mgreaves

Wow ok so this is super positive read as my husbands degree was accounting and he has been in an accountant role since, working towards his professional CIPFA qualification during work! So when you sent off to CPA for everything to be assessed do we have to select assess from degree or professional qualification?? Andrew is sitting the English academic test in a few weeks to try to obtain the 20 points for the English test part, if what you say happens for us and they assess from his degree in accounting we will have 75 points!! Woo! How is life in Oz for you?

Sorry I can't remember exactly how I filled things in now, but I know when asking for qualification to be assessed I listed my degree and didn't really mention CIMA, both for the skills assessment for CPA and the actual visa application. On the paperwork CPA send with a checklist, degree certificate and transcript are required, professional certificate is listed as if applicable. I did send the CIMA certificate, but I just didn't list it in the application (can't remember if I listed it as a secondary qualification, or if I just ignored it).

We travelled for 8 months before coming over to Australia so have only been here a couple of months. I managed to get the first job I applied for which was good and I start work next week, so life in Oz/reality is just about to start really.

Hey guys! We are just starting our visa for a 189 for management accountant and we think we have 70 points! Now when CPA assess us, are points awarded purely awarded from date you qualified as an accountant or do they also award points for experience as an actual accountant?? My husband has been in a senior management accountant role for 9 years but qualified for 5! Will he gain more points if they assess his employment? We're in such a panic as two migration agents said they wouldn't take us on with 70 points as accountants aren't being invited on 70 points?!! Is this true or just crap? We're desperate to go and feel so panicked this won't happen! Has anyone with 70 points been invited to apply of late!?? Thanks all xxx

As SNS said, work experience will be post qualification. However I used my accounting degree as my qualification, I only obtained CIMA in 2015 but they gave me 5 years post degree experience from 2010. Therefore if the degree is finance related you would get this assessed. I did have pre degree management accounting work experience, but they would not consider this.

As to points required, I've not kept up with what is needed, just make sure you maximise English points. I had to wait while but that was over a year ago and I assume things have changed.

Are they better than Moneycorp ( fee free I think to PIO members??). I haven't opened any transfer accounts yet but will need to shortly.

My quote from Money Corp using the account I opened from here was a worse quote than TransferWise, others on here said ring up and they will improve it...but I simply went to TransferWise and used the better quote without having to speak to anyone and simply clicked a few times.

I did think of going via a HSBC international account, as apparently there is no transfer fee between a UK HSBC and an Australian HSBC account, but apparently you have to have had a domestic account with them for a fair few months first, then you'll be eligible to open an international account. So I guess I'm gonna have to use one of the Australian banks. I'm considering either Westpac or NAB. Again guys, thank you so much to both of you for your help - I was worrying mad about this catch 22 situation. I can now plan how to enjoy the remaining days that I'll have in WA.

Off topic:

I opened a NAB simply because it was fee free and convienet through this forum. I will change accounts once I've started work, ING seems to offer the best bet with free withdrawals everywhere, but they are online only so couldn't open in advance.

For transfering money I used TransferWise, they give better rates and charge much much lower fees.

Yes we too just did it online. The only difference was. I contacted the uk migrant team and asked them to link my account to the branch on hay street nearest to Ahpra office so our bank cards would be there when we arrived. This made it easier for us so we could park car and do both activating bank account and Ahpra in same morning just walking a few hundred meters up the road. If we didn't get our account linked to the hay street branch in subiaco we would had to go to which ever branch they had decided to link our account to in order to collect bank cards.

The branch they link you to is not guarenteed to help, you could be unlucky like us, we were sent to the thier choice of branch, we got there and the guy who does migrant banking was at a different branch that day even though we had booked an apointment so we had to walk to another branch, one next to AHPRA which was actually helpful but a bit of a walk. In Sydney there are a lot of branches in the CBD and all are fairly close.

Hi Stevej, thanks for the comprehensively spelt out answer, that's exactly what I was looking for One more thing, when you were in the UK, did you open the NAB account completely online or did you have to present to their London branch?

