ABG

Not sure if it includes all the info needed for ACS, but I put a copy of the statutory declaration I used on my blog (wrote a blog detailing my journey to a 190 visa). Message me if you want the url

Based on what you've written, it could be tough. I calculate you could get a maximum of 55 points (15 for age, 20 for English, 0 for experience, 15 for degree, 5 for state sponsorship). You may need to try get the extra 5 point through your partner, or look at alternate strategies. If I recall correctly, most states however expect you to have a minimum amount of work experience before they sponsor you - Vic for example for Social worker is two years experience. I think the best option is to speak with an agent who can map out a strategy for you that is achievable.

Good topic - I'm taking notes! We're moving Sept this year so are starting our prep work now too

My visa was sponsored by Vic. I thought the CV was going to be the most influential bit of evidence they reviewed, and the only thing which I could use to differentiate myself. I consequently wrote it in such a way as to highlight my achievements in my occupation and how that could relate to benefit to Vic. My occupation is R&D Manager, so I focused on research that was successful and led to new products entering the market, R&D funded through national bodies, R&D that led to company growth and new hires etc. I also pointed to published R&D as that provided independent verification through the peer review process. The rest of the evidence they wanted was just the skills assessment, English test and commitment to the state so couldn’t really leverage those to separate myself.

What Richard said above. My statement of service detailed what work I did in my employment and helped demonstrate that my experience matched the ANZSCO occupation.

Short term list are 190 visas or temporary visas. If it’s a 190 visa, you then need to find which States are sponsoring. In my case, only SA and Vic were sponsoring, but I think the occupation has now been taken off the Vic list. Check this list, if the occupation includes 190, then try find which states are sponsoring. I used the second website to do that: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work/work/skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/combined-stsol-mltssl https://www.anzscosearch.com/search/

It looks like Life Scientist and University Lecturer (and most biological science occupations) are no longer on the list for permanent residence visas and only available short term/regional or if you have a job offer. I got my visa as an R&D Manager through the 190 visa. It’s still on the 190 list, but not sure which states are sponsoring. Medical Researcher also seems to be available for 190 visas

When compared to income in the city rather than national average, Oxford is actually the UKs most unaffordable city with a house price: income ratio of 10.7. I’m looking forward to moving to Melbourne for “more affordable” housing [emoji23]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along but my understanding is that your permanent residency doesn't expire if you've been living outside of Australia (assuming it was correctly activated and you still meet the character requirements), only the travel facility on it only has a 5-year limit. After the 5 years, you will need to get a Residents Return Visa (RRV) to allow you to continue to travel outside of Australia and re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. So if you go back next month, you would need to apply for a RRV so you can go work in the US in June and come back again afterwards

I always look for the Melbourne episodes as that's where we're heading and hope that the show gives some extra recce information. But I think much of it has to be taken as entertainment rather than something you can gain useful information from

Our application (submitted Sept 2016) was also colour scans with no need for certification of anything. My brother however who applied a year or so before me had to have everything certified so maybe you were just unlucky with timing.

I think you may just have to bite the bullet and pay for the notary. Better to spend a few hundred and get it right than have your visa refused, lose your application fee and be barred from reapplying for a long time. I obviously don’t know what you need certifying, but if you’ve got originals then there’s no need to contact the previous employer

Have you had your skills assessed yet? I ask as the points for those categories are based on the outcome of the skills assessment. It’s worth doing the English test to get points for that - typically State Sponsorship has minimum English requirements (at least my application for Vic sponsorship did).

I have no experience with demonstrating experience when self employed, but as your company has been going several years could you not use your company tax and annual returns (which would show what services you provide) and customer testimonials to demonstrate that you’ve been in skilled employment? I was never asked by DIBP how much I earned. They rather wanted me to demonstrate I had the skills to do the work under the ANZSCO code I was applying. You mentioned you retained intellectual property rights to your code; could you not show where you licenses your code as further evidence - I would have thought there would be licensing agreements?

