Newbie65

Hi guys! Received my PTE-A results this morning. I need 20 points for my 189 visa. My score is as follows: Reading - 90 Writing - 90 Listening - 90 Speaking - 90 BUT underneath it states enabling skills: grammar - 90 Oral fluency - 88 Pronunciation - 90 Spelling - 48 Vocabulary - 90 Written discourse - 90 I've been on the DIBP website and it states that I need 90 in all 4 areas (R,W,L,S) which I have! But I'm confused as to how I can have scored full points when I got 48 for spelling?? I want to be excited and happy that I've passed but I can't help but worry?!! I revised sooooo much. Can anyone please help me interpret my results? Thanks in advance

Hi Guys, Hoping someone on here may be able to advise, I'm getting my documents together for a skills assessment to send to the Australian Computer Society (ACS) for my 189 independent visa... Now, i can't ask my direct manager for a reference as i fear it will put my job in jeopardy. Instead i have asked a senior colleague and mentor who trained me up initially, but he is leaving the company at the end of December for a new role. He has agreed to sign whatever I need. I have been looking through the ACS guidelines and want to ensure I get this reference properly. If I get the reference on letter headed paper with his signature and forwarding contact details incase the want to contact him after december will this be OK? I will also include a photocopy of his ID badge. My agent thinks it will be fine, but i want to be 100% sure as the guidelines mention something about a possible 'affidavit or statutory declaration' if it's not from my direct manager - which would mean having to have it witnessed by a legal standard and not getting it signed within work hours...:skeptical: Any help would be greatly appreciated!

This is a great post. I appointed my agent yesterday and started my research into the different English tests available. I need the 'superior' score - and I'm now going to buy the book and start revision for the pte-a. Thanks for helping me make my decision!

Oh but what I'd give to have the Australian 'hot dry air' blowing all around me right now..:laugh: May i point out im currently sat in the middle of a field, wearing 3 pairs of socks with my bones rattling from the cold!

Hey, i've recently spent a lot of time on the phone to immigration with regards to the changes being made to the 2WHV as I've been panicking too. As long as you are working in a designated region, receiving payslips from a legal employer with an ABN and can evidence this for at least 88 days (working 'full-time' hours) i don't believe you will have any issue at all. You've followed all the requirements. The changes come into play from anyone who is WWOOFING (volunteering work, receiving food/accommodation in payment rather than a full wage). You now need to be paid a minimum wage and be able to evidence you were paid through payslips or similar. I'm by no means an expert - just another backpacker who spent a lot of time on the phone! Give them a call if you're unsure and i'm sure they'll put your mind at ease on the 2WFH visa. Sounds like a great plan to ensure you've got that extra year there, just incase. When it comes to the 457 visa however, i am completely clueless... Good luck!

Hey. I'm hoping to apply for a 189 visa but have been doing research into 2WFH visa as my backup. This may be irrelevant, - but i thought i'd share just incase. The laws have recently changed - so make sure if you are wanting to do your 88 days that you receive a payslip too, as WWOOFING is no longer accepted and now evidence is required. :no:

Ahh, thankyou guys - I didn't realise there were different English options. I'll have a read up on it - see if i can determine which one looks 'easiest', although I guess it will be down to preference. Did not know that either. Thankyou, very helpful as my calculations were wrong, I can kiss goodbye to those possible extra 5points then! On another note - I've downloaded the ACS Skills assessment guidelines document, having a good read through it now but was just hoping someone could clarify something.... It states "If you are unable to obtain an employment reference on a company letterhead from your employer, a third party official Statutory Declaration or Affidavit written by a work colleague may be considered. A Statutory Declaration or Affidavit is a legally written statement" If I get my colleague/mentor to provide me with a reference on headed paper does it still need to be witnessed by a legal body? Thanks again

I'm currently shopping for an agent and hoping to get the ball rolling on a permanent visa asap. I ended up doing Blueberry picking in Coffs Harbour and potato grading in Victoria. Hardest work I've ever had to do in my life! :biglaugh: I travelled alone too, never got around to Perth though so good to see your pics. I'll read along quietly now like everyone else, just wanted to say Hi!

Hi Stacey, I'm new to the forum and am loving this thread! Are you currently on a WHV? I did mine back in 2012 and its that which has spurred me on to now emigrate... If so are you looking to do your 88days regional work? Are you travelling alone or with friends? I've just realised I sound like a stalker - just interested I promise! If your looking for work I have a few contacts in Victoria for regional work and up in surfers Paradise, happy to share in a PM if they might be useful!

Thanks itegoa, yes - my points calculations work out to be the same as yours above. I believe I'm currently on 65points (after gaining my EILTS)

Sure, I have a bachelors degree with honours in Computing. So will be ICT major with 2 years work experience and degree modules closely relating to 'nominated occupation'.

Thanks for the help! I have contacted the three users mentioned.

Thanks @itegoa, very helpful! Your experience trumps mine majorly. I am 25 and currently have only 2 years 3 months experience in my current role. I obtained my degree in 2012 and went backpacking around Aus for a year, upon returning i have been working at my current employer with the sole intention of gaining enough experience to go back! I understand that if i wait until next year i will get +5points as i will have 3 years experience - but i understand that my job is not as sought after on the SOL as it used to be and i'm worried that it will be removed by next year with all the current changes happening. I was advised applying for both visas wouldn't hurt as it was just a 'tick in another box' for when it went into the pool, and there wouldn't be an additional charge. Of course, i will now question this when the other agents i have contacted get back to me

Hi Guys, Currently still shopping about for an agent, hoping to get this process started as soon as possible. I work in the IT industry and would be looking to obtain a 189 or 489 visa as an Analyst Programmer. I believe i am currently sat on 65 points (without including the regional relatives +10pts). I was hoping to get some advice around getting an employment reference - the agents i have contacted so far have both stated different things :confused: One stating that a colleague and mentor would be sufficient, while the other stated it must be my manager. The issue is that I really didn't want to have to inform my boss about my future plans for a reference until it was 100% necessary. I know this can be a long process and with the current climate if i look like i'm planning on flying the nest already it makes sense that if cutbacks had to be made (which looks like it's in the pipeline), i'd be the first to go. Literally no one at work currently knows of my plans, but i believe there may be a colleague - who works as part of the same team but is a higher grade and paid more than myself, who could give me a reference stating that i meet the job description etc. He's not classed as a 'supervisor' or 'manager' on paper -but has definitely been a 'mentor' throughout my time at the company. In anyone elses opinion, would this be a suitable reference? Or will it need to be my direct line manager? Seems like it would be a big risk.. and i may have to bite the bullet - but i am keen to hear of anyone elses experiences. I'm sure i can't be the only person who has had this problem at the initial stages? Im currently awaiting a call back from 2 other migration agents to see what they say. Thanks in advance!

Hello! I'm a newbie here and hoping I can get some useful advice. Looking to make the big move over to Australia and would like any recommendations for visa agents. I have recently spoken to Michael Breen @ destination-oz who has been extremely helpful and thinks I have a good shot at getting a 189 independent visa. My only niggle is that the company is not MARA registered. As he is based in the Uk I wasn't sure whether this was important. I know it is a legal requirement if the company was based in Australia. Can anyone advise? His prices were very reasonable too, but of course I want to do the sensible thing and 'shop' around. I've found a lack of info available online.:mask: Has anyone else had any experience using destination-oz or any other UK based agent that they would reccommend? Please feel free send me a private message if more appropriate. I understand there are rules in place on the forum for public postings. I'm looking to hopefully get the ball rolling as soon as possible. Any help is greatly appreciated!!