lewisant48

Visa granted Dec 2019 has been extended to 2026 wooooooo

On 29/01/2021 at 14:55, lynney45 said:

Hi @lewisant48 i had posted a thread here with similar concerns a while back, in the same boat as you. 

 

I've replied to that topic now!

Still feels like we've all been forgotten! What a monumental waste of so many people's money, time and efforts. 

On 27/01/2021 at 05:45, Marisawright said:

As you know, the 489 is provisional and you have to apply to transition to a PR visa at the end.  Auto-complete changed transition to transfer.

However I was reading somewhere else that states aren't offering the 190 much these days and are offering 190 applicants a 491 instead, so you could end up going round in a circle.  Your best bet, though I know it's a cost, is to book a consultation with a good migration agent (try Suncoast Migration or Go Matilda).  They're up to date with what's going on and can advise whether it's going to be worth it. 

If you're in a priority occupation, I'd be getting onto it pronto while they're still eager to bring health staff into the country.

Thanks for your advice! I'll give Go Matilda a shout as I've heard good things elsewhere too.

23 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Considering the alternative is to wait until you're eligible to transfer at the end of the 489, I'd say "go for it now".    Visas just get harder and harder with every year that passes, so why would you take the risk that your occupation comes off the list or something else changes to make you ineligible?  However I'd be going for a 190 as it's a lot easier to get, if you don't mind sticking to one state.  There's no point applying for a 189 unless you can score 90+ points.

You're 100% right, of course a 190 would be better! Hey I may be being a bit dumb (my heads fried, Registered Manager in Care and tough day with Covid related document stresses!) what do you mean by "transfer at the end of the 489?"

Hey guys. Is there any update on where we stand with our 489s? 

Considering going down the 189 route now since in the time i've been waiting for an answer on the 489 (the visa i actually have!) i've gained enough experience with a qualification for my job to go for a 189...

Does anybody know where we stand with 489s and being offshore?!

Mine was granted December 2019 and obviously the travel ban then kicked in. Worried this 489 will be worthless soon.

Here you go guys There may be light!

Just found this on the VAC. Doesn't apply to 489 and i guess that makes sense as my visa still has just over 3 years to run so refunding it would be mad!

Yup, 489 granted December 2019. Didn't really know when i planned on coming out but was still here in the UK when Covid-19 hit and obviously still here now with the visa ticking down. Wanted freedom to travel about a bit before settling for 2 years with 1 year's full time but now it looks like if i do use this visa it will be the back end of it with very little room to travel etc and as somebody else said, being on a bridging visa after the 489 runs out probably.  

I was also the secondary applicant and we have separated so the situation in all just sucks for me.

The bright side is i've gained a good qualification and job from the 189 list a couple of years ago so there is hope for me to go a new route but the idea of starting again is quite painful.

Would like to know more about this VAC!

Hi there, this has happened to me sadly. 489 granted, haven't been able to get to Australia due to Covid-19 and we have separated and will be getting a divorce.

Not sure where i stand as the partner on the visa...so sad and so frustrating. Just want some sort of happy ending to all this.

Us 489ers feel the same. No real mention. I understand it would be a bad time to travel and try and secure work however it would be nice to know if there is some sort of plan, the way it's going i'll have had my visa for a whole year before there's any travel allowed, and tat's at the earliest.

Just posted this on the 491 topic...

Hey. I've got a 489 so similar boat really, granted after November 2019 so even more similar. 

I'm not really focusing on too much what the governments say (that's not to say I'm ignoring it) I'm focusing the medical, Health & Social Care and science world and a lot is pointing towards a second spike in the UK this winter so I'm not making any imminent plans to leave. I'm sad to see the visa just ticking down but there is nothing I can do about it so I've got a new flat here in the UK and I'm just going to enjoy this bonus time here with family & friends and save some more money.

It's very gutting but what can we all do really? If and when they do open to 489/491 I'll take a holiday (I've booked 2 weeks off next March) just so I've entered Aus and "activated" my visa and that's off my mind, if i then can't fulfil criteria for 887 I'll worry about that further down the line but my contingency plan is the new qualification and post qualification time I'll have and applying for a 190/189 but like I say - I'll cross that bridge if and when the time comes.

Hey. I've got a 489 so similar boat really, granted after November 2019 so even more similar. 

I'm not really focusing on too much what the governments say (that's not to say I'm ignoring it) I'm focusing the medical, Health & Social Care and science world and a lot is pointing towards a second spike in the UK this winter so I'm not making any imminent plans to leave. I'm sad to see the visa just ticking down but there is nothing I can do about it so I've got a new flat here in the UK and I'm just going to enjoy this bonus time here with family & friends and save some more money.

