Mr and Mrs Holmesy

On 12/03/2019 at 22:07, m&J said:

Just to give you an idea of current time frames, we finally got our skills assessment back after waiting 37 weeks.

Congratulations!

Any grants lately? Anyone know which months are being processed/granted at the moment? 

Blood test, chest x-ray, tests which check cognitive functioning/ability (touching finger from nose to outstretched arm for example), eye test (similar to optician), urine test, feel of stomach for any hernias, checked glands in neck....think this was it. To be honest I fainted after the blood test and it was all a bit of a blur! 

All passed and fine

24 minutes ago, Kvv said:

Hey Guys , i got my grant today . Lodged on 18th May . DIRECT GRANT.

Yay!! Pleased for you 

5 hours ago, Rampa said:

My problem is the fact that I do not have work experience. Things are quite hectic in South Africa. Graduated in 2016 (Bachelor of SW with honours) and have been applying ever since without any luck. That is part of the reason why we decided to relocate. 

We lodged our EOI with my husband as the primary applicant. He is a vet and has 10 years work experience. We also applied to NSW for VISA 190 AND 489. We lodged on the 19th of Aug. We were waiting for my assessment so that he could claim points. So I got a response on the 13th of Aug, wrote an English test a few days later then got results the following day.

How long did it take before you were nominated/sponsored?  

It didn’t take long to get invited at all- it was about 4 days I think. 

Great that you can go on your husband’s skills and I guess you will be able to add 5 points for your skills too! 

Sorry to hear you have struggled to find work....I  only qualified in 2017 and have been working whilst waiting for skills assessment etc. 

Keep me posted on your progress- I’m sure you will be invited very soon- keep positive! 

On 27/08/2018 at 20:07, Rampa said:

How is the process going so far? 

Just waiting now for visa!

Police checks uploaded and medicals done- submitted visa application on the 2nd July so in for a long wait yet. Although I think we are used to patiently waiting after the AASW processing time!

We have applied to NSW (Northern Inland) for a 489 visa. 

How is all of your things going? Have you made a start now?

22 hours ago, Ar2016 said:

Congratulations to you guys what was your occupation?

Thank you  social worker 

I received an invite for Northern Inland within a week (although my agent said to expect a wait of up to 8 weeks). This was on 26th June- just before the points increase on 1st July....I only had 60 points so I made it just in time!

26 minutes ago, VJ2019 said:

Congratulations! Do you mind me asking who certified your documents?

The AASW seem very specific on who it can be - justice of the peace, notary etc, and notaries seem to charge a fortune! Looking at over £300 just for certifying copies! 

Thanks in advance if anyone else has experiences, we are in London.

I had mine done by a solicitor- and you're right it was  an expensive process!

I know on the Facebook page 'UK social workers wanting Oz' , some people have used other social workers and these have apparently been accepted. I just wanted to make sure I did everything 'by the book' as I didn't want to run the risk of it not being accepted as I was on a tight timescale. 

Good luck with it 

Think for visa-wait time is currently stated as 9-12 months. 

Good luck with your application

Hello, 

Very pleased to be joining the 489 gang...

Submitted application for a 489 to NSW on 2nd July (Northern Inland)

6 minutes ago, CVS said:

Great that you have another option, we don't at the moment … fingers are crossed!

Did you manage to get your EOI in before they changed to 65 points....? Oh goodness- yes- fingers crossed....

On 25/06/2018 at 15:17, CVS said:

We lodged our EOI today but at the same time our immigration agent has now said that Far South NSW are asking for 65 points not 60.... hoping July's new figures will bring better news not worse... am I being naïve?!!

 

Yes- we were originally looking to put an EOI in for far south coast but they changed from 65 to 60 points the day after I had received my skills assessment back...!

I have submitted an EOI for a different region in NSW now.

I am awaiting 1st July's changes and watching from behind a cushion 

On 20/06/2018 at 20:27, CVS said:

Excellent news! Congratulations, we also got ours about 2 weeks ago! Next step EOI.

Thank you! Yep, feels good and slightly surreal to be able to submit an EOI now....good luck to you guys too

I have received a positive skills assessment outcome- 31 weeks after lodging.

