Lauram1

Hi,

Sorry if there are any other recent posts with a similar subject (I can only find ones from back in 2018).

I am currently in Australia, going from a 482 to a 190 visa, and need to have a medical. As part of my medical, I need a chest x-ray. I'm aware as I'm pregnant I can postpone this part until after the baby is born, but my question is will this affect the processing of the visa? ie will immigration not look at our application until I have had the chest x-ray? I can't find any information online about if/how postponing affects processing? I am a radiographer so am fully aware the risks to my unborn child when having a chest x-ray are extremely low (as they will provide a lead skirt to wear around my abdomen), but if it doesn't change the processing time I, of course, would rather wait 5 months and have zero risk to my baby. 

Any help would be greatly appreicated.

Laura 

18 hours ago, Marisawright said:

There is a health insurance policy for overseas visitors who are eligible for reciprocal benefits, here:

https://www.bupa.com.au/health-insurance/cover/overseas-visitors/reciprocal-health-cover

Also be aware that dentistry and spectacles in Australia are not covered by Medicare - they're private and very expensive.  So if you need regular dental care or wear glasses/contact lenses, it may be worth it to get Extras cover with a health insurance company.

Thank you. This is the policy im looking at already.

Hi,

I'm so confused by Health insurance! I've read a few posts here but can't find any clear answers.

Were from the UK so will be able to access medicare via the reciprocal agreement. The terms of my visa state I must maintain adequate health insurance but does medicare count as adequate? If not, what does count? What needs to be covered? I've even tried to contact medicare but no reply.

Can we only apply for insurance specifically for temporary visa holders? Its so expensive  

Any help would be great, thanks 

wow! bet that cost an absolute fortune, but needs must! Best of luck!! Where is it you're headed?

6 hours ago, hollygolucky said:

My visa has been granted! Just over six weeks including about ten days to submit further evidence (a police check).

Congratulations!! How exciting. When are you planning to get over there?

20 minutes ago, Elmurph said:

Laura, when you were granted your travel exemption did you include a screenshot of this or anything as part of your attached documents on the visa application? I'm just wondering how do they actually identify those with travel exemptions if it is two separate systems

No, I thought about it but there didn't seem an appropriate section for it. I just figured they would search for my application after granting the exemption as you have to put your visa application ID on the exemption form

47 minutes ago, Elmurph said:

That's great to hear Holly! My sponsor is a health board as well. I'm just after hitting a snag - my situation was I had actually been in Australia last year from August until March and had to travel home urgently due to family reasons, so was provisionally registered with AHPRA already. Unfortunately my visa and everything was cancelled so I've had to start from scratch aside from the AHPRA application. However I am approaching the expiry date of my provisional registration with AHPRA - I have applied for renewal but was told this could take up to six weeks. My registration is still in force while they consider my renewal and I have attached a statement saying the same thing on my visa application. I know this is a bit complicated but can anyone comment on whether it would be possible to have the visa granted with a technically expired AHPRA registration?

My AHPRA hasn't been approved yet(I've just got it in principle) and my Visa was granted. Ahpra have been great and given me 2 extensions so far but hopefully I'll be over before the expiry of this current extension 

11 hours ago, Elmurph said:

That's fantastic! How long in total were you waiting? Was your sponsor accredited do you mind me asking?

I'm unsure. Im working for cancer screening so I'll be employed by the department of health so I assume they are accredited. Ive been waiting around 3 months.

52 minutes ago, Green said:

Has your visa come through yet? Hope so!

Yes! Got it yesterday!!

5 minutes ago, Green said:

That’s great news! I hope you don’t mind me asking a question about the exemption documents. I’m putting together an exemption request currently. With your letter re: job being critical, did you specify how it related to Covid? Or wasn’t that required? As I would struggle with that aspect. I’m an occupational therapist with job offer for rehabilitation of clients (Adults and children) in the community. 

I'm a breast radiographer and mammography had to stop during the peak of covid so both my employer and I detailed how many women had gone without a mammogram during this period and I detailed how this could affect people ie missed cancers etc. In my letter I went into more detail  about my job role etc. Has OT been stopped or services reduced during covid in aus? Having you over would mean more rehab for Australian clients 

15 hours ago, Elmurph said:

I'm delighted to hear that! What supporting documentation did you give with the application?

I got a letter from my employer saying why they needed me over, my degree and post grad certificates to show I was actually qualified for the job and I wrote a letter with more detail as to why my job is critical to Australia 

1 hour ago, hollygolucky said:

I’ve been granted my exemption today, I applied on July 2nd.

Me too! Applied 13th July. But no visa still! Just showing as received, hasn't been looked at yet!!

4 minutes ago, Elmurph said:

Hey Laura,

God that sounds so stressful I'm so sorry! It's such a nightmare. So hard to make plans.

Isnt it just! Guess theres lots of us in the same boat. I would definitely apply for exemption now, it cant hurt. The immi international team were really helpful when I called, and if they advised it, it must be correct!

5 minutes ago, Elmurph said:

Hi Holly,

Thanks for your response. Where is that advice coming from can I ask? I had been advised otherwise by my hospitals migration agent but I can't see the sense in her advice. Are you currently waiting for both the visa and the exemption?

