lbooth

what thread is this discussion on? seems right up my alley ?

Thanks Pom Queen I didnt think to look for an annual plan. She doesn't have one over here because they want to charge me an extortionate price (apparently her getting attacked by another dog one time pushes my premiums up!). I'll investigate and see if I can convince them to cover us.

Hi We've also booked to take our Border Collie over with us with Pet Air and I agree the service so far has been worth the cash. just wondering if you're planning to get travel/emigration insurance for yours? I had a bit of a google but could only find one company that offered it and even then it only covered for 36 hours after they arrive i.e. if anything happens during quarantine then we're stuffed. It was only £50 so I might still get it anyway but just wondered if there were better options cheers lisa

Hi All Just thought I'd update - we got our grant on Tuesday ?. Good luck to everyone still waiting. (And yes I updated - first thing I did after poking my partner awake to tell him ?) Xx

Hey All Anyone else heard anything recently?? Been following the tracker religiously since the backlog clearing started getting closer and closer to our submission date (5/11). But now they're approving people who submitted after us AND responded to their CO after us...I just don't get it??! ?? Had been fine with the waiting game up to now because it at least made sense but starting to lose hope. Xx

Hi Nirav I'd be waiting for CO contact personally - it could be more than 3 months at this stage so there's no point paying for multiple certificates.

Amazing news! Fingers crossed it all goes well for you (and keep us updated) Can I ask what the company you'll be managing does? Did they headhunt you or did you find a role to apply for? Having a job before you go must make it so much easier

@DeSab We lodged directly. The case status is "submitted" when you first enter the information. "In progress" once a CO has picked it up. "Awaiting information" if they contact you to ask for something and then back to "in progress" once you submit the extra info.

Hi Cristina Sorry for delayed reply. No the CO didnt tell us (and the paperwork they sent through even said it should only be for 12 months or more) but I asked on one of the forums if I should challenge it/if anyone else had experienced the same and got a reply from someone who was phoned by the CO to request it and they said its a new requirement. I'm not sure its fair if their docs dont say that but since it was relatively quick/easy/cheap to get I figured it was just easier to go with it! No we didn't submit any points for Aus study or work so not sure why they thought he'd been there unless they checked his passport because we had a tourist visa. That is a really unfair system... :'(

We submitted 5th Nov and then added medicals and police checks in early Jan. Got contacted by the CO Jan 26th with a request for an Australian Police Cert for my partner (even though he's only ever spent 3 weeks there - apparently its an updated requirement) plus form 80s. Returned the requested info on 7th Feb and have been chewing our fingernails since! Anyone know what the priority is for them looking at current applications vs picking up new ones?

I agree! We are so excited to get over there - I've lived there for a few months on a WHV but my partner only visited for 4 days and even that was enough for him to know it was where we should be I'm a big fan of all the foodie places on instagram gonna get so fat when we get there! xx

Congratulations!! So whats next on the planning list?? We're still waiting for CO contact but hoping to head to Perth in November so would be great to hear how it goes for you xx

Hey Not had our grant yet but planning to ship our 7yr old border collie over when we do. Had a couple of quotes and think we're going with Airpets. ?

Thank you! That seems like an odd way to do it but at least I've not done it wrong. I'm guessing you cant change anything once you hit submit?

Hi all Majorly confused - have logged into my immi account and input all 17 pages of information for our visa application and now at the final page with a "submit" button but at no point have I been able to upload any supporting documents...have I missed something here?? Is there a user guide somewhere?? Thanks L

Hi Andrew My partner and I are looking to emigrate next year, we will both be 30 at the time and have approx. 20K each in employer pension funds. I know we cannot transfer to Aus and that we wont be eligible for UK state pension (unless we continue to pay in) but what I'm not sure about is whether we are better off leaving the funds with our respective employer schemes or if there are any benefits to moving them to a private account i.e. any UK pension companies that you know of that work better with people living abroad? Possibly an odd question but thought I'd ask. Cheers Lisa

I have the IELTS general set 1 available if anyone wants them...my partner did scribble notes/answers on the listening test pages unfortunately but the majority of it is ok (can just tipex them out i would've thought) It comes with links to download the listening files.

