chatterbox

Hi E2306, Here's the link you need for AITSL: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/assessment-for-migration You must do this before you submit your EoI. I'd also suggest registering with your chosen state's teaching board after that too as it takes a while. Pop back on if you have any more quesions

We got our direct grant today from the Brisbane office. Fingers crossed I manage to secure a job within the few days then we'll be full steam ahead to move to Perth in January. :jiggy::jiggy::jiggy:

I'd be interested in knowing this too...

Ha ha just noticed my predictive text selected Delia instead of Selina - sorry! We've front loaded everything as keen to get everything moving. It was 6th Aug we applied (I misread your app date) so hoping for a direct grant as early as tomorrow - eeek!

Fantastic, Pommie. Congratulations!

Just noticed that we're both waiting on news about our visa Delia. I applied on the 6th - so exciting! Good luck to you x

Great news Mazza - delighted for you Any update Pommie? I've got everything crossed for you for tomorrow if not!

Hi Selina, I'm by no means an expert but my guess would be that it shouldn't be an issue as your maternity was surely paid leave, whereas that says "unpaid" leave?

Hi Ben, For Perth state schools: To be considered, Statements of Service must be on official letterhead or, if via email, the sender’s email account must contain the official school/institution email domain (eg. det.wa.edu.au). Statements must also include the following information: • the exact dates for commencement and cessation of employment (eg. 30 January 2006 to 18 December 2007); • job title; • work capacity for example full-time or part-time - must state work fraction (e.g. 70%); • if unpaid leave was taken, the exact duration of this leave must be stated; • if no unpaid leave was taken, the document must state this; and • employment status (e.g. permanent, fixed term or casual). From a document called "Recognition of prior service" which is always at the bottom of each job ad. Hope this helps.

Congratulations on your grant Crookywooky, and the case officer JenPen. Pommie & Mazza - you must be due to receive an email soon! I have an interview for a job tomorrow morning, got everything crossed that my 6th Aug application will be processed by then so I can say that my visa is in place. I think I'm being a wee bit optimistic though!

Thanks Pommie. I'm 6th of August application date so waiting patiently!

Hey, Just wondered if anyone else is feeling a bit disheartened with the whole teaching job hunt. We can't move over until I've got a job in place for financial reasons, but finding it really hard to even get to the interview stage. Has anyone sent their CV to a job agency to get some feedback? I'm secondary maths, looking for a post in Perth. I'm aware that this is the main job vacancy season, so all too aware that if I don't get something in the next few weeks I'll have potentially missed the boat for a whole year

Hello lovely fellow Augustiners! I too am flitting between the August and July thread EVERY day. Think I'm obsessed. We have it marked on our calendar when our "#weeks since applied# milestones occur. My in-laws are visiting on Sunday and if they see this they'll probably think I'm pregnant as our calendar is covered with "6 weeks", "7 weeks" etc. Fingers crossed everyone P.S. We haven't told the folks our plans yet - not sure how that conversation will go...

Thank you Marisa and GbyeGreySky - lots to think about. It's tricky to consider what position we'll be in in 35 years time. Our priority is to save a deposit for a house when we arrive in Australia, so perhaps topping up our NI will not be a priority to begin with. I appreciate all your guidance.

Ahhh... that makes more sense! Thank you for helping me clarify this Bungo (feeling a bit dense now!). So as you say, just the decision now whether it's worthwhile paying it each week, or just add more in to our Australian super. What's the likelyhood of the British State Pension still being in payment in 30/40 years time I wonder?

Thanks Bungo. By moving to Oz we fall into this section and as we're working up until we leave maybe we fall into the third bullet point, but that only seems to apply for the first year after we move? This stuff is all so confusing! [h=2]"Working in any other country[/h]You’ll carry on paying UK National Insurance for the first 52 weeks you’re abroad if you’re working for an employer outside the EEA, Switzerland and bilateral Social Security agreement countries, and you meet the following 3 conditions: your employer has a place of business in the UK you’re ordinarily resident in the UK you were living in the UK immediately before starting work abroad"

Hi, Could someone advise me whether we'll be able to keep paying our UK NI contributions whilst being permanent residents in Australia? We'd like to keep contributing to our UK state pension (although being 33 just now, I doubt whether we'll actually receive anything by the time we turn 68 or whatever our retirement age is likely to be by then!). I've tried to research it but this webpage seems to imply that I won't be able to keep my contributions going: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-if-you-go-abroad If indeed I'm wrong in my interpretation of this info and I can keep paying them, could anyone tell me how much it's likely to be each month (for budgeting purposes). Thanks!

Hi Kirsty, I could be wrong (and probably am, as the lovely people on here are much more experienced with this stuff than me!) but you mentioned in your initial post that your police checks are in place. This means that you have already fixed your validation date, unless you apply for another one further down the line? Good luck with it all.

Thanks Bob! I looked up the website your referred to and it is indeed once a day - I guess we should start weaning! " Your animal will be fed a high quality, nutritionally balanced commercial dry food, once daily during their stay (unless veterinary advice states multiple feeds are required)."

Hi Bob, Sorry, I've just noticed your reply - thanks very much. We've already contacted your company and the quote looks good. We can't commit to anything though until our visa is through (waiting, waiting, waiting!). Can I ask you two other quick questions please to help us prepare? 1. If we went with PetAir, would the idea be that one of your people would pick him up from Scotland and drive him down to your headquarters? Where are you based? 2. I've heard that dogs are only fed once a day in Australian quarantine. We feed ours twice a day and are therefore thinking of gradually weaning him to once a day. Do you know whether it's a morning or evening meal? We just want to help him with the transition as much as we can (but probably seem like fussing parents!). Thanks!

Thanks cubiscus.

Thanks folks - guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and tell my boss, eeek!

Hi, Does anyone know whether the case officer contacts your current and previous employers to validate the work references uploaded for your visa application? The reason I ask isn't because of anything dodgy, just that my previous employer is on holiday until September and therefore no one will be available until then and I don't want the case officer to think they are a made up referee! Secondly, when seeking the reference letter from my current employer, I didn't say what it was for as I don't want to rock the boat at work by suggesting I'm leaving until I really have to and we might not go for some time yet (I think she assumed it was to help with a mortgage application). So the question is, should I tell her now in case she's contacted by the immigration board? I wish I could stop my brain from stressing about this whole process, but I'm so scared something is going to go wrong and we don't get our visa (but then I'm sure we're all in the same boat!). Thanks!

Ha ha - I can hear the "kindly note" being said through gritted teeth! I'd be sending the same emails though, nervous at the thought of rocking up to the airport with 40 kg of luggage and waiting to see whether the computer will say yes or no! Hope your journey goes well Ben. I've learned a lot from your various posts - thank you.

Does anyone know what type of checks they do on the documents they upload? Do they call the authors to check the authenticity of them? I'm not asking because I've done anything naughty, but I'm a teacher and some of my work experience referees are still on summer holiday until September so they won't be contactable