Dazken Amac

Congrats to all you guys who have got their citizenship.. I was going through the website for requirements for eligibility and the documents required. Was just wondering is there any specific period ones passport has to be valid before applying for citizenship. If a passport is valid for 6 months of a PR holder will that be considered a point for rejecting his application.

On 15/05/2018 at 19:38, CaptainR said:

Has anyone utilised the special residence requirement when applying for citizenship? I was in one of the relevant occupations listed and should be eligible to apply for citizenship next month (however without the special residence variation I would have to wait until 2020...)  

 Was there any additional processes to go through at the citizenship interview etc? 

hey captain R .. long time just wanted to know how did the special residence requirement turn out for you.. I intend to apply on the same lines

On 20/04/2018 at 17:46, msgill said:

Good day all,

I recently made my initial entry after my grant with my family can I get back home to join on ship for 6-8 months. Does this effect on my visa or my family members visa as they are also going back with me.

Kindly advise as I am planning to join back on ship for my sea time.

Thank you.

Hi please see below link directly from the govt website. His time would be counted but his families time would not be counted.. He requires a seatime of 24 months. while he is away his family needs to stay in oz to be able to apply for their citizenship.. alternatively they can seek extension for their pr or come on a family visa once he has his citizenship.

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/citi/appl/what-documents-do-you-need/variation-to-the-residence-requirement

quote:

• Requirement: To meet the special resident requirement, you must have been living in Australia on a valid visa which allows permanent residency for two years immediately before you apply. During those two years you must have been lawfully present in Australia for at least 180 days, including at least 90 days of that time in the 12 months immediately before lodging your application.
• If you have been engaged in particular kinds of work and can provide evidence from an employer that shows you have worked in that occupation for at least a total of two out of the past four years and you were required to travel outside Australia for that work, the following special residence requirement may apply to you.
  Requirement: You must have held a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying, including one year as a permanent resident immediately before applying.
  
  You must also have been living in Australia for a total of 16 months (480 days) during the four years before you apply, with at least four months (120 days) of that time in the year immediately before your application.
  
  The following is list of relevant occupations for this special residence requirement:
  • a member of the crew of a ship or aircraft

6 hours ago, mariner777 said:

Hi Please refer to the residency requirements in DIBP Website , The time on board may not be counted ,but if you are employed in a company as a ships crew for more than 2 years , your time in australia needs to be be only 16 months as opposed to resident for the last 4 years prior making citizenship application .This is approximate please refer DIBP for exact details.

Cheers

Hi please see below link directly from the govt website. His time would be counted but his families time would not be counted.. He requires a seatime of 24 months.

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/citi/appl/what-documents-do-you-need/variation-to-the-residence-requirement

quote:

• Requirement: To meet the special resident requirement, you must have been living in Australia on a valid visa which allows permanent residency for two years immediately before you apply. During those two years you must have been lawfully present in Australia for at least 180 days, including at least 90 days of that time in the 12 months immediately before lodging your application.
• If you have been engaged in particular kinds of work and can provide evidence from an employer that shows you have worked in that occupation for at least a total of two out of the past four years and you were required to travel outside Australia for that work, the following special residence requirement may apply to you.
  Requirement: You must have held a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying, including one year as a permanent resident immediately before applying.
  
  You must also have been living in Australia for a total of 16 months (480 days) during the four years before you apply, with at least four months (120 days) of that time in the year immediately before your application.
  
  The following is list of relevant occupations for this special residence requirement:
  • a member of the crew of a ship or aircraft

I think may be @ Andrew from vista finance may be able to help

Best regards

Nick

Browse through the threads. .. you will find plenty. ..

Best regards

Nick

Because th visa is an e visa and if the country I am flying from doesn't have the information as the visa is not stamped on my passport. . They may cause issues. .

Best regards

Nick

Hi I have been on a 189 visa in australia since July. . I need to get out if the country for around 6 months and then come back. .. Will there be any problem at the immigration 6 months later when I try to re enter ...

As the stamping of visas in the passports has stopped I hope they would have everything on their system..

