Bonnie Durmic

Hi It will depend on the visa - you dont say if its PR or 457 or other TR. The DIBP Pricing Table (complicated to say the least) is here: https://www.immi.gov.au/fees-charges/visa-pricing-table.htm Then you have skill assessments, english tests, medicals, police checks, translations (if and as applicable) If you hire an Agent our fees are extra to the above but considering the costs and that the government and other agency fees are non-refundable, its an expenditure worth considering. We charge: - 457 Nomination & Visa Combo $AUD1500 (whether single or family) or $AUD1000 just for the visa - 186/187 Nomination & Visa Combo $3500 (again single or family) or $AUD2250 just for the visa - 189/190 is $AUD500 for the EOI only and $AUD2500 for the visa & EOI - Family sponsored is $AUD3000 and we have current 10% discount special. Other agents I'm sure can advise their fees but I post here to give you an idea of the costs. Hope that helps Bonnie

Hi Its valid for 12 months and in limited cases can apply to have the validity extended. Good luck!!

WA Police are currently recruiting - http://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au

Hi This is a special visa designed to address a shortage of graduates in Australia so those qualifications at specified Universities are the only eligible qualifications. If your qualification is not in the field specified, you are not eligible for the 476. Kind regards Bonnie

Oh and the medical is for non-migrating family members but if you are separated you will not even name her until the visa application where your form 80 will ask the names of all previous partners.

Hi You put the status as separated. You will not need a separation certificate, but may need to provide a Statutory Declaration or other evidence (an agent can assist in directing you on this). Best wishes

Hi Claire Im WA based - in Perth! But I have lots of Darwin clients as one of my corporate clients runs a major project up there. Re the dogs, check out our quarantine laws and make sure the dogs are up for it and be prepared for a long kenneling in the quarantie service possibly as far away as Sydney! Once they arrive be cautious of them mixing with the wildlife - no swimming in the ocean or rivers as the crocs and sharks will eat them and you! Be careful of snakes too. If the dogs havent seen them they can be inquisitive and none of our snakes that are regulars are safe. So keep them leashed out of the yard, and inspect your yard regularly. I used to live in Queensland and we would get KingBrowns and Taipans in the yard. Sorry - dont mean to scare you, Bonnie

Hi mccusken There are a lot of competing criteria here. To lodge a valid EOI you must meet the threshold criteria for the visas you select to be considered for: - 187 | RSMS Direct Entry needs a relevant qualification and threshold English, and occupationon the CSOL - 186 | ENS Direct Entry needs a Skill Assessment, 3 years post qual work experience, threshold English and occupation on CSOL - 190 | Skilled Sponsored needs Skill Assessment, Threshold English, Threshold Points and Occupation on CSOL and a State Occupation List - 189 | Skilled Independent needs a Skill Assessment, Threshold English, Threshold points and an occupation on the SOL. And then the different assessing bodies each have their own criteria. Some require higher levels of English, some require a number of hours or years of post qualification work experience, some have different modules which need to be completed, or tests, or have different criteria depending on which country and which University you obtained your qualifications form. You say you are a qualified social worker but dont state the qualification, and I think that is too personal or specific to post for the general forum. However, the Social Worker assessing body: http://www.aasw.asn.au/careers-study/migration-skills-assessment/migration-skills-assessment has a guideline of a Bachelor of Social Work and either 1 year relevant post qual Australian work experience or three years overseas work experience. So it doesnt sound like you'd meet the criteria. I hope that answers your questions.

Ahah, and that is the gem of using an Agent. The Department advised agents when implementing the 189 and 190 visas that applicants who had lodged applications we eligible for a Bridging Visa. If you want to test the theory, email your case officer directly now and propose this. Our visas have all come through so quickly we haven't had to, to date. RE which type of visa, either through your travel agent or online through the DIBP website will do. Good luck!

Hi Some CO's can be very tough and difficult to deal with on this application criteria. First question - does she live with you or are you paying for all her requirements? Even though she is widowed, if she has her own accommodation independently and a pension and for instance you are in the UK, it will be difficult to prove she is dependent. However, if she's living with you or in an annex, then this is a better starting point. You need to carefully and realistically look at whether she is in fact dependent on you, and then provide evidence to support that to the case officer. Generally they will want to see dependency evidence going back 12 - 24 months minimum, although it can be less if an event, such as your father's passing occurred more recently. Just because she isn't accepted as dependent shouldn't mean the whole application is refused. The one fails, all fails rule applies to people considered part of the family who fail health and character. Its a different criterion. Hope that helps, Bonnie

Just for clarification, I'm not disagreeing with you, just saying wait until you have a case officer and they've looked at the application and more importantly medicals and character', and if you have a tricky family composition, then balance of family too. You are particularly exposed if you don't use an agent because Alan and I and other MARA agents check the legislation each and every time, and understand how the Immigration looks at the various criteria. Just be careful unless you have a back up plan if the visa doesn't come through straight after you settle on the sale and pay your 2nd VAC. That's all... Our parents migrated using this visa and had to sell their home to pay the VAC, so its a huge decision and one I personally understand. If thats the only way to pay the 2nd VAC you won't get the visa without paying it. But just walk through the steps carefully. Maybe talk to local agents now explaining your circumstances. They can keep an eye out for potential buyers and local values and sales, so you have the most information at the time when it comes you have to sell. If you don't need to sell for the VAC then that is obviously the ideal as you'll be in a stronger negotiating position when you do sell. Best of luck, Bonnie

Decisions are always to made by the individuals, but my advice mirrors that of DIBP to applicants who have applied.

Well Allen, yeees. But since thats a MARA requirement, they'll be good if they just use a MARA agent of good standing such as myself or yourself!

Hi Yes - for the employment to be accepted, the hours will need to be full time. If your contract or offer letter don't state then ask the business to state and cover those aspects when they provide the references which need to be extremely detailed. If you were self employed / subcontracted then you need to show your client contracts, accounts, letters from clients and maybe references from them too showing the same. Even photo examples of your work if you're a tradie. Most skill assessing bodies now have an add-on service option of having your employment assessed. I recommend my clients pay for this as it makes it less disputable for a case officer, and easier too! Read easier as faster, if they can tick a box they can move on. Its all about ticking off the criterion boxes! Hope that helps Bonnie

Hi The key will be the level of detail. If its detailed but short, that might be acceptable, long but all waffle might be unacceptable. Send through other evidence of the employment, such as Job description, contract, Payslips etc, event your own Stat Dec if she didn't include information you think is crucial. Hope that helps Bonnie

Its very complex, there are exemptions. If there visas haven't expired - come back - its that simple. Its the travel authority that expires when you are inside Australia, not the visa. The visa only expires if you are OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA. Once inside, if you have a wedding, funeral, sick relative or work assignment offshore, you can apply for a short RRV of 3 mths. The longer RRVs which are 5 years, will only be granted for exceptional circumstances and only for 12 mths not the 5 years, if you meet the criteria of substantial ties to Australia. You really should have a MARA agent do an assessment for you now so you know what you are dealing with. Your son's visa could only be a consideration in ties if he were in Australia. Hope that helps Bonnie

Hi Other option is use an Agent. As agents can accept all types of payment - cash, card, direct deposit, cheque - you can pay the Agent and they then lodge with their credit card after receiving your payment. Of course you will have their fees too included in that. Hope that helps, Bonnie

Hi Yes - 12 to 18 months to allocate but I do not permit my clients to sell until its been allocated to a case officer and the assessment has been done and passed. You can never count on a visa until its in your hand. That's not because I receive refusals, but because the Government can change quotas, processing arrangements, anything and if you sell and a change even just means an extended wait, you could be left with no home and no visa for an indefinite period. Hope this helps, sorry its not sooner... Best wishes Bonnie

Hi Everywhere in Australia is going to be much more expensive than Asia. Its like having shopped in Tescoes your whole life and then being dumped in Oxford Street... You cannot compare. However, the usual things which people struggle with moving from UK to Northern Territory - the heat, humidity mainly, you will be acclimatised to somewhat. Its going to be a village though by comparison to anything you're used to. Most regional cities in Australia outside Melbourne and Sydney and perhaps Brisbane, are. The good news is that if you are interested in permanent visas for Australia, it becomes much simpler from NT. The NT Government also provides good information for potential migrants and are very approachable - I would ring Mary there with any extra questions you have. I met the NT Government at the recent Migration Institute of Australia's National Conference in Canberra late last year and they are fabulous. See: http://migration.nt.gov.au/migrate/index.html Best wishes Bonnie

Hi It will depend on yourself, but in the scheme of things, you will have spent an awful lot of money: Skill Assessment IELTS Medicals Police Clearances Government fees for you both Yes appointing an Agent costs money too, and yes its quite a bit, but in the end you have someone who is trained and experienced checking everything at each step of the way, and interpreting those obtuse instructions and / or letters from the Government and telling you exactly what you need to provide and then preparing, lodging and liaising post-lodgement with the Immigration department until you receive a decision. An agent will also prepare all the State sponsorship applications, the EOI etc... managing the whole process. If you are both working full time, or don't want the headache, then this is probably money well spent, providing you choose the right person you feel most comfortable working with. In the end it doesn't matter where that Agent is, providing you are happy with the communication between you. Bonnie Durmic Managing Director - iVisas (MARN 0531273)

Hi As long as you carefully coordinate the Tourist Visa with your case officer / Agent, no reason you can't apply and the great news is that if you have once of the electronic tourist visas with no restrictions, once onshore you can send a Form 1005 for each of you to the Case Officer and ask for your Bridging Visa with work rights to be attached to you. If the 190 isn't granted before your 3 month tourist visa ends, then your Bridging Visa will kick in with work rights for you both. Good luck! Bonnie Durmic Managing Director - iVisas (MARN 0531273)

Hi 189 Independent Skilled and 190 State Sponsored Skilled visas are actually a lot quicker than the old General Skilled visas, being that most people can have their visas application processed in about 8 - 12 weeks, some as little as 2 weeks, from lodgement. What is different now is that you have to lodge an EOI or 'Expression of Interest' on SkillSelect (and only once you've sat your IELTS test if needed, and got your skill assessment) and then the Government and State Government issue invitations to apply if they think you are in the group of best profile for each selection round. We usually lodge most applications within 1 to 2 weeks of clients receiving their invitations, but your EOI is valid up to 2 years to give you maximum chance if not selected straight away. As a mental health nurse, registered and working, you probably have a high chance of quickly receiving an invite (within a few months maybe quicker maybe longer). The longest bit of the process will be your skill assessment and nursing assessments even from the UK can take a while. If you want me to assess in detail your options feel free to let me know and I'm happy to provide some advice. This is just a general overview and doesn't mean you are necessarily eligible as I have to assess against all the criteria. State Sponsored can be an extremely quick process. Bonnie Durmic Managing Director - iVisas (MARN 0531273)