TeacherBen

Hi all, My partner and I are currently gathering evidence to apply for a partner visa (onshore). My question is, does the bridging visa A kick in as soon as you've paid the visa fee, or do you need to submit a certain amount of evidence to before the bridging visa is granted? With the changes in partner visa legislation potentially in the pipeline we'd like to apply for the visa sooner rather than later and then add evidence as we go. Is this possible? Thanks in advance for your help, Ben

Hi all, I'm a 189 visa holder from the UK. I have a partner from South Africa. We've been together for less than 12 months, but we have registered our relationship with NSW and this allows us to negate this requirement. We are fully able to fulfil the remains if criteria to prove we're in a committed and genuine relationship. We have a few questions though: * does the Bridging visa A kick in as soon as my partners tourist visa ends on 6th July? And a Bridging visa A allows work rights assuming it's for an onshore partner visa? * Is there a way of cancelling the tourist visa sooner so the Bridging visa A kicks in sooner so that she can work? Thanks for all your help, I know it's going to be so much harder than it is now! Cheers, Teacherben Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

Thanks Grecia!That's what we thought - it should be where you lodge the application. I'm pretty sure she put her residential address as her parents address for ease - although looking back it hasn't made it easy at all. Do you know if it's possible to get DIBP to allow an edit to adjust this? Thanks Ben

Hi all, I haven't posted here for a while but find myself in a complicated situation!! My friend is coming to Sydney - she is South African but has applied for and lodged her visa application from Indonesia where she is currently working as a Dive Instructor. She has received a letter on her Immi account asking her to have her biometrics collected. The letter states that individuals applying from certain countries will need their biometrics collected - however Indonesia isn't on the list but South Africa is. The nearest Visa centres that do Biometrics are Malaysia or Singapore. We're assuming that she has been asked to get her biometrics because she is South African - can she attend any Australian Biometrics Centre or does she have to attend one in South Africa? We'll be ringing DIBP tomorrow but would appreciate any input if anyone knows anything about this. Thanks in advance, TeacherBen

Hi, I have a friend who is in Australia, and came as a spouse of someone on a 457. They were applying for PR together but have split up, and she has now reapplied for PR without him on the visa. I believe he has 28 days to sort his situation (please correct me if I'm wrong) but what's the deal going forward? Can he get a bridging visa - his company are willing to sponsor him (either 457 or PR) but haven't got the ball rolling yet. What's his best course of action? Thanks in advance guys!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Alyson, I have changed my plans slightly - I'm going to travel for a year first and get everything sorted in that year! It seems a bit of a faff to be honest...but it's the same here with the DBS as the manager needs to see the ID in person!! Good luck with it all! Let us know how you get on!! Ben

Fair enough! I'd double check...maybe ask one of the migration agents on here? I'm sure they'd know for sure!!!

Hi Ash128...he'll be able to go on a visitor visa - as you're the main applicant I don't think the visa will be activated until you enter the country for the first time, at least that's my understanding! Hope that helps

With point 4 - if you're getting your PCC next week then you may as well do your medical as well. You must enter Australia within 12 months of the older of your PCC or medical! It may be worth waiting...once you're contacted by your CO you'll have a rough idea of how long it'll take. It could be months before a CO contacts you and then you're left with a very short turnaround time!! Hope this helps

I got the same thing - a letter on headed paper explaining how many days teaching I'd done, plus all of the other studies we'd done on the PGCE. It also explained what I'd got for each module sat etc! AITSL accepted that for mine

I think if your application is straight forward it's good to go alone! No worries - just ask if you need anymore help!

No, I just did it myself! It's just me and it was fairly straight forward. Once AITSL was sorted it was a case of getting documents up together, and waiting for a Case Officer. If you get your PGCE then it'll be a straight forward case! An agent can almost double the price, and I couldn't afford it! With a partner it may be a little easier to at least talk to an agent before to see whether it'll be more difficult. Some people on here think agents are worth it, others don't (they offer some cracking advice on here)! Maybe ask in the regular migration forum for your specific case??

It seems daunting at first...I started my application in July 13 (getting AITSL approval - that was returned October 13) and had my visa granted December 13 so less than 6 months!

Agreed!! Seems odd...my mate has done a GTP and cannot get a visa for teaching unless he does a PGCE conversion course! Strange world!! Good luck with it all though Any other questions please ask away!

Hi Kayleigh, You're right that you need a 4 years degree course - I did a BSc and a PGCE. I believe a masters would be sufficient, or a PGCE but it seems a little odd to do a PGCE after a BEd! Maybe look in to a masters of education?? A 4 year BEd course would've been acceptable...as Vanduex says, easy route will be PGCE! Hope this helps a little

Cheers Sammy1 and Vanduex! Reckon I need to rethink plans a tad...bummer!

Does it not make it easier though? If you're registered in one state, then the application process is easier for all other states? The issue is being their in person - I won't be there until sept at the earliest so could do with being registered before I go!!

That's great news mate!! How long has it taken?? I'm struggling with the NSW application to be honest - I need a working with children number but need to be face to face to do it! Also require a 40 minute interview to be assessed...all in all it adds up to a massive pain in the arse!! As far as I can tell these teacher registrations are transferable between states so if I got a QCT one I could transfer??

That's rubbish...hopefully it'll be speedy once you're there so you can start applying! I was heading to Sydney in Jan, hopefully with a job - although that's not looking as likely now!! So I may do some travelling whilst there, get the teacher accreditation sorted and then do supply until I can apply! Newcastle is good - got a mate from Uni who lives there! He loves it

The medicals last 12 months from the date you have it done! If you're sure you'll get a grant in the next 12 months then go ahead! If you're not sure I'd hold back. Not sure how it works in Oz but I got an appointment the next week and the results were submitted the day after!!!

That's what I'm beginning to realise...we can't even sort our working with children number without going in person. I'll do some digging and see if there's a way round this...not sure there will be!! When are you planning on going??

It wasn't too bad at all! As long as you practice before you go you'll be ok...the free stuff that comes with registration helped me loads I didn't spend any more money. You'll be fine as you have a decent grasp of English good luck!!

Tigerstripes, it seems to carry out part two of those steps you need a working with children number and that has to be applied for in person. Have you found anyway round this??? I'm traveling out in Sept but was hoping to have started applying by then!!!!!

Hi Tigerstripes, I've just applied for my statement of eligibility from NSW - is that what you mean???

It depends how quickly you want to go to Oz! My visa took a month from invite to grant... You have to enter Oz within 12 months of the older of your police check or medical! If you know when you want to go then it's an easy decision to make - but I waited for the CO to contact me and it hardly delayed my grant Cheers teacherben