Adam

Does anyone have a contact number for GSM Brisbane? They’re still asking me for documents that I’ve already provided and really need to speak to someone on the phone rather than waiting weeks for a reply. thanks

Anyone got the phone number for Brisbane office? Not the generic number but one where I can speak to someone. Can’t undersrand what the hold up is for me. Thanks

Did you have much CO contact? I applied in December 2016, last contact in July. Heard nothing since.

Lodging application means applying for the visa, not the EOI. The final stage, after the EOI and getting invited to apply.

Not yet. I won't hear anything for about another couple of weeks at least, until the 28 day document upload period. Then there's another 28 days within which they're supposed to respond. Although that hasn't proved to be the case in the past!

You'll find everything, all forms etc on the DIBP website. Here's the link to that form: https://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/character-statutory-declaration.pdf#search=Statutory Declaration

Gaurav, Welcome and good luck for the months of hard work, stress, patience, money and hard work. There are no short cuts, it takes a lot of all the above. Just to give you and other new members an idea, this is my situation: I first started the process with company letters etc in September 2015, got invited for orals in February 2016, moved to Australia on a working holiday visa in October 2016, did orals in November 2016 and submitted visa application December 2016. I got asked for more documents in January 2017, then more again in June 2017. I am now still waiting, hopeful that the visa isn't far off. During that time I was laid off from my job and could no longer afford to live there so had to return to the UK in April 2017. A big move followed by another big move back again, all in the space of 6 months. Long story short, in this current climate, I wouldn't advise anyone moving out there with or without PR. Yes, things are picking up slowly but there are no secure jobs currently and I don't expect there will be for a long time. Addressing your points: 1. Treat your orals like any other orals and go through the syllabus thoroughly. In my AMSA orals, he went through every single point on the syllabus. 2. Every flag state is different, they all have different processes. Do your research. Many don't issue PCC's but you still have to prove you tried to obtain one to DIBP. 3. All documents get sent to Canberra then it's your choice where you do orals. Then general consensus on here is that all orals are conducted more or less the same. Again, learn the syllabus and you'll be fine. 4. I did Masters orals, so not Junior as such but I'm sure all successful Junior candidates would say the same. Study hard and learn the syllabus. I worked solidly for 3 weeks for the orals prep and I was more than prepared. Hopefully that will help yourself and others. It may seem all doom and gloom on the work front and it is to be honest! But I don't regret moving over even if it was for only 6 months, I had the time of my life and hope to go back in the future. But everyone should be prepared that even with the PR, you won't find work anytime soon. It became scarily apparent very quickly how expensive it is to live there without work. One thing to add is CaptainC and CaptainR were extremely helpful in the process. Their knowledge along with everyone else's is invaluable and it's all in this forum so spend time flicking through all the pages. All the best.

All payslips and the letters should suffice, it did for me. I worked for 3 companies.

Yes AMSA stated I had over 10 years and I'd previously uploaded payslips, company letters, employment contracts, discharge book, everything you mentioned but they still wanted more. I think I'm the end I uploaded all of my payslips. I never uploaded any photos. Regarding the PCC's, I uploaded everything with the initial application including all PCC's I had and then the emails as evidence of me trying to obtain the rest. They never mentioned it back in January, only recently they contacted me again for them. So I'd say be prepared for them not to thoroughly check everything the first time as they might well come back and ask for more after the initial request for more docs. Hope that helps.

Lali, for me that wasn't the case. I got asked for additional documents in January - more evidence of past employment. I didn't hear anything until about a week ago when they asked for more - statutory declaration. They needed that as I was unable to obtain PCC's from most flag states. I did however previously send evidence of me trying to obtain them. So my advice is to fill out the statutory declaration and send that before they ask for it, if you have any flag states that won't issue a PCC. They have recently increased the wait time for 189 visas and it seems they take longer than the 28 + 28 days to process anything extra they ask for.

When did you get your PR and when did you apply for the visa? thanks

My orals paper should be on there from 2nd November in Sydney, although I can't get the dropbox to open. Maybe a problem with my browser. Best advice I can give is to use the syllabus. For my orals he went through every point on appendix 7, asking about each thing. Starting with listing every ship's certificate, validity and survey intervals. You will need to know all the Oz stuff inside out, OHS, Marine orders, Navigation Act etc, that was all in depth. Relate all your answers to Marine Orders where possible. I learnt the MO numbers and titles of each one off by heart which definitely helped. All the usual, MARPOL, MLC, STCW etc once he could see I knew, he stopped me. I got no rules or buoyage. This was just me though and examiners vary hugely.

Ship's Master is an "Advanced Diploma" worth 10 points.

Bare in mind you can't submit the EOI until you have the skills assessment letter. After two weeks after I did the orals I didn't have it so phoned up and asked how long it would take. They said it can take up to 3 months. But having said that within a few days I then had the letter. So maybe the phone call helped. There's no time limit for when you have to be in Oz. Once you've got PR, you've got it for whenever. I've done much the same, I am continuing with my current employer. I was well aware long before I started this process about the poor state of shipping and it made no difference. I wanted to live in Oz and that's it. Yes I'll get hit with tax and no oz employment benefits but I didn't want to move to Oz to work here, I wanted to live here. I will still be better off than a lot of people here. Currently I've got my PR application in, uploaded all documents except medical as I am at sea and am now playing the waiting game. I am already living over here on a 1 year working holiday visa and it was the best decision my girlfriend and I made. If my PR doesn't get granted before my WHV expires then I will go onto a bridging visa. Despite all the doom and gloom on the work front in Oz that everyone is so happy to go on about, don't let that put you off moving down here. If you're still in employment elsewhere then it's perfectly doable.

Hi all, Apologies if this has already been brought up but I can't find anything! I've also read many a lot of conflicting information on what I'm about to ask. My girlfriend and I are currently on a working holiday visa, very shortly will be submitting EOI and hopefully being invited to apply for a 189. Once the visa application is submitted (not EOI submission) will we automatically go onto a bridging visa or is it something you have to request? I know there are several different types of bridging visa with different restrictions and none of them suit me due to me spending several months each year abroad for my work. Our WHV doesn't expire until September so we'd rather just stay on that as long as we can while the 189 is processing. Can we do that? In summary, do we have to change over to a bridging visa once the application is submitted or can we stay on our current WHV while it's still valid and 189 is still processing? Many thanks in advance!