parthvader89

Quite often the entry requirements for postgrad degrees are lower for international students than local domestic students...so you will need to check whether you will still get an offer as a domestic student (this is true for USyd degrees not sure about other unis)

If this is the case, I would rather apply as an international student from outside Australia and just when I get an offer and the course is about to start, go 'oh by the way, I just became a permanent resident as soon as I walked into the country'.

This is likely the issue. As your PR visa has not be activate yet..only granted. If you do not enter by the date your visa is cancelled.

I think you might be right. Just confirmed with my mate who is already in Australia on his 186, his info sheet on VEVO does in fact have one extra row in the end for 'Visa Type' and it says 'permanent resident' there. Everything else is exactly like mine.

My best bet would be to try and convince them to accept my grant as adequate proof. Could argue based on my VEVO details saying that the stay period is indefinite, illegal for me to enrol as international student etc. (any other ideas in this regard are welcome).

Else, I'll have to fly immediately. Hopefully the VEVO status will change as soon as I set foot in Melbourne.

Have you activated your visa ie landed in Australia and then left the country again? (Or stayed)

Nope. I received my 189 visa grant 2 days ago and haven't traveled to Australia on this visa. I think I know what you are hinting at, but I checked with a friend of mine who is currently in Australia on a 186 visa (permanent residence), and his details on VEVO show the same thing i.e. 'Status: RESIDENT'. Do employers/organisations get the same information sheet on VEVO that visa holders get when they check their own entitlements?

Your not asking for HECS or anything? As that's for Citizens? Other than that it could just be someone a bit inexperienced in admin.

Yes, HECS is only for citizens, so not asking for that. I am however eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (limited places in postgraduate courses) or a Domestic Full Fee Place. International fees is still considerably more than either of these options.

E mail them a copy of the visa grant. Have you validated the visa yet?

Already e-mailed them a copy of the visa grant and my entitlement info from VEVO, they weren't convinced for some reason. I'm inclined to agree with you and blossom that this is a confusion on their part (they are a university after all, not visa experts). However, it seems its going to be one hell of a mission to convince them of this. Is there any proof/certificate one can give them besides the visa grant?

I seem to have hit a new problem, just when I thought the long arduous journey of getting a 189 visa was over. I wanted to apply to University of Sydney as a domestic student (their description includes permanent residents of Australia). However, when they checked my status on VEVO, they said it was temporary resident.

I double checked on VEVO, it shows my status as RESIDENT and shows the details of my 189 visa. It does say that the stay period is 'Indefinite' in the last row but also shows Visa expiry date as 8 July 2020. Could this be a case of the University getting confused with the expiry date on the visa? (maybe they don't know that it only deals with returning to Australia?) Or could it be that PR only starts when I enter Australia on my 189? (which is a problem since they need to process my application ASAP,the only reason they waited this long was because I convinced them to wait for my 189 grant).

Either ways, need urgent advice here. Would be very grateful.

GRANT RECEIVED

QUEST COMPLETED

NEW ABILITIES DISCOVERED

NEW STAGE UNLOCKED

EXPERIENCE POINTS: 12000000

SKILL BONUS: 30000000

PERSISTENCE BONUS: 40000000

SCORE: 72000000 (High SCORE!!)

MAPS UNLOCKED: 2 (Australia, New Zealand)

LEVEL +1

Hi Guys, I too lodged visa on 04 March 2015, 4 months over since I lodged my visa and nearly 2.5 months gone since CO assigned. Any of you got visa during these few days? If so, appreciate your help to update.

Same issue is bothering me as well. On the one hand you have applications from early May getting grants and on the other, this. Are you claiming points for work experience? I'm thinking because of my long gaps in employment and no relevant work experience, they are hesitant in giving me a grant. Even though Ai meet all criteria.

I received my grant for 189 today. Had to wait longer than usual due to visa subclass caps in place, but still happy.

Finally, some movement on this thread! Good luck for your future plans.

Happy 1st of July Marchers. Anytime now.

Some dodgy section called 'labour market test' is also included under Subclass 189 visa. Although it then indicates its for employers, in which case I don't see how it applies to skilled independent migration. Can't be arsed reading it properly right now.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-/Skilled-Independent-visa-(subclass-189)-document-checklist

Also, the released document from the assistant minister seems to indicate all changes will apply to those who are invited to apply on or after 1st July 2015. As for SOL, besides removal of Dentists and Urban/Regional Planners, no change.

I had it confirmed by a MARA agent that if you have an application for visa in and then your occupation is removed from a SOL, then it will be processed as normal, it is irrelevant whether you have a CO or not.

 

Basically, she said that the legislation in force at time of lodgement is the one that applies. Also, you won't be relegated to a lower priority processing level, as that only applies to the visa subclass and not to any particular occupation group.

 

The above only applies to people with active lodged visa applications and not to people in the EOI stage.

Glad to be proven wrong on that score. I wonder if this also applies if any changes to the 189 visa rules, outside of the SOL, take effect from 1st July. Say, they change the way points are awarded in skillselect or bring in additional eligibility requirements like minimum work experience, I presume any such changes wouldn't apply retrospectively?

Now I do love a party at Alma de Cuba!!

 

Gusto is a few minutes walk from me. I went there a few weeks back with my wife and a few people from her work.

