nomadiccarpenter

With the language being "visa holders," I'm interpreting this as we still won't see processing of offshore applications such as 190 and 189, since we don't "hold visas," correct?

I applied for my EOI in February 2020 (offshore, carpenter, NSW) and was invited to apply less than a month later, right when the pandemic as declared. Been waiting for grant with no case officer assigned ever since.

Congrats on stage 1! I was asked a ton of safety questions; fencing around sites, know the ground you will dig, watch for surroundings and powerlines, PPE, etc. Other topics were reduced levelling, layout a site, terminology of what I was working on in my photo evidence. Identify components of a blueprint (if you have trouble reading their pictures, say so. I accidentally said 285 degree angle, instead of 28.5 because the internet connection made the numbers mush together). They understood though and didn't mark it against me. I knew in my head it sounded weird but just blurted it out of nerves. They may form some questions based on the evidence you submitted. Here's a nice video for some tips as well: I'm interested in tutoring if you'd like to DM me. I passed my assessments in carpentry.

If by nicer, you mean warmer, yes. Although I only spent two winters in Brisbane. It was warmer than Sydney with more humidity. I still wore a light jacket some nights but could have survived easily without it. Just wanted to look good on the ferry! Looks like NSW is progressing well with the vaccinations. I've been avoiding the news because it was making this visa wait drag on more than it already was. It's healthy to get a break from all the doom scrolling.

While Brisbane lacked "ocean beaches", there is access to lots of nature and of course South Bank beach was always nice for a quick dip. I guess it technically has beaches but they are all along bays and rivers. I worked in Redcliffe on a casual gig. It was a bit of a ways but I've had worse. Was a nice quaint town. I would probably want to invest/live in South Brisbane as I like to surf and have better accessibility to Gold Coast. As of now, I'm thinking of going ahead and investing in property in Brisbane next year (pending my visa grant) and work my two years in or around Sydney, renting.

Correct. It is now 4 - 15 months as of today. Though it seems more accurate for onshores.

Completely forgot about that! Thank you. Again, super conservative, but definitely more than likely the timeline will be shorter than what I stated.

There was but it was changed to a 491 thread and we didn't feel welcome anymore! I believe you are right about offshores being dead last. Here's my speculation and it isn't good news if anyone is expecting a grant soon. Please don't hate me for this outlook, just trying to help people prepare for the worst. Let's screen capture this and check back post-border closures to see if I was right or wrong. So here's the formula I've been working on when we would actually start seeing offshore grants. This is based on Australia's Four Phase reopening plan, the number of vaccinations to be administered and the number of Australian citizens waiting to catch a flight back. My Super Duper Conservative Estimate reaching 70% vaccinated based on past rates: August 2021 - Phase I -Since March 15th 2021, 15% of population has been vaccinated. Let's assume 20% by August 15. -That's 20% every five months, not considering this number increasing exponentially with new vaccine supplies and public demand. -This would reach 80% by November '22, so 70% around September '22. Optimistic Estimate: More vaccine supplies/boosters are delivered in 2021, demand picks up, hesitancy drops and Australia reaches 70% by March '22. May 2022 - Phase II -Average the above data and Phase II begins. -Less lock downs, restoring arriving passenger caps at previous levels for unvaccinated returning travellers + larger caps for vaccinated returning travellers. -Australian citizens gradually begin to come home in higher numbers. August '22 - November '22 - Phase III -Phase III begins, assuming no new variants scare the government into abandoning it's reopening plan. An election has happened so politicians are willing to take more risks and continue on regardless now that there hopefully enough vaccinations and immunity among the general public. -More Australian citizens return home. -Students and priority skilled offshore migrants gradually arrive late Phase III -Airfare prices are high January 2023 - March '23 - Phase IV -After much protest, hunger strikes, and general pandemic fatigue, Australians have relatively no trouble getting home. -Airfare demand is high the first half of 2023. -Offshore student and general skilled visas are granted and offshore migrants who have been waiting three years or more arrive to Australia. -Possibly no quarantine.

Is there another job you could jump over to that may make you feel a bit better, even if it just pays your expenses while you wait?

A shame that is what it takes. Friend of mine in her 70s wasn't going to get vaccinated until a break out happened.

No worries at all! Sent you a DM. I often think back in hindsight if I had known how long the wait would be, whether I would still go through with it. I definitely would have but my life here in the US would have been different. I would have most likely moved somewhere that makes me happier instead of waiting in my hometown - but that's a lesson to be learned here: live your life no matter what and don't wait on anyone else. Luckily I had an unexpected 10 month contract come in last year that just now ended - and here I am still waiting... So thinking I may go ahead and move somewhere else in the US. I'll live like I'm not leaving for years. If I get the grant as soon as I do so, it'll just make for a good story. Would love to even live in another country until Australia is ready for us but don't want to complicate my visa and police checks.