Best regards

Nick

Congrats

Best regards

Nick

As long as you do your repayments right I don't see any reason why the banks will bother you... In fact I will suggest the earlier you pay your loan the faster you get them off your backs...

Rent it out but open a separate account where the rent chq would be deposited and then transfer it to your mortgage account so there's less chance of anyone knowing that you have rented...

Moreover you are moving in April 2017... till then you will have only 1 month to go to meet the criteria of the buy to let option...

After that you are safe

Best regards

Nick

Personally I reckon you would be much better off putting money into income protection insurance rather than health insurance.

 

Health insurance gives you the ability to avoid queues for elective procedures and have a nicer room in which you stay in hospital, but for anything serious you will get just as good care in the public system in Australia. I've never really understood the 'peace of mind' approach because the public system will give you the care you need for free. All health insurance does is give you the option to have it in a nicer hospital for more money.

 

However, income protection will give you true peace of mind because let's say you get sick and can't work. Suddenly you will be reliant on whatever sick leave you've built up and then Centrelink for income, which will probably be a much lower income than you currently have. If you have good income protection insurance then you'll have guaranteed money coming through the door and that is true peace of mind. Imagine having chemotherapy in a nice private hospital but then having to sell your house because you can't work to afford the mortgage??

I like your approach. .. almost similar to mine... but I was thinking more on the lines of stocks.. or mutual fund investments...

Income protection sounds good will definitely give it a thought as it sounds a bit more of a practical approach

Best regards

Nick

The rebate and surcharge levels applicable from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 are:

[TABLE=width: 629]

[TR]

[TH]Singles

Families[/TH]

[TH]≤$90,000

≤$180,000[/TH]

[TH]$90,001-105,000

$180,001-210,000[/TH]

[TH]$105,001-140,000

$210,001-280,000[/TH]

[TH]≥$140,001

≥$280,001[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 5]Rebate[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Base Tier

[/TD]

[TD]Tier 1

[/TD]

[TD]Tier 2

[/TD]

[TD]Tier 3

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]< age 65[/TD]

[TD]26.791%[/TD]

[TD]17.861%[/TD]

[TD]8.930%[/TD]

[TD]0%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Age 65-69[/TD]

[TD]31.256%[/TD]

[TD]22.326%[/TD]

[TD]13.395%[/TD]

[TD]0%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Age 70+[/TD]

[TD]35.722%[/TD]

[TD]26.791%[/TD]

[TD]17.861%[/TD]

[TD]0%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 5]Medicare Levy Surcharge[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]All ages[/TD]

[TD]0.0%[/TD]

[TD]1.0%[/TD]

[TD]1.25%[/TD]

[TD]1.5%[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[h=4][/h]Single parents and couples (including de facto couples) are subject to family tiers. For families with children, the thresholds are increased by $1,500 for each child after the first.

The income thresholds are indexed and will remain the same to 30 June 2021.

[h=4][/h][h=4]Currently, you have to pay the surcharge if you are:[/h]

• a single person with an annual taxable income for MLS purposes greater than $88,000 in the 2013-14 financial year or $90,000 in the 2014-15 or 2015-16 financial years; or
  
• a family or couple with a combined taxable income for MLS purposes greater than $176,000 in the 2013-14 financial year or $180,000 in the 2014-15 or 2015-16 financial years. The family income threshold increases by $1,500 for each dependent child after the first;
  
• and do not have an approved hospital cover with a registered health fund.
  

You must also pay the surcharge if you are a prescribed person with a taxable income over the threshold, and have any dependents who are not prescribed persons and who are not covered by an approved health cover policy as described above.

This means if you are a family, have a combined income of more than $180,000 in 2015-16, and don't have hospital cover for you, your partner, and your children, you will pay the MLS.

[h=4]You must meet one of the following requirements to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge:[/h]

• your taxable income for MLS purposes is below the income threshold (see above),
  
• your taxable income for MLS purposes is over the income threshold and you have hospital insurance (see below) for you and all of your dependents with a registered health fund, with a total yearly front-end deductible or excess no greater than $500 for singles or $1,000 for families/couples,
  
• you are normally exempt from the Medicare levy because you are a prescribed person and you do not have any dependents. Your income level is not considered in this case,
  
• you are a high-income earner who had already purchased a hospital insurance product with a total yearly front-end deductible or excess greater than $500 for singles or $1,000 for families/couples, on or before 24 May 2000. In this case you will continue to be exempt from the surcharge as long as you maintain continuous membership under the same hospital treatment policy.
  

