DrDougster

Probably a silly question - I have been sent an s56 request for more info which simply asks for the health assessments - does this mean all the other documents I uploaded are ok? Regarding the health assessment - I actually have a hep B&C result from a couple of months ago. I'd personally accept these but I am guessing the safest thing to do is just get them done again with BUPA?

Sound advice - note to self!

I'd be less reluctant about giving things a try with a reluctant other half. We were pretty unsure and travelled fairly light when we came out and now the thought of moving back to UK is as far from our minds as it is in reality. Hoick that nipper out of school and get her over here in a swim team! We liked Darwin too and wouldn't write off returning in, as you say, crumblier times.

We went back for a wedding so might need an up to date one. Might submit it with the old ones as we have still to be asked for the medicals too.

Will the ACRO police report from when we moved here on a 457 two years ago be ok for our 190 application? We have got updated ones but these appear to have been waiting for their plane ticket for two weeks now. Anyone else had any recent experience with a timeline for tracked letters from UK?

I'd go for the 189 but do bear in mind that you'll be at the mercy of your employer to a certain extent for the first year while you get your college fellowship over in Australia. This would allow you to move after a year if there is an issue with work or where you initially live. There is a quite a bit of outlay but the increased salary in Australia gets on top of it very quickly and much of the expense is tax deductible in Aus where it wouldn't be in UK. You'll maybe get sponsorship for a 186 from a hospital more in need, maybe Darwin (where you'll also get some very interesting work!) but less likely in a big service in a larger city. You won't regret moving to Australia if you're used to working as a consultant in the NHS...

Proving I've had the jobs I've had isn't easy either...

Yeah - I've done the passport I have. Egypt usefully write the date in Egyptian! I look like an arms dealer now...

Applying for 190 - list all the countries applicants have visited in the last ten years. Seriously? Does anyone actually list all their holidays?

Very interesting. And, great information. I'm missing my 1997 S1 Lotus Elise. Is the age based on the first registration date or the year of manufacture? That is to say, can it arrive here in Jan 2022 or mid year? Roughly what would the cost be? Soton-Brisbane?

Here's Ranjana doing a nursing training course...

Ahhh. This is interesting - had missed it. Priority occupations: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/pmsol

Yes Aside from needing to be on the list, I don't think these assertions are actually true in the current setting. The BSMQ website has some info that might be of use in your new role.

Just got our invitation to apply for the visa. Happy days.

Having uploaded an EOI during the recent "blink and you'll miss it" window I was wondering a couple of things: How long after submitting the invited application to BSMQ does it generally take to hear if you are going through to applying for the visa? What kind of percentage get through to the visa application? From reading around it appears that what happens when you apply for the 190 at the moment is anybody's guess and probably unique to people's circumstances. However, I wondered if a state can tag certain applications in fields they need asap as urgent or is it totally out of their hands once you submit the 190 visa application? I'm in the refreshing email inbox every minute phase and already been asked to rue-load one form and correct a discrepancy on another!

I was meaning the focus on COVID and economic recovery skillsets.

I wonder if this is in effect a "skills grab" for mainly onshore applicants deemed essential workers during COVID and businesses which would directly contribute to management or the recovery. This being the case it will be interesting to see how fast they move on this. Are other states doing similar?

Cheers Paul. I assume since we have lived in Aus since 2018 the ACRO for our move/457 at that time plus an up to date National Police Check here (Aus) will be what is needed rather than a new ACRO from UK.

Thanks for this Paul. We're from UK. May well be in touch for your services if we get to the next stage of applying on ImmiAccount. I think I'll have a stroke if I have to deal with that website again! Doug

Yup, this is a rush! I have been invited to apply through BSMQ and trying to get ducks in a row very swiftly. I suspect they actually read my accompanying email supporting my application and didn't put initial weight on the points tally. Can I ask, if I am successful in being nominated to apply for the 190 visa does my points tally still matter or are we over that hurdle at that point? Also, do we need a fingerprint check police clearance for a 190 or simply the name-based one? Nobody, including the police officer who did them, seems to remember having their fingerprints done!

So I've read on here a lot of times that it's a big mistake is to think that you're a special case with visa applications. Is this still the case with healthcare workers, nursing staff, doctors at the moment? I can't help thinking this might be a good time to apply for PR.

You need it to get the visa and until you have medicare cover. It is then ambiguous depending on your country of citizenship but my understanding is that from a UK point of view living in Aus with medicare is largely comparable to having NHS cover in the UK. If you need treatment then you'll get it: if you want treatment then you probably won't. Private hospital cover means you aren't subject to MSL on your tax return. It seems to be a bit of a racket to be honest and you need to click through lots of government sites before you get to the still slightly ambiguous truth. I am perhaps slightly lucky to work at a hospital just around the corner so have some confidence to do it this way. If anyone has some concrete evidence that a UK citizen with reciprocal medicare cover needs extra health insurance then I'm all ears!

So I reckon I owe you a beer or two! The person I spoke to on the 'phone at BUPA was clueless. They told me we need overseas visitor health cover with a 457 despite me saying that we are from the UK and have a medicare card with reciprocal cover. Combined with their "offer" on private hospital cover the bargain was $420/month... No OVHC and cover from HBF to avoid the MSL = $62.80... Easily enough saving to pay a tax accountant!

The answer to this is always "yes they work fine". However, for some reason a techy person may be able to explain, my Mac certainly doesn't charge properly here.

Transferwise is excellent.