 

Thanks again!

I opened my partners NAB account completly online. When you turn up you show passport and give them a local address (AirBNB) and then they hand you your card, ask them for a statement print out and take this to AHPRA.

I actually did my NAB when we arrived without doing anything in advance and it was just as quick, the only difference was my card arrived in branch a couple of days later.

We opened a NAB bank account from U.K. The migration team had the account linked to the hay street branch in subiaco. We flew out on the Saturday and had appointment at bank for 11am Monday morning to activate bank account. 30 min later we walked out with bank cards and statement with relatives address on ( you can give them any address). We walked a few hundred meters up hay street to Ahpra. My wife presented, signed stat declaration 30 min later all done. Within 24 hrs email received confirming registration complete and on register.

I did the exact same as this, but I put the temporary address as the AirBNB we were staying in for a few days. You can tell AHPRA to post to a different address when you log in (you receive the email a few days after showing up) which I left as my parents.

Hi everyone,

 

I recently received my AHPRA registration approval "in principle" on an email where I have to reply via email to extend for 12 months which takes me to August 2017, in order to show my face, passport with ozzy visa and australian residential adress etc.. but I haven't had my visa approved yet and I'm not sure I'll be ready to emigrate next year, as I'm planning to do other things before hand.

 

Is there a possibility to extend it further, as I thought I could go over on holiday to finalize the registration but I need an ozzy residential address according to the paperwork sent?

I don't think you can extend further, they were picky with me due to the NMC statement being over 6 months old. We were in a similar scenario though, we are currently travelling Asia but had to be at Ahpra by September, our plans were not until December though.

To get around this we started our travels with a week in Australia, we opened a NAB bank account which let's you provide a temporary address (hotel or Airbnb), we then got a statement print out with this address showing a balance of zero and used this for Ahpra registration. Ahpra send you a certificate, but you can set your postal address's to the UK until you actually move over.

I still haven't been able to sort out a testimonial for my current job. I never go to the office as I am at clients sites everyday, so not been able to get any letterhead paper yet. Anyone else know if they accept official emails instead?

I simply put the company logo and address in to word and made my own letterheads paper. I did this for all 5 of my testimonials as I wrote them all myself and simply sent to my managers for signing.

my best attempt was 8, 8.5, 7, 7.5. 7 was writing and 7.5 speaking

I'm native English and couldn't get over 7.5 on the writing with IELTS, I got more or less maximum marks on second attempt at pte-a. Messed the first up due to my computer usage on the speaking!

I have received my positive assessment today from CPA for my qualification only. I had asked for the experience assessment and sent everything at the same time. Any else received this afterwards, and if so how long after? Thanks

Yes it arrives after. Mine wad only a few hours later but I had emailed as the skills assessment had no date on so needed to correct that.

Yes that is me. That is the first time I've heard of that rule, I can't see any mention of it in the paperwork.

I used my degree and not my CIMA qualification for the skills assessment, so can't help on if you will tick all the boxes.

As to uploads, I got a colleague who is CIMA qualified to certify all my uploads, it states on the CPA website what they have to write on each document.

We are doing our validation trip in a few weeks

I have opened an account with NAB for my partner (the nurse) and arranged to pick up her debit card the day we arrive, the NAB paperwork says a temporary address is ok, she can then ask for a printed statement with address which can be used by AHPRA to complete registration there.

Great read, glad all going well for you so far! A ittle under 4 weeks for us, although we're just doing an activation trip, plan is to open bank and sort Ahpra now, then travel Asia for a few months before coming back to Aus in December.

After thinking I had sent everything possible they could want. I've been asked today to send transcripts and copies of my GCSEs and a levels. I never received transcripts and I did these 15 years ago. Wtf!!! Anyone else had to do this stupidity? I have a degree and visa has been granted but AHPRA are ridiculous

Which box did you tick for English Language, one of them wants proof of education as proof of English ability, maybe you ticked this.

Your school or the exam body can send you copies, I got these for my partner direct from AQA the examining body.