Dazken, another thing to consider when taking out PHI make sure you read the small print and what is covered. Many stories I have read recently about people finding out a claim or health issue they have is not covered.

 

Also review the extras part of the policy, and work out if it makes a positive addition and how much the gap fee would be(ie what you are out of pocket). If you can see a fair bit of dental work over the coming years, have glasses, visit the Chiro/massage/osteo a lot then may be it work's out to add it. Then again it could be worth a trip to Thailand for the major dental work, as dentists very expensive in this country.

 

Regarding starting the family, not long after I moved here. The Chiropractor I was using at the time, she had not long had a baby. Cost using Medicare $0, cost using her PHI upto $8k. She was more than happy about the service and everything else required using Medicare.

 

I see you are based in Melbourne, do you or have you considered Ambulance cover, as not covered by Medicare. And I only recently noted on my PHI only 1 callout per year is covered. Was a little shocked as this is the top cover, provided by my employer. So in your case of a heart attack and no PHI and NO Ambulance cover, you would be hit with a big bill for the Ambulance to take you to the hospital.

That was excellent advise ... I will definitely look out for those points. .. I already have my ambulance cover with ambulance Victoria. .

Best regards

Nick

Of course you can pay for a procedure privately if you want to in Australia.

 

It's insurance. It's about the unknown. You could opt not to buy house content insurance and decide to cover any damage or losses from your own savings if something happens. Who knows, maybe you will be better off that way in the long run. I have certainly paid out more in house insurance over the last twenty years than I have ever got back. The insurance is there to limit risk and provide peace of mind, because it could have gone the other way. Same with health insurance.

Spot on @Bungo absolutely my point. .. Thanks for confirming and giving a ray of hope that my thoughts could be positive. ..[emoji3] [emoji2]

Best regards

Nick

Seek is your guide

Best regards

Nick

Thanks Cliffy,

I understand the concern behind "You cannot choose where or when you are seen or admitted and sometimes may wait years." but what I was thinking is emergency situation wont be a quarterly affair..

Lets consider an example of a person hit with a heart attack, to save that patient immediate surgical procedures will be performed at a govt hospital under emergency.. After the patient is saved he would be advised that we need to carry out some further procedures for which you will have to wait inline for 3 years say..

Ofcourse no one wants to live with an ailment.. So in the above case I go overseas and get myself treated i would be better off.. Follow ups for sure can be done here via medicare..

OR

(if its landing upto the same expense including flights & accommodation)

Can I pay for the surgery and get it done at a private hospital, with a doctor of my choice??? here??

Still you would land up saving instead of paying premium for 20 years...

I am not sure you have a complete understanding of how medicare works.

Briefly

Private health insurance is a supplement which gives you a choice of being treated at a time, place and by whom you choose, if you need hospitalization or surgery.

Medicare covers visits ti doctors, some specialists, some medications and procedures at public hospitals. You cannot choose where or when you are seen or admitted and sometimes may wait years.

For that reason you cannot compare them financially. It is not comparing like with like.

Hi everyone..

I know this topic may have come up quite a few times.. I also understand that Health is wealth.. Lets keep the health factor aside for some time and strictly look at the monetary side of things .. Being a strict non believer in insurance I have been pondering on something since quite sometime.. The pros and cons of private health insurance..

I am 36 and I have recently migrated to oz on a 189.. As of now for the 1st year my medical expenses are partly taken care by medicare..

AA) From next year onwards they say if I don't have private health insurance I would have to pay a 2%loading for every year I am above 30 years.. I believe this means if I don't take private health insurance within the next year and i take it at the age of 50 i would be paying a additional (2x20=)40% extra on the normal premium price.. I hope and would like to confirm my understanding is correct.. My concept is don't take health insurance at all for life time. Understanding the fact that doctor visits frequent as we grow older I still say treat the ailment as it comes, I understand medical costs in Australia are escalating by the day.. Incase of any severe ailment or an operation like hernia or heart surgery it would still be cheaper to fly to Asia, (Singapore Malaysia India) and get treated in a good hospital for that particular time..

