my documentation.

I hope not. The standard wait for most people seems to be about 5 weeks. I applied on the 4th June and haven't heard yet. All the documents are sorted though including my medical. Fingers crossed.

I had my medical about 5 working days ago. I was wondering if I get confirmation that they've uploaded the details to my e-visa application. Will it appear in my attached documents because it hasn't so far and I haven't heard anything from their side either. I submitted my application of 4th June so hopefully it won't be long until I get a CO. All my other documents are already loaded up.

Thanks mate and congrats on the Visa!!

If I'm frontloading my medical what should I do. What did you do?

Right so this is fast becoming an incredibly costly, stressful, time consuming and infuriating process. Therefore being 'lazy' and asking these questions rather than spending extra hours trying to find out for myself ... Whinging pom bit over with some questions. 1) I have a (clean) national Australian Police Check from August 2011 for my job (covering the period I lived there from July 08 - July 09), do I need to get a new one considering I haven't lived there since? 2 week holiday excluded. However I read that I only need to supply one if I lived 12 months of more, technically I was there for 358 days so maybe I don't even need one? 2) If yes do I need a state police check or does the national one cover everything? 3) I'm getting a ACRO police check for visa applications right? That should be easy to sort. 4) These medicals, can I get them done on the NHS, if not do I have to fork out for medical checks on top of the £2k I'm handing over. How would I go about front loading one of these for a 189 visa because ideally I need to be moving out in September? What paperwork and other sh1t do I need to bring to my health check?

Right, so the IELTS gave me 8.5 in everything giving another 20 points. I now have 65 points for a permanent working visa and 75 points for a regional sponsored visa. Both of these are higher than the average (60) from the last invitation round so I'm hopeful. The next round is 3rd June. Also I turn 25 in July giving me an extra 5 points if I really need them. They've got to let me in right?! Everything crossed ...

Listening - 8.5 Reading - 8.5 Writing - 8.5 Speaking - 8.5 Overall - 8.5 Bit gutted I didn't get a single 9.0. I'm convinced I didn't drop a mark on the reading. Anyway that takes me over the points threshold for pretty much any Visa I want which is great. What's not so great is knowing how long I'll have to wait to be 'invited to apply' for a Visa. Quite a frustrating process with no apparent answers.

Just looked at the application for the QCT. It looks like the usual sort of thing but I had a few questions which I submitted to them. Just in case anybody knows the answers ... Dear Sir/Madam, I have three separate questions relating to my application. 1) As part of my Permanent Working Visa application I applied for and received a certificate from the AITSL confirming that I am eligible to teach in Australia. Does this in any way assist with my application for registration with the QCT? 2) I have checked the list of primary and secondary documents for proof of identity. I have a UK Passport for my primary document but am not in possession of any of the secondary documents as I am not Australian and don’t currently hold a UK driver’s license or National Identity Card. Can I submit a birth certificate, UK national insurance card (tax reference no.) or expired student card in place of these documents? 3) Finally regarding my police check, I have a Criminal Records Bureau certificate from September 2011 and have been in full time employment with a school ever since. I have not been charged with or convicted of any offense subsequently (or prior) to this date. I also have an Australian police check for the period of time I lived in Australia (July 2008 – July 2009). Do I need to update my UK CRB police check and if so for how long is it valid for? Kind regards, Adam Large

Thanks for that info Millie. :smile: I'll look into all of those especially the QCT. There's much bureaucracy it's depressing, it seems endless but I'm hopeful with people pointing me in the right direction I'll get there in the end. I'm not sure how I feel about teaching in a private school, I wouldn't consider it in England but I know that private schools are far more widespread in Australia. It's certainly an option. As for supply work, I'd consider it as a temporary measure but certainly not in the long term. I was thinking more along the lines of private tutor although when I looked into that I'd have to have a 'blue card' which doesn't seem much hassle but also a car which could prove very expensive. ​ I was thinking of work-travel, as that seems relatively hassle free. Not sure how that affects the permanent working visa though.

It's pretty dreadful. They acknowledged my application 3 weeks after I sent it on the 31st January. It then took 12 weeks. For the 5 weeks I checked it every day until a quick google search told me not to bother. It all came through fine though and I have a nice shiney certificate and 20 points towards my Visa. It's be good to chat online to anybody who is doing the same thing as me actually because I feel a bit isolated not knowing anybody else in the same boat and the problems and pitfuls to expect in the application process. My skype contact is adamlarge88 Oh and stuff to include I sent All academic transcripts including my undergraduate certificate and transcripts My PGCE certificate and transcripts - Along with a print out from their website saying my training included the 90 days classroom experience they require (just covering my arse there) Passport photocopy Passport photos A letter from my current employer stating that I was currently employed with them, on headed paper, dated and signed. The full application form they want as well. I got my mate who's a lawyer to stamp and certify the copies of everything (except for the letter). I would check very carefully what they expect before you send it off though otherwise the 15 weeks it took for mine to come through (doing everything properly the first time) will seem like nothing.

I did this last week. I'm getting the results on Friday. Suffice to say if I haven't got 9s in everything I'll be pretty annoyed with myself/ my examiners. I personally thought it was pretty ridiculous I had to take it. Then I watched Jamie Redknapp the next day and thought he'd struggle to get anything above competent.

Hi guys. My name's Adam. And I'm planning to move (back) to Australia in the next 6 months. Unless you're a teacher (in which case you can help me out) or have a lot of free time feel free to stop reading here, I know I would. Glad to be on board and I hope to get in contact with loads of cool people doing the same sort of thing as me. Without giving you my whole life history I did a year long exchange university exchange to UQ in Brisbane and decided I loved it so much that I was going to move back. That's pretty much been my main life plan since I left in July 2009 so I kind of have to make it work or that's four years plus wasted. I'm a teacher, qualified in 2011 and now have 2 years experience. My Visa application (or rather frustratingly as it stands my 'Expression of Interest' is progressing very slowly but surely. I have my certification all sorted from the AITSL (20 points), I'm 24 (25 points) but will be turning 25 very soon (30 points). The only thing missing is my IELTS test that I put off until the last minute because I couldn't believe I had to take it. That'll be through very soon with my Superior English (20 points) putting my on 70 points, above the 65 point minimum for a permanent working Visa. My plan is to move out this September even if the Visa isn't forthcoming and hope for the best, I'm just a little worried I may have jumped the gun. I've already resigned my job in England so ... Anyway, I'm hoping to get in contact with a few people who are in a similar boat to me so we can help each other through the process. After that who knows.