Jibba

I work as a senior mental health nurse in a public community mental health team in Victoria.

I work 4 days a week and have a caseload of around 18-22. All adults of working age. There is a crossover between both youth services and aged care services. Aged care services are well known for refusing to accept referrals from adult services, despite obvious care needs - as long as the client is still being actively case managed. The work is relatively flexible and depending on the team, you can very much feel like 'your own boss' but there also is a big focus on team based approaches too, which helps to lighten the pressure.

Definitely look into salary packaging / salary sacrificing. You essentially sacrifice an amount of money each fortnight towards mortgage / rent / bills. With this you get paid your salary with the nominated amount taken out or sacrificed. You then go on the lower tax bracket as a result. A day later that sacrificed amount gets paid back into your account untaxed. It's only for public health service workers, not the private sector (and emergency services). It's truly great and I always summarise it to my British friends as a way we're "legally allowed to beat the taxman".

Overall work life balance is great. They very much factor personal leave into your allowances - there's no shaming culture like there tends to be in the UK when you take a sick day or some carer's leave. The pay is significantly better too but the cost of living is very high here at the moment. Still, I have always lived very comfortably here and I doubt I would be if I was working for the NHS right now.

Thanks to all the replies, especially for the email from NicF.

They replied very quickly and sent this:

So I think my best option is to apply for a standard renewal. Hopefully it arrives by mid July. If not I’ll apply for an emergency travel document which will cover me for this trip.

Am I correct in thinking that the ETD is issued from the Melbourne embassy and gets organised within days of the application?

https://www.ukabroad.net/british-passport-emergency-travel-documents-requirements/

According to this site, I could also apply for a standard renewal now then apply for an emergency document if I don’t get my passport back in time. That would cover me for a year. I’d just need to not change any travel plans for my current trip.

Costly but manageable.

3 hours ago, NicF said:

I had to apply passport recently after my mum died and my passport was still being renewed in the UK.  I'm not sure it would cover you for a trip around Europe even if you didn't have the visa issues described by Paul above - you have to give them the route you are taking and it only covers you for that route.  If you get an emergency British passport you will need to link your Australian visa to it via the VEVO system. 

There is no point in you turning up to the Embassy in Melbourne.  They do not issue passports but you can pick up an emergency passport from there.  You will also not be able to talk to anyone in Melbourne.  When I was getting my emergency passport the nearest person I actually got to speak to was in Singapore and they called me.

Thanks for the reply. Does the emergency passport extend beyond 21 days? And can I use an emergency document for a route which is already booked? I have the main return flight from Melbourne to London and seperate flights between London - Finland and then Finland - Spain one way then one way back from Spain to England.

I’m thinking if I can get my Mum to attend an appointment in the London embassy to get a new passport for me before I arrive then I won’t need to worry about onward trips within Europe.

The big problem is trying to actually book a passport renewal appt at the embassy in London. Currently there are no available appointments and not even a calendar showing - just an automated response saying there’s nothing available!

Does anyone know how I can actually speak with someone from the embassy in Melbourne? I tried calling with no joy and emailed - australia.enquiries@fcdo.gov.uk though I’m not sure they’re the right department.

Thanks.

Hi folks,

I'm travelling to the UK, Spain and Finland for roughly 5.5 weeks in mid July until mid August this year. My British passport expires on the 22nd August, which is only 1 day after we'd land back to Australia from this trip. I haven't allowed for the full 11 weeks it may take to have my new passport delivered and even though it's a good 6 weeks, I don't like the idea of sending my current passport away and then my new one not returning in time before I have to fly. I do have PR though, so would Border Force be able to access my visa and allow me to fly if I also got an emergency travel document? 

Is it worth me applying for an emergency travel document anyway or am I correct in thinking that will only last 21 days (less time than the holiday)? Should I just fly outbound with my current passport and organise a new passport in London in the embassy and if so can this process be expedited as I'd be applying for a simple renewal onshore in England?

Can I just turn up at the British embassy in Melbourne? I tried calling them but the number provided and the website both ended up being dead ends.

Any tips or other suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

On 21/06/2021 at 22:11, Marisawright said:

They are not stopping anyone who wants to leave permanently.   All they have to do is PROVE they are leaving permanently and they get an exemption.   

Someone who is leaving temporarily will, by definition, need to come back.  When they do, they will need to take up a seat on a plane, and a place in quarantine, and both are in very scarce supply.  Plus, of course, they may bring Covid back with them.

Sorry but this just isn't true. I have a friend who was able to fly back to Finland with an exemption (his third attempt and only after his mother had died) and both flights were virtually empty in both economy and business class. He was only offered business class and it cost him a small fortune.

It's quite disturbing that people seem so willing to accept, what actually seems to verge in the realms of civil rights abuse - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-08/australians-trying-to-leave-could-make-legal-challenge-covid/100273572 - quote taken from <this article:

Quote

 

"This change is a very dramatic change in a democratic framework.

"One of the questions is when you're restricting people leaving the country, does that necessarily fit within that quarantine power?" 

The biosecurity act also requires the minister responsible is "satisfied … that the requirement is appropