Meercat

I accepted a job offer before my visa was granted. I don't think it sped up the process. My CO still had to wait for my medical. My agent informed my CO that I needed the visa to change jobs. As soon as we knew the medicals were finalised my agent contacted the CO and the visa was granted the same day. So in that regard it may have sped up the process. If the person offering the job knows you are waiting for a visa and are prepared to wait then it shouldn't be a problem. Let your CO know that the job offer is there. It can't hurt. According to Medibank this is the busy season for visa processing so things have been taking longer. Here we can log into the Medibank website and check the status of our medicals. Is there nothing similar in the UK? *PS I'm rather jet lagged so I hope this makes sense

Hope so too! I'm another person who's become emotionally invested in your cause!

When I applied for PR I was on a 457 and the bridging visa would only come into effect once my 457 had expired. I got my PR well before my 457 expired. If I'd needed to travel before my PR was granted I would have been travelling as a 457 visa holder not a bridging visa holder. Before DIPB changed the rule if I'd travelled, I'd still have been treated as a 457 visa holder but my bridging visa A would have been terminated. Now if I'd travelled before my PR was granted I'd still be treated as a 457 visa holder but my BVA would have been unaffected.

According to another forum the only way to contact the MOC is through your CO. Maybe ask your agent if your CO gas a time frame for you? Here's the thread I found: http://www.expatforum.com/expats/australia-expat-forum-expats-living-australia/155958-medical-reports-health-operations-centre.html Good luck Kellie!

Can you log onto the Medibank website to check that your medicals have been finalised and uploaded to DIAC? I phoned Medibank on Friday last week and they mentioned it's their peak season for visas so maybe they've been slow? Hopefully you'll hear from your CO in the morning! Fingers crossed!

I'm sure you won't have to fill it in again! It seems like the changes only affect applications lodged after the 22nd March.

Have you spoken to your agent? Our agent was in constant communication with our CO and updating her with any information, such as when our medicals were done and then finalised. Because of our agent was on the ball our visas were granted yesterday, 25/03/2014, the same day our medicals were finalised. I would seriously recommend getting your agent to contact your CO and ask about the progress. This will highlight your application and get you your grant letter.

That would make sense. It seems like there is a queueing system once the quotas are filled each year. Essentially they just put everyone on hold until the next year

My migration agent hasn't mentioned anything about this and we applied mid February. However, we are onshore applicants in regional Australia so I don't know if that makes a difference. Kellie23 maybe check the Occupational Ceilings on Skills Select (http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/) to see the status of your nominated occupation? Otherwise here is the breakdown of the immigration visa plan: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/statistics/statistical-info/visa-grants/migrant.htm Independent Skilled migration has 44 990 places budgeted for 2013/2014.