BB) Considering a couple who is thinking of starting a family lets say Mr. and Mrs X don't have PHV (private health insurance).. They decide to go to a private hospital and pay by themselves for the tests and delivery by a private doctor..is that possible.. Medicare rebate gives back about 30 % of the costs for specialists. I understand that for a period of upto 5 years the pediatrician visits would be frequent. All these will add to the cost..

On the lowest side Considering paying an Annual average net premium of 4000 Aud (after the government rebate) over a period of 20 years {its definitely going to be more than that as the age and inflation increase the cost will escalate} we pay a total of 80,000 Aud .. Considering a major ailment once every 4 years costing 10,000 Aud over the same period of 20 years , we still spend 5X10,000 = 50,0000 Aud.. You still land up paying 30,000 Aud extra (incase of any other contingency else you still have those 30K to spend on your self in those 20 years).. moreover this calculation is without interest.. incase you invest the same amount of money in a term deposit every year it may be yield you some more money!!!

So now the Question still remains is it beneficial to take health insurance I understand it has an effect on the tax you pay and you get some rebate but is it worth ?? Would love to hear your comments... But please stick to the monetary aspect only..

Just a thought. ... there's never a right decision. .. One needs to take a decision and make it right ..

As regards to family with technology and Skype family is never far away. . They always live in your hearts

Best regards

Nick

We did our reccie in May so set the end of the year for our departure.We plan on settling in the Berwick area South East of Melbourne.

I hope you have secured a job. .. Before you land Dec and jan may be very slow months for jobs in melbourne. ..

Welcome to Australia

Best regards

Nick

Log onto Skyscanner and just check the fares for the dates you need. . Then check the cancellation or date change policy for that particular airline. .

Best regards

Nick

Apologies in advance, I appreciate this is quite boring...

 

I am 28 years old, moving to Australia (location TBC) to marry my fiancé in May on a Prospective Marriage Visa (granted.)

 

I got a bit of a slow start in life due to being raised in an abusive / neglectful environment and consequently suffering from severe anxiety and depression since early childhood. I attempted suicide aged 21 and since then have tried to make a better future for myself. I still have rather low self-esteem, which I am gradually building up. Learning how to think positively when you've been taught to pick yourself apart over everything is pretty tough. I therefore underestimated myself when I left university and have been doing a job that I see as incompatible with my personality and skills in the long term.

 

Sob story aside - when I get to Australia, I'd like to use it as an opportunity to start again and build a career I can be truly proud of. I'll be away from the toxic influences in my family, always making me doubt myself. My fiancé is hugely supportive and tells me I am capable of whatever I set my mind to.

 

To summarise my qualifications / experience:

 

 

 

• I have a bachelor's degree in French & Italian from a top 30 UK university. I did a lot of extra-curriculars and held a couple of elected Students' Union posts. I was a member of the model UN society which involved diplomatic visits and conferences at Cambridge and Harvard universities.

• I have 2+ years' experience in recruitment, mostly in the legal sector - I am also about to take on research- and marketing-based responsibilities, which are less "typical" of recruitment and more about improving the profile of the company's successful international arm. This involves working with Australian and NZ-qualified lawyers.

• At university I did an internship in Italy translating contracts from Italian into English for international clients, teaching English to the employees etc. as part of an initiative to help them expand into the Asia-Pacific market.

• During my gap year, I taught English at a university in China (this was a voluntary position.)

• I have prior experience going back to when I was 14, but the rest isn't particularly career-oriented and probably not noteworthy.

 

 

I don't want to end up "pigeonholed" into recruitment for the rest of my working life. I already get bored in my current job really easily, which is why they've given me more to do. But I can't do this forever.

 

I am just wondering if you guys had any suggestions for potential career paths, considering my qualifications, experience etc.? Do you have any general advice? At this point I'm just brainstorming and open to ideas / feedback from people who've lived through similar circumstances.