 

I loved the foodie and cafe scene in Melbourne, it's one of the places I'd love to end up eventually

Lol, I'm usually at Heebie Jeebies and Aloha, same lane. Alma de cuba too sometimes.

I really miss the nightlife in Liverpool to be honest. Melbourne doesn't quite measure up to the charm of concert square. Just go to as many places as you want for the night, bouncers aren't dicks (not as much as Melbourne) and when everything closes go to Bumper which is open till like 3-4, when that closes there is my favorite chippie right next to bumper on hardman street where I didn't even have to speak out my order anymore, lol. When is Australia getting chips with curry sauce?

I received the delay email from GSM Allocated. It does not say whether my application is completed or not, just general information about the delay. Does that mean my application already has a CO?

Thanks.

I received the same e-mail after calling up GSM Adelaide. I know for a fact that I have a CO because I had received an email earlier asking for my CV to be uploaded.

I think it's safe to say your application has been allocated to a VPO.

Just some information for all who have an invitation to apply.

The SOL list will be updated on 1st July and some occupations may be removed, (last year some got added and I don't recall anything getting removed).

So, if you were to apply before that date and your occupation is removed, it won't matter because your application is in the system from the date of submission.

But, if you wait until 1st July or later and your occupation is removed then.....well you can guess the rest.

(This isn't advice, just information!)

I think you may be only partially right. As far as I know, even if you have an active/lodged visa application and your occupation is not on the SOL, you STILL get relegated to priority group 5 which means your application will be processed...never.

If this does happen, I think the only thing that will save you is that your visa application has already been allocated to a CO, since priority processing only applies to the order in which applications are allocated. I wouldn't wish it on anybody that their occupation is struck off, especially if they haven't had a CO yet.

How does one phone GSM Brisbane from overseas. It seems the 13 number they provide in the CO's email isn't reachable from outside Australia.

That's incorrect. Applications will continue to be processed, however if a cap is reached then the visa grant won't be issued until after June 30th.

Yep. That cap and cease clause is only under rare circumstances on the direction of the minister. On the bright side, 3 direct grants just today, doesn't feel like there is a slowdown. I wonder on what basis they are deciding which ones to grant and which ones to put on hold till July?

Can those who received this 'We're full for the year' email please confirm they had 189 applications and not 190? Because this is what I found on the website: http://www.immi.gov.au/Work/Pages/general-skilled-migration/estimated-allocation-times.aspx

They say that skilled nominated category is affected, with no mention of skilled independent. Someone from expatforum claims a 'cap and cease' clause comes into play where all pending applications are cancelled and fees is refunded. Everyone must lodge afresh after July 2015. That would be so not cool.

Direct grant received today!!!!!!! Thank you all for your help and support during the application process and wishing the best of luck to those still waiting

Congratulations Atlas!

Did somebody who lodged on 10th April just get a grant? That's got to be wrong, right?

Thanks mate. I guess i must wait if the CO asks. Any Idea how fast they are tracking for General Accountants (60Points:huh:)

 

Though I hear people saying x is faster than y, whether an application is processed within 47 days or 70 days doesn't seem to be linked to the occupation at all in my opinion. Just look at the tracker, the only thing that seems to delay things is if CO asks for more documents.

Hi Guys

 

I lodged my application 11/03/2015, I have uploaded everything form 80 and medicals but its been so long I have not herd anything from the immigration. Since I lodged it with my lawyer I have no way of checking the progress. My lawyer is saying it might be even July when I hear from them? I don't even know if I have got CO assigned yet! This wait is frustrating me. Checking the threads some who lodged in March have got direct visa grants.

 

Is there anyway I can check the progress of my application?

To be fair, its only been 50 days so nothing to get worried about. The march grants are from 1st to 14th and not all are processed, yours is on the 11th andshould be processed anyday now.

Follow the tracker, you'll be less worried https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkrdCphtU8u-dGJQSWROUlZ0bThIaUF2VW9zdUZmMlE#gid=54

Did you get the speil about 'local experience'? It does take time and a lot of employers will pass if you don't have it.

That is true, even experience from UK is highly regarded though. I have local work experience but its not in my field. In fact, I have zero experience in my field, just the academic qualification. My next step would be to get a professional internship through Navitas, they take $2000 and get you a 12 week unpaid internship, you should check it out. An aussie friend of mine did it and worked out pretty well for him.

http://www.navitas-careers-and-internships.com/programs/professional-internship-program/

Hopefully this will give me a chance to change my specialization from Aerospace to Mechanical, give me some field specific 'local experience' and compensate for the 3 years of f-all I have done since graduating Probably won't be enough still but a decent 'next step'. Although if you DO have experience in your field, I think you'll be fine.

Thanks! I've had the pleasure of being to those three (and Perth, how in the middle of nowhere is that place?) beire. Melbourne was fabulous and a great IT market but family is always a stong pull.

At least you'll have loads more jobs to choose from than me no matter where you go. As a bloke with an Aerospace Engineering degree, I clearly didn't do my due diligence regarding job prospects in Australia, lol.

Sure bud.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkrdCphtU8u-dGJQSWROUlZ0bThIaUF2VW9zdUZmMlE#gid=277

I have lived in Melbourne for quite a bit now and have been to Brisbane as well, you would love either of these cities. Jobs wise, Melbourne is where it's at, possibly Sydney as well but haven't been there. Congratulations and good luck!