Pleased though.......!

Just wondered if anyone has had a positive skills assessment from Australian Association of Social Workers ( AASW) recently? I am now on week 29 of my wait....

1 hour ago, Dai87 said:

Hi, 

 

Hope your skills assessment is back now. I don't know if you are considering state sponsorship for a 190 but I thought I'd let you know that we have received an invite from NSW in just over 5 weeks. We had 65 points + 5 more for sponsorship. 

Hi there, thank you so much for thinking of me and  letting me know about your NSW invite- we are actually planning to apply to NSW for state sponsorship as well. Really pleased to hear you have received an invite so soon....,.that’s fantastic news!!

Still nothing from AASW -  I am on week 26  going into week 27 now so I’m really hoping I hear soon. It is the longest skills assessment known to man I think!! I’m starting to get fed up now...  

Thanks again and good luck with the next steps. 

Has anyone put in an EOI to far south coast recently for a 489 visa recently? 

Just wondering on timescales for invitation at the minute. 

Thank you  

3 hours ago, CVS said:

Hi, how are you getting on with the whole process?!  It's so hard to know where to go and what to do!  I think Nowra will be a good starting point!  Are you moving with kids? 

Let's keep in touch! :-)

I am just at the stage of waiting for my skills assessment to come back (my profession takes approx 6 months...!) It should be back anytime soon though and then we will be applying for the 489 straight away. I’m realising this is a process that you have to let take it’s natural course- I’m not the world’s most patient person!! 

We have a 7 year old daughter so will have to take into account schools etc. What about you...? Do you have children? 

You’re right- it’s a hard process trying to pinpoint what and where etc but I’m enjoying the research and finding out about the area as a whole. There are certainly some beautiful spots...! 

How is it all going for you? Are you much further along in the process? 

Let’s definitely keep in touch! Good to know someone is in a similar boat and we can always swap notes :-) 

Thanks for replying and enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Best wishes 

Hi, 

We are also hoping to go to far south coast and have been looking into the areas around Nowra. The responses and opinions on this post have been very informative- thank you :-)

3 hours ago, Dai87 said:

I didn't hear anything from them about my assessment except when their estimated time frames increased from 18 weeks to 25 weeks.

I'm using an agent and it's fair to say I was becoming really impatient and then all of a sudden confirmation and certificates/letters arrive via email and then post. 

Thanks for getting back to me. 

Yes im using an agent too- did you hear of the positive assessment from your agent or did AASW email you directly? 

Hopr your visa application is going well now you are at that stage- more waiting I’m sure but fingers crossed it’s not too long or painful! 

Thanks again ?

Sorry to bother you again, just wondering- did AASW email you to say they had received everything in the early days? I submitted my application on 9/11/2017 and they emailed me back on 24/11 to say they had got everything and taken my payment. So I’m counting from the 24th as my start date.....just wondering if you had similar.

Looked at your dates and that’s was just over 28 weeks for a wait for you!! I’m chewing my own arm off and I’m only at the 20 week mark! 

Sorry to bother you again, just wondering- did AASW email you to say they had received everything in the early days? I submitted my application on 9/11/2017 and they emailed me back on 24/11 to say they had got everything and taken my payment. So I’m counting from the 24th as my start date.....just wondering if you had similar.

Looked at your dates and that’s was just over 28 weeks for a wait for you!! I’m chewing my own arm off and I’m only at the 20 week mark! 

Thank you! 

Its not the only part of NSW sponsoring my occupation but after lots of research we have decided it’s the place that will suit us the best. 

Yes it’s far from Queensland but we’ve come to terms with the fact we can’t live there specifically so will just have to suck it up and get on with it! :-)

If we are lucky enough to get a visa- we will be extremely grateful and willing to give it a go. 

Thanks again for clarifying :-) 

Hello there, 

Can anyone explain the process for applying for a NSW state sponsorship (489) visa?

Do you submit an EOI stating NSW as your wanted state or do you apply directly to NSW and then wait for them to (hopefully) invite you and then put an EOI in for the visa?

Many thanks