As with the above, I think it only counts when completed. You may have to back it up and for that you’ll need a certificate and academic transcript showing successful completion

I think the family sponsored option is the 489 visa. It’s a provisional visa but can lead to a PR visa if you live and work in a regional area for 2 years. The 189 or 190 visa doesn’t give points for family in Australia

I’d get the year extension. On 60/65 points you might need to get State sponsorship for extra 5 points under the sub-category 190 visa. This also takes time. It took me 8 months to get to the point I was ready to apply for the visa (1 month prep for skills assessment, 3 months for the assessment, 3 months for State sponsorship, 1 month finalising visa application). I did my IELTS test in the 1st month prep stage, but it wasn’t a requirement for skills assessment. For missing payslips etc, you can use tax records and bank statements. The skills assessment agency I went through also allowed the use of statutory declarations in lieu of reference letters

Has anyone recently moved to Oz and brought their guitars with them and were there any problems? Just found out that in Jan 2017 there was a new CITES international treaty banning the trade in certain woods, rosewood is one of them. Rosewood is however a very popular wood in guitars, with most having a rosewood fretboard. The legislation seems to be mainly around trading in them, but reading online there may also be problems bring them in without CITES certificates to show they were obtained through correct channels. I’m fine with one of my guitars as I bought it new and can get a certificate from the retailer, the other guitar was bought used from e-bay and may be more difficult. I’m interested to hear if anyone has any recent experience with this.

Not quite sure I understood your question. That said, I’m not sure why if you are “very fond of the person”, you’d pick email over face-to-face to tell them you are emigrating. Seems pretty impersonal. I can’t really understand how you emigrating could be taken the wrong way.

The visa you get with a successful 190 application is the same as the visa through 189, the process is just different. The good thing is your skills are liked by the previous sponsoring state so hopefully they will sponsor again

Your agent may have applied directly to Victoria. In the EOI, you can specify states for sponsorship, but with Victoria, you apply directly to them, before or after completing the EOI. They have a list of documents they need to see (below), one of which is a detailed CV. I applied for sponsorship before submitting my EOI. Family sponsored visa typically mean you have to live pretty far from the metro areas so work etc will be harder to get. The family member also has to live in the designated area. As you qualify for PR visa, that should be your first objective. Here’s the list of what Victoria want to see (sent directly to them): Detailed resume or curriculum vitae (CV) Nomination declaration (available to download in the initial stages of the application) Offer of employment and confirmation of employment statement (if applicable) – note, this is mandatory for Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) nomination Skills assessment (matching the occupation for visa nomination) English language test or copy of the bio page of your passport if an exclusion applies to you Electronic copy of the PhD completion letter or transcript (if applicable) Electronic copy of your Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) documents (if applicable) Evidence of registration (if listed as a requirement on the Visa Nomination Occupation Lists). You will not need the following documents at the start of the application process, but you may be requested to provide them during the assessment process: trade qualification certificates available financial resources.

Not sure how to help with regards to the agent, but what might be worth a try is focusing on 1 particular state for the 190. With the loss of points for age, you’re going to need State sponsorship. With Victoria you send a separate application directly to the State, which gives you the opportunity to really sell yourself in the CV. You need to convince them that’s it’s worth sponsoring you over a younger applicant who may have more points due to being younger but doesn’t offer as much value. Show them how you will bring value to the State and back it up with examples of how you’ve done that previously. Victoria are rumoured to be pretty ruthless if you’ve applied to other states though - hedging your bets is seen as lack of commitment to their State and they either ask you to withdraw other applications or reject you outright. That you have family in Melbourne is useful in establishing commitment to the State if they sponsor you. The good thing if you secure sponsorship, is that as long as you have the minimum points required you automatically get invited to apply, you don’t have to wait in queue behind higher point scorers.

RA, psoriatic arthritis, eczema are all autoimmune so an environmental trigger could definitely impact. I’d say though it’s more likely an airborne allergen than temperature related. There has been some interesting research recently that’s shown changes in air pressure, usually drops in pressure, increase joint pain. Pressure drops normally preceded the bad weather coming, which gives support to dodgy joints acting as a barometer for weather changes - my wrist, which I shattered years ago mountain biking, definitely gives me pre-warnings!

Might be worth getting some character witnesses lined up who can vouch for you and demonstrate that you’re not the same person anymore. I’m sure I’ve read similar posts that have had positive outcomes. Good luck [emoji1303]

I would think the fastest route is submit skills assessment and then while waiting for that to be assessed, take the English test. My advice would be to do lots of practice tests as it’s harder than most people think, and it helps to be familiar with the format and the common errors