Hi All Wondering if anyone can help clarify - had a look at the EOI system today and just a bit confused about the "Qualifications" part - essentially my partner has a UK Masters degree in Engineering but our skills assessment from EA says this is the equivalent of an Australian Bachelors degree (weird but fine). So when it asks what level of qualification he has do I say its a Masters level (which matches his degree certificate) or a Bachelors level (as thats what EA say its worth)?? Be grateful to know if anyone else has had a similar situation and what you put. Many Thanks Lisa

Hey Does anyone know if the occupation ceilings still apply? Or has that rule been chucked with the recent changes? I keep checking the border.gov website to see if they have released them for 2017-18 but nothing has been updated yet. cheers x

Hey All So we're working on coming over next year on PR (my partner is a chemical engineer,loves his job and wants to keep working in the industry, we've done the research and the jobs do exist) but I'd quite like a change of job...I'm a project manager at present and have a mathematics/finance background but I'm really bored of the 9-5 trudge so thought I'd see if anyone on here had any weird and wonderful jobs (maybe those that wouldn't be an option in the UK??) to give me some ideas? Or if there are any job sites out there that cater for the more unique roles? Just looking for inspiration and maybe something I wouldn't have considered before. Figured it was worth a punt Cheers L

Thanks for sharing this!

Thanks Richard

Just looking for anyone who has been through the 189 process to confirm which docs need to be certified? The gov website states the skills assessment does (but not who can certify??) but doesn't mention the other docs. trying to get them all done at once to be effiecient Thanks for all help!

Where did you find this? Were there any other changes identified?? Cheers

Australian Industry Group Submission to the 2017-18 Federal Budget 52 8. Annual Skilled Migration Program The whole Australian community benefits significantly from a well-planned program of permanent migration which includes skilled, humanitarian and family entry streams. In 2016 the Productivity Commission (PC) formally reviewed Australia’s migration program (April 2016). It found that both the level and the composition of migration matter. The greatest benefits to the community come from younger, highly skilled migrants. In the long-term, the PC found that the current immigration program delivers a ‘demographic dividend’ which will raise output and incomes for everyone: “Continuing [Net Overseas Migration] NOM at the long term historical average rate [of 0.6% of the population] and assuming the same young age profile asthe current intake is projected to increase GDP per person by around 7 per cent (equivalent to around $7000 per person in 2013 14 dollars) in 2060 relative to a zero NOM scenario. Increasing or decreasing the level of NOM from this rate is projected to have a corresponding impact on GDP per person, all other factors equal. The results reinforce the importance of age and skills in the migrant intake. Increasing the average age structure of NOM to reflect that of the Australian population is projected to reduce real GDP per person, while increasing the share of migrants entering in higher skilled occupations is projected to lead to an expansion in real GDP per person.” (PC, p. 15). Ai Group strongly supports the Productivity Commission finding that Australia’s permanent migration program should strengthen its focus on skilled migration. Skilled migrants generate the greatest benefits to the Australian community, since they contribute directly to our national employment and skills base. Many also bring specialist knowledge that provide even bigger benefits, by deepening our entrepreneurship, innovation and international linkages. Those that enter via the ‘demand-driven’ streams such as employer sponsored migration experience a better skills match and faster entry to the labour market - therefore utilising more of their skills more quickly on arrival in Australia – than those who arrive independently and seek work after arrival. Department of Employment projections (updated in February 2016) indicate that over the next few years to 2020, close to one million new jobs (989,700 jobs or 8.3% growth) are likely to be added to the Australian economy, with about half of this future jobs growth coming from three of the largest services industries: professional services, education and healthcare. This implies both workforce growth and further industrial restructuring. It illustrates the scale of the challenges and opportunities before us and suggests a commensurately larger policy response is required. As noted by the PC, in the absence of a national population policy, the annual migration program is an important policy lever for the Government in meeting these ongoing labour force needs, especially as the population ages. This presents a compelling argument for lifting the annual migration intake to 210,000 in 2017-18 from the current cap of 190,000. Indeed, in the Federal Budget for 2016-17 (May 2016), Australia’s total Migration Program Planning levels were kept unchanged for a fifth consecutive year, at 190,000 places. Within this total, skilled migration has remained capped at around 128,000 visas per year. Consequently, permanent skilled migration has not kept pace with growth in the Australian population or in the Australian workforce. Australian Industry Group Submission to the 2017-18 Federal Budget 53 Recommendations  The annual permanent migration planning level should be lifted to 210,000 per year in 2017- 18 and beyond, from the current maximum cap of 190,000; and  Stronger priority should be given to the skilled migration stream within the permanent migration program and especially to the demand-driven components of skilled migration. https://www.treasury.gov.au/~/media/Treasury/Consultations and Reviews/Consultations/2016/2017 PreBudget submissions/Submissions/PDF/Australian Industry Group.ashx