I applied for exemption 8 weeks after applying for 482, after calling immigration direct and being advised that they are prioritising those with exemption applications. However, it's been 3 weeks and I've not heard anything, from visa or exemption...and visa times have now gone up to 4 months!! Feels like well never get there!! 

On 08/07/2020 at 11:39, lee2 said:

Hi Alex, thanks very much for sharing your experience. May I ask how long it takes to get a response for travel exemption (for medical specialists) and do we need to apply more than once before getting approved? Many thanks

 

I'd be interested to find this out too. I've applied for exemption this week after waiting 2 months to hear from my 482 application. I too am coming over to do a medical job. Wondering how long it might take before exemption is looked at? Thanks 

On 13/07/2020 at 09:57, RosieH11 said:

Unfortunately no he isn't, i'm the one with PR he is currently coming in on a 600 with exemption, we lodged an offshore partner visa for him recently. I think honestly if i were in a position where i could for certain obtain an RRV in the future then we wouldn't be trying to make the move now, we would stay in the UK until this is over. We have good secure jobs here and our own home, we are taking a risk in trying to move now if it doesn't happen we've lost jobs and our house will have tenant in it.... so i don't know what we will do  Thankyou for your advice regarding Qatar, i shall take a look. Currently we have business class seats book with Emirates, I hope its enough to get us there.

 'In my humble opinion the UK is going down the pan fast and the quality of life there is poor unless you're either stinking rich' .....  if you are broke in UK I agree, generally life is not great, i was pretty broke in Australia at one point and i was still happy! I spent my years in Sydney and Noosa on the Sunshine coast.... hard not to be happy in both of these places!  I have said this many times to my family and friends who question why I want to leave my comfy life in the UK!! I just want a better quality of life and options for my family and children if i decided to have them. My other half's mother doesn't accept this, she is very unhappy about us leaving and has been for years since we told her the long term plan, i don't think she ever thought we would actually do it. And now here we are trying and I can feel her joy at our current situation, she will be very happy if it all falls through and were are stuck in the UK forever

 

 

Hi, how long did the exemption take to be approved? I submitted mine this week. Thanks x

Anyone? I've now applied for exemption stating I'd like to be in the country within 3 months. Does anyone know how long exemptions are roughly taking? 

Thanks for that information.. wish theyd made that a little clearer. Feel like I've wasted two months. Do you know what sort of time scale it's been for those applying with exemption to approval? Thanks

Thanks Paul. I thought you needed the visa confirmed before you apply for exemption? 

Oh, ok. Thats what it says on the visa page, and on my application home page and says it was update on 26th June 2020. Is this not correct? Do they normally post inaccurate timescales? Is it worth calling them then to find out more? My employer in Australia is desperate for me to come over to help with their current backlog of patients so I'd like to give them some idea when I will likely be there, as I also need to apply for exemption too..

Thanks for your reply. So when it says 90% were processed in 64 days in may, what 482 visas were processed if not many are going through? I'm coming over to do a healthcare job which could be deemed critical. How would they know what profession I am applying under without beginning to process?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks 

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has had their 482 medium term visa granted recently? Were at day 64 this weekend and still nothing, and still showing as 'received' only on the visa homepage.  I'm aware of the COVID delays, but 90% of applications being processed in 64 days is based on processing times in May, when I guess things were still a bit more up in the air. Was hoping it might be done within the 64 days this month.

Be great to hear if anyone has had theirs approved recently. 

Thanks

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone who has applied for a 482 medium term visa has heard anything back, and if so, how long did it take? Day 64 for us is this weekend and it's still just showing as received, no further updates. I'm too hoping to apply for exemption but as a radiographer (i'll be working in breast imaging when I come over) I'm not sure if this is 'medical' enough.  

Thanks in advance!

56 minutes ago, emilydwh said:

Hi Laura, I hope you don't mind me messaging you, I came across a previous post of yours which has been really helpful! I just wondered if you received a positive skills assessment from ASMIRT in the end? I am from the UK and currently living and working in Queensland as a Radiographer in Breast Imaging on a working holiday visa. My partner and I are aiming for PR, I was offered TSS at my current workplace but they've had an influx of Aussie applicants since COVID! So we are aiming now for the 190 visa. I am awaiting my skills assessment but like you I specialised in Breast soon after qualifying, and so all my clinical experience is in this field! I did email ASMIRT and they said this was okay as long as I covered general and CT in my undergrad...I am on week 16 and just waiting the result now! I hope all has worked out for you and your move to Australia  

Hi Emily,  I did get a positive skills assessment,  it took about 20 weeks...however I discovered this only assesses your undergraduate qualification and I've since had to do a separate application to ASMIRT to recognise my mammo course. I submitted my tss application but covid has put everything on a go slow and not sure with the flight situation when well get over!! How does  breast in Australia compare to the uk? Are you still screening with all this going on and have they Increased the time per patient? Great to talk to someone who's over there doing it! 

Hi Emily,  I did get a positive skills assessment,  it took about 20 weeks...however I discovered this only assesses your undergraduate qualification and I've since had to do a separate application to ASMIRT to recognise my mammo course. I submitted my tss application but covid has put everything on a go slow and not sure with the flight situation when well get over!! How does  breast in Australia compare to the uk? Are you still screening with all this going on and have they Increased the time per patient? Great to talk to someone who's over there doing it!