Hi guys,
I've just been granted my 186 Visa
I didn't get much of a response to my questions but I wanted to post one more time with my whole process as it might help someone like me looking for answers in the future!
My company nominated me for PR - The role I was sponsored under was 'ICT Sales Representative' - They gave me the option to go through their immigration lawyer or do the process myself. Now, after doing my research I was quoted by 3 different lawyers and all quoted around $3,500-$5,000 AUD so I decided I would fill it all out myself. My visa took 4 months to come through (I was hearing stories of 12+ months but at the present time I heard the Australian Government were pushing them through. So, doing it yourself or going through a lawyer doesn't impact the time of approval)
Visa costs:
186 Visa = $4,045
UK Police Background Check = $90 (45 pound)
AUS Police Background Check = $42
UK Birth Certificate = $28 (14 pound)
Medical (X-Ray, HIV Test, Examination) = $371.20
Documents Uploaded:
Employer/Company Contract
Birth Certificate
CV
Degree & A-Levels
Passport
Passport Photo
UK Driving License
Reference - Letter headed paper from a previous employee with my job title, role, and dates employed.
My background is I'm a white British male in my 30's with an ICT degree. I didn't have to complete an English test for my visa.
When filling out the form you have to put in a whole lot of information about yourself (example - do you have a criminal record, etc). You will also need to fill out your work experience and all the countries you have traveled. Now, don't worry too much about putting in the exact dates as they are just monitoring you ain't been to countries like Syria, etc. I've been to a hell of a lot of countries and just tried to get as close entry and deport as possible. The same with your work experience with the dates you started and finished. All these dates don't have to be 100% bang on! If you wish you can put work experience and holiday dates on a spreadsheet and upload them or there is a page in the form for both of these to put in your information.
In the beginning part of the form, you can put in your details for your driving license and DOB but there is nowhere to upload a picture and this freaked me out for a bit as I knew I would have to upload these, so at the end of you filling out all your information, when you click next to everything is correct, it takes you to another page saying "hey, upload anything here towards your case blah blah" so here is where you can upload your passport photo, etc, and you are allowed to go back edit, change things, upload, etc through this whole process.
Now, depending on your processing times I've heard people wait till their case is being assessed until they go for their medical and upload it, I did my medical straight away and uploaded it but a word of warning, if your application goes over 6 months you will have to do your medical again.
I wanted around 4 months which is great as I know people who had to wait over a year. I just got an email through with confirmation of it being granted. I would suggest signing up Facebook forums as well like Poms in Australia, etc.
So here I am, paying it forward, I hope this helps!
Peace out!