Maybe this could be our centralised thread since our 190 offshore discussions have been a bit all over the place. I'm a 190 NSW applicant waiting since March 30, 2020 with of course no contact. Immigration seemed in a hurry to take my money as each phase before applying went very quick. But I can't blame them for Covid.

Agreed. I'd imagine it would be better to own a berth strictly to rent it out.

Or maybe a 200K marina berth I see accidentally pop up in my searches. Anyone ever owned one as a rental investment? Not planning on it myself, just curious.

Before Covid, I don't think it's wrong for migrants to expect to see their family every year, despite being as far as 10K away as long as they can afford to do so. I understand this argument during the pandemic, but most migrants didn't know that borders would be closed indefinitely/"forever". To cast judgement that they should've known what they were getting into I find to be pretty ignorant and not a realistic expectation of them. If by this point they don't understand, sure that could be on them. Regardless, there needs to be a plan in place like many other countries are carrying out. We could say migrants shouldn't expect to see family for three to five years due to Covid, but not before or after the pandemic. That's not anyone's business but their own. Before Covid, the world felt like it was getting smaller. You book a flight early enough, use travel card points, and the rest out of pocket or split with family, it can be manageable. In the next two decades the speed of travel will increase significantly and Australia will never feel far away. Humans have migrated for a hundred thousand or more years and migration will continue to evolve with industry and technology. I think there is obvious resistance to this in pockets of society and government and Covid injected enough fear to instill a more conservative policy, but at the end of the day travel is mostly a right - not a privilege or entitlement. It's in our genes to desire to move where we will live better. I congratulate those who are happy with where they were born. Sometimes I wish for that feeling but we can't stop those from following their heart to where it leads them.

This pandemic will be behind us by the time they get these opened, or at the very least enough people will be vaccinated between large countries.

This is from "Skilled Visa Regional - Australia (190 & 491)", dated 22 June.

Found the post: "Good day All Got my PR 190 granted on 22.06.21 10:18 am Sydney time. State NSW Occupation:Carpenter Lodge: 19.12.2019 Points: Total 65 Lodge on shore/ granted off shore First CÔ contacted on 21.03.21 ( medicals) Second CÔ contact on 18.05.21 ( police check from the country that I was stuck more than a year) ; Vietnam “

Same here in the US. I'm in Austin, Texas and people/investors are paying 100K over the asking price. I'm not sure what they're paying for and where all this wealth is coming from. I hear it's about lack of supply in US, not sure if it's the same elsewhere - I imagine this could be on purpose for the sake of rising property value. There's also the timbre shortage. Would love the real estate market to just freeze or cool for 5-10 years and let the youth catch up and own property. Something's gotta be done. Even if we see a crash, I doubt prices would drop to affordable levels. It's still a long term investment and people here flipping and gentrifying suburbs will get burned eventually.

I didn't need a job offer but I do have to live and work in New South Wales for two years before I can move anywhere else. Just part of the standard 190 requirements. I'm going for duel citizenship eventually so trying to be very cautious. I've only spent a total of three weeks in Sydney in the past. There's definitely a lot to love but it felt more intense than Brisbane. I feel like I gotta be hustlin' to stay alive. People were in a hurry. It reminded me of big US cities in that way. My impression could change once I live in different suburbs and maybe the city will grow on me more. I'm still very excited about living there, hopefully soon. People I meet either love or hate Surfer's Paradise. It's definitely not for surfers. My flat mate called it "Shopper's Paradise." I didn't mind it, but there were other areas around Gold Coast I liked a lot more. Brisbane felt just right to me as far as size and the pace of life. Also did some work in Redcliffe. That was nice. Very family-oriented community there.

Thanks for your detailed answer. Would love to be able to buy an investment property in Bris while I due my time in Sydney, but not sure if it would complicate my PR by raising flags about residency. If I own any property, I already know that I want to hold it forever, or if plans change, at least eight years... so my other option of course is to buy Sydney and delay Queensland until I could either afford a 2nd - or sell the first if I don't end up having chemistry with Sydney. Like I said, good problem to have. I'm glad to be in a position to at least think about it after years of not being able to enter the US markets in cities I like. Sydney is pretty tough too looks like but seems like there are more pathways in Oz.

This thread used to be a 190 one as well, but it looks like 190 was removed from the title? Should it be added back or do we need a new 190 thread?

I have a good problem right now, but I'm torn. When I finally arrive to NSW in '22, I will fortunately have enough for a down payment and then some. I'm very eager to own property and have my own place. However, my heart is set on Brisbane after my two years in NSW are up. Is it worth waiting two years to buy in Brisbane or wiser to go ahead and buy in Sydney (if I can) and maybe Bris later?

An offshore carpenter in one of the FB groups was granted a 190 for NSW today. Applied in Dec 2019. Don't know if he's in these forums. If so, hope he posts his story soon!

There are a few people in power who have a fantasy of keeping them closed forever but reality will prevail.