It's very gutting but what can we all do really? If and when they do open to 489/491 I'll take a holiday (I've booked 2 weeks off next March) just so I've entered Aus and "activated" my visa and that's off my mind, if i then can't fulfil criteria for 887 I'll worry about that further down the line but my contingency plan is the new qualification and post qualification time I'll have and applying for a 190/189 but like I say - I'll cross that bridge if and when the time comes.

We used Overseas Emigration who were great throughout the whole process and it went very smoothly.

2 hours ago, paulhand said:

From the Department:

 

"Unable to travel to Australia (Initial Entry Date)

If you have been granted one of the below visas and you are unable to make your first entry into Australia by the date specified in your Grant Notification letter due to the travel restrictions currently in place due to COVID-19, please refer to the attached Information for First Entry to Australia.

Generally you will be able to arrive in Australia after the initial entry date, as long as it is before the “Must not arrive after date” specified in your visa Grant Notification letter.  You do not need to be granted an “extension” to your initial entry date or visa.

The attached notice should be sufficient evidence for a travel provider to be satisfied that the visa holder can enter Australia as the holder of a Skilled visa. Visa holder(s) may wish to carry a copy of this notice to present to the airline when checking in at the airport and on arrival into Australia. Please note that some delays may be encountered upon arrival into Australia while visa validity is verified.

§  Skilled Independent (subclass 189)

§  Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)

§  Skilled Regional (subclass 489)

§  Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491)

We cannot extend the validity period of your visa. If your Skilled Migration visa ceases and you have not entered Australia you will need to apply for another visa."

 

Thanks for the reply. The wording in all releases seems so vague, we have a "must not arrive after date" of December 18 2023 because that's when our 489 expires and the "Enter Before Date" of December 18 2020 which is the one I'm worried about. I'm assuming "initial entry date" is the same as "enter before date"...why can't they just use the same flipping terminology as the visa grant letters?! 

So I'm taking from that, that we can arrive after December 18 2020 and won't face any problems upon entry.

Do you think our Migration Agent (Overseas Emigration) will be able to send this notice to us? @Richard Gregan

Sorry if it comes across like I'm being pedantic about this as I'm not at all I'm just a bit stressed by this we've been on the home stretch of this long process only for more hurdles and we're all in the same boat I know and i really appreciate that somebody has replied and helped out  

Hi everybody. 489 granted in December with an "Enter Before Date" of December 18 2020. What's the crack if UK aren't having flights out and/or Australia aren't allowing flights in and this time comes and passes for us and I assume a lot of others in a similar position where that date could be sooner?

There is a page on the Home Affairs site where you can contact for further information if you have "compelling reasons" to travel but they are asking that people only submit this form if they're travelling in the next 3 months.

We didn't have anything booked so we can wait it out and hope we can travel by then.

We have to fly out by December at the latest date to validate our visa so there is an obvious worry for us that we won't be able to fly out of the UK and/or into Australia. 

There is a link on the Home Affairs website to contact them stating "compelling reasons" to get an extension or travel but only to do that if you plan to move within the next 3 months and we were planning November. I'm hoping activating a visa is a compelling reason enough to get an extension to our "fly out by" date and ideally the end of the 489 visa being extended past December 2023 to 3 years after whenever we are allowed to travel in by. 

Does anybody have any information on their plans for people that need to activate visas?

Was about 3 months for us last year

Just done medicals so now waiting on the final part of the visa application - the granting part which they think will be very very soon!

I'm a Registered Manager in a care home working with people with autism and will be looking to move to Darwin CBD or somewhere close. Live in Cornwall England and i love the outdoors like walks and nature, i'm not a thrill seeker just like the chilled life and also the simple life really! 

As a caveat to that a life of a City and a coast appeals and i love Adelaide it's my fav place i visited.

Like to keep fit and go to the gym and spinning classes.

What will it be like for work and the life i want then?! 

This doesn't really help you as basically this is my plan and i just wondered how you found NT etc. Reply in a PM if you like

I think it's fair enough they asked in hindsight, being as i've sent it back with a whole load of questions and blanks that hopefully they can fill in and a double checking service should be quite helpful!

Thanks guys, i put it out on Facebook and they seemed to all think that the MA  should be going at least some of it based on questionnaires etc that they've given us but you've made me feel a bit better now about doing it myself! 

We have paid for a Migration Agent and they have been great. It's come to the Form 80 and final bits - they've asked us to complete the Form 80. We pay good money for their services and had to fill in a big questionnaire at the beginning so they had sufficient information about us - do you guys think they should be asking us to do this as their are some questions that it would be difficult for them to answer; like Step Parents etc.

The home affairs website says 75% processed in 10 months so i think it's totally normal you've heard nothing. We submitted Mid May and haven't heard anything yet.