Just to give you an idea of the 189 invite numbers:

The last time someone with 60 points was invited was 24th March 2015, so more than a year ago.

There have been 17 invitation rounds this financial year, and only 4 of them let in accountants with 65 points and the last was 23rd September.

70 points have been running with a 10 day backlog for the last 3 or 4 invitation rounds.

Therefore unless you get 70 points there is a very big backlog in front of you and your chances of an invite are very slim. Obviously as you have covered above, things may change come July. Earlier in the year 70 points even had a 3 month backlog, so it may be that Accountants stay on the list in July, but the minimum points goes up again.

Gathering the documents is the bit which takes time, but if you are organised you can speed this up, the skills assessment itself only takes 2 weeks. Once you have the English test and this you can lodge your EOI, you don't need all the supporting documents to lodge the EOI just your English test number and skills assessment number. I know the bulk of the supporting documents relate to the skills assessment, but if you just focus on these bits first it may help speed things up.

"Certified copies"

 

Can someone confirm that in the UK who is a Magistrate be acceptable to certify documents. Looks like they are the same as a Justice of the Peace.

 

Thanks!:wink:

Justice of the peace is exactly that in the UK, they do not go by a different name. They tend to work in magistrates courts.

I think particularly important documents that affect the outcome of your visa such as passports, birth certificates, qualifications etc, are expected to be certified.

It does state on DIBP that colour copies are ok, as such I did not certify a single document and I had my visa granted very quickly.

Does anyone know whether you have to submit evidence of CPD for Aphra. There website appears to be sending me round in circles and they seem to have multiple lists for supporting documents that don't quite match.

You need to list CPD on your CV, but you do not need to submit actual evidence.

If you are uploading documents in support of your visa application these needs to be colour scans, you do not need to get them certified.

Do you have a degree? I was in a similar boat, I left my log book for a while after finishing the exams, however I have a degree in accounting also so I used that for my skills assessment.

I was not allowed to claim 1 years work experience though as it was before I finished my degree, I was working alongside fully qualified accountants doing the same job with the same job title etc. So I would guess you may not be able to claim the experience.

Thank you. I will look into getting the Advanced Diploma assessed as that is meant to the equivalent to a UK degree (QCF level 6), and the full CIMA equivalent to a UK Masters (QCF level 7) but I guess it just depends if this equates to the Australian system and rules.

They assess full CIMA as a degree and not a masters, a masters attracts more points and you do not get these through having CIMA assessed.

Ah I don't have a degree, just an HND in Business and Finance. Poop! I think this might only leave me on 60 points then so no chance of getting an invite thanks for the advice

it may be possible to get them to assess your advanced diploma, but they are looking for the equivalent of a degree so I don't think it will be easy to do, I would advise maybe checking with a registered migration agent.

Points wise the backlog of 65 pointers is the end of September, so even with the extra 5 points you are still very low down in the queue and will be waiting a while...assuming Accountants remain on the SOL.

I would look in to a 190 visa if you are not already, your English may bump you up the list here.

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to say hello having just joined the forum! I am just at the start of the process of applying for a 189 Visa for code 221112 Management Accountant (although I realise I am a little late to the party!).

 

I am CIMA qualified (Sept 2014) and have just had my IELTS results back today and thankfully did well enough to get 20 points for Superior English (9, 9, 8.5, 8) overall score 8.5. Just about to apply for my CPA Skills Assessment and am a little anxious as I have seen lots of posts saying they only count experience since you qualified, which would only give me 1 yr 7 months, although I have been an accountant for 5 years. So really hoping they might take the dates from when I passed my CIMA Advanced Diploma which was Jan 2013 giving me 3 yrs 3 months to at least get me 5 points. Has anyone had a similar experience of this? Thanks

They will take the dates from you getting your full CIMA qualification.

What is your degree in? If it is Finance/accounting related get your degree assessed and not CIMA, this is what I did to get around this as I left my log book for quite a while after finishing the exams.