 

NB: I am willing to eventually do a postgraduate qualification if it will help, but would prefer to start this once I am a permanent resident (as it's less expensive than being an international student, and gives me time to save some money after the wedding and buying our first home.)

 

Please let me know if you need more info, I just didn't want to ramble more about myself than I already have.

 

Thank you for your time

My suggestion would be before coming to oz try to get recruitment in oz in your own field of recruitment. .. simply because you have some experience and you may secure a job in oz while you are still in the UK. ..

Many have done this. . Moreover you already know which city you're going to so just need to look in that city

Best regards

Nick

Apologies in advance, I appreciate this is quite boring...

 

I am 28 years old, moving to Australia (location TBC) to marry my fiancé in May on a Prospective Marriage Visa (granted.)

 

I got a bit of a slow start in life due to being raised in an abusive / neglectful environment and consequently suffering from severe anxiety and depression since early childhood. I attempted suicide aged 21 and since then have tried to make a better future for myself. I still have rather low self-esteem, which I am gradually building up. Learning how to think positively when you've been taught to pick yourself apart over everything is pretty tough. I therefore underestimated myself when I left university and have been doing a job that I see as incompatible with my personality and skills in the long term.

 

Sob story aside - when I get to Australia, I'd like to use it as an opportunity to start again and build a career I can be truly proud of. I'll be away from the toxic influences in my family, always making me doubt myself. My fiancé is hugely supportive and tells me I am capable of whatever I set my mind to.

 

To summarise my qualifications / experience:

 

 

 

• I have a bachelor's degree in French & Italian from a top 30 UK university. I did a lot of extra-curriculars and held a couple of elected Students' Union posts. I was a member of the model UN society which involved diplomatic visits and conferences at Cambridge and Harvard universities.

• I have 2+ years' experience in recruitment, mostly in the legal sector - I am also about to take on research- and marketing-based responsibilities, which are less "typical" of recruitment and more about improving the profile of the company's successful international arm. This involves working with Australian and NZ-qualified lawyers.

• At university I did an internship in Italy translating contracts from Italian into English for international clients, teaching English to the employees etc. as part of an initiative to help them expand into the Asia-Pacific market.

• During my gap year, I taught English at a university in China (this was a voluntary position.)

• I have prior experience going back to when I was 14, but the rest isn't particularly career-oriented and probably not noteworthy.

 

 

I don't want to end up "pigeonholed" into recruitment for the rest of my working life. I already get bored in my current job really easily, which is why they've given me more to do. But I can't do this forever.

 

I am just wondering if you guys had any suggestions for potential career paths, considering my qualifications, experience etc.? Do you have any general advice? At this point I'm just brainstorming and open to ideas / feedback from people who've lived through similar circumstances.

 

NB: I am willing to eventually do a postgraduate qualification if it will help, but would prefer to start this once I am a permanent resident (as it's less expensive than being an international student, and gives me time to save some money after the wedding and buying our first home.)

 

Please let me know if you need more info, I just didn't want to ramble more about myself than I already have.

 

Thank you for your time

With so much potential and enthusiasm why don't you start your own business. ..

There's no feeling like becoming an entrepreneur. ...

You have full control of every aspect. . Just the way you would like it to be....

With a lovely woman to support your I am sure you will reach the stars. .. let alone the sky. ..

Wish you all the best in all your endeavours

Best regards

Nick

Welcome to down under

Best regards

Nick

Hi Nick, I moved my cash from Westpac to World First's Citibank account and then it's going into my UK HSBC account. No interbank charges to my knowledge, although I could be wrong.

Thanks pixie. .

Best regards

Nick

Whilst I am not sure of World First, the likes of HIFX and Currency Fair (whom I used yesterday) tell you exactly the amount you will get deposited and also advise of exchange rate and fees (2.50 pound flat fee in my case with currency fair) WYSIWYG! simple as, no worrying on intermediary banks and their fees in any way shape or form.

Thanks a lot things are getting more clear. .. I wish I knew this 3 weeks back when I used hsbc for transferring and lost 350 aud on exchange rate

Best regards

Nick