Coolbreeze

AITSL take 10 weeks to complete, the wait is unbearable so IELTS, is a nice thing to do in between. My thoughts anyway.

Chami, immi do say up to 10 weeks for CO appointment. Most people are saying they are getting them between 6 - 8 weeks. You won't have to wait too long, i'm sure.

If i had more than one piece of evidence I just clicked 'attach document' again and again. It doesn't disappear after one attachment...

Vandeux, Immi info sheet on PCC's - http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/character-penal.pdf When is a police certificate required? If you are over the age of 16 and have lived in any of the countries listed in this document for a total of one year or more in the last 10 years, you must get a police certificate from that country. The certificate must cover the period of time from the issue date back to the age you ceased to be a minor or must cover the whole time you were in a country. For immigration purposes a police certificate is deemed to be valid for 12 months from the issue date.

I'm planning to move over to Adelaide, SA. I already have family over their. However, I'm not restricting myself to this state...I will go where I can get work How about you?

Great news, fingers crossed for an invite in the next round. Keep us posted....

Wow, Shazza, you haven't had to wait long at all for CO. It's making a lot of January lodgers excited, I'm sure. Hope medical goes well. Keep us all posted.

Massive Congratulations!! All the best as a PR of Australia

What I find confusing is this.... I uploaded the majority of my documents on 14th Jan and NONE say 'received', they all say 'required'. Anything I uploaded subsequently has simply said 'Required' next to it. I have been told/advised and read on here that, the items say 'received' once a human being has actually 'received' and looked at them... I am either completely wrong, or, people seem to have CO's after 2-3 days of lodging???? I am now really confused.

If you have items saying 'received' then, yes, a CO has looked at them. Thus, you have a CO allocated??

Vandeux, Are you waiting for CO to direct you on Meds and PCC??

That would be nice....Got meds arranged in 2 weeks time. Be great to time with CO allocation

Congratulations! All the best in Oz.

So what was the issue in the end?

I am assuming you can not see a list of 'required' and 'recommended' proof of evidence list? I did not see this until after 4 days when I received an email saying that my application had been successfully received. Alternatively, you should see a ''attach document'' button on the top right of your immi account. Here you can select the applicant / type of evidence etc and then attach.

It is this reason I am withholding the Thai police checks until I am asked...These take about 7 - 10 days to complete and I am hoping that, that is all they will ask for and then I have contact. The issue I have is the only panel physicians are in Phuket or Bangkok. I can also only arrange my medicals out of school hours (teacher). This would mean, if I got a CO in 3/4 weeks and they asked for Meds - I know I'd have t wait for another 7 weeks before the next holidays (my school just does not allow time off AND there are two of us) Like lebourvellec says, your validation date is determined based on meds/PCC - luckily we are VERY keen to go this July if all goes well - no issues with dates etc

I've decided to arrange mine so they are front loaded (uploaded before CO has been appointed). Others wait for the CO to direct them. Ask you agent what their preference is. I was told (on PIO) PCC's and Medicals are always required for PR Visas, so I went ahead, and got them arranged as soon as I lodged.

If you definitely did not claim the point for Australian work experience, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. e-mail the immi technical support / CO (if you have one) to rectify the problem, if needed.

Well, it all comes down to points. By achieving an '8' in every area (Reading,Writing,Speaking and listening) he would get 20 points towards the 60 needed. Also, his age? His work experience in Oz would get him some points and perhaps he some from the UK he can claim? You really need to look at how much you can claim and see if you need the IELTS - Normally, people like the extra 20 points it provides. Go to below link and select the tab 'Points test' - see what you can claim. Also, you can get 5 for state sponsorship and 10 for regional sponsorship. http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/189.aspx

Nickystar, I did exactly the same. I booked for academic and then needed to change. The general's reading exercise was much easier - Just remember, the writing part requires you to only answer the question, do not drift off and try to use a wide lexical range. Commonly, native speakers like to write write and write some more. The exemplar answers they provide, really are just over the minimum word limit. Really make sure you practice an then mark it using their marking criteria....practice makes a perfect 20 point for Oz

What is the deal with 'referred' medicals. Is this a process they do every x number? Or, is this something they do when there is an issue?

Nickystar, I did reply to this on the teachers thread as well. You will not need to send your IETS to AITSL as you completed your Degree and PGCE in UK. Get the AITSL assessment sent off as this is a very long wait. You an then arrange for your re-sit of IELTS (you only need General for immi purposes)

Go ahead and apply to AITSL - you have UK degree and PGCE - they will never need to see your IELTS score. Appy for the assessment and then arrange your re-sit for IELTS. This is needed for DIAC

My degree is in History and PGCE in ICT. AITSL just want to know if you have 4 years worth of higher education with at least X amount days worked, in schools, under supervision. A BA Hons and PGCE will meet this criteria

Quick question, Teacher Ben - what d you mean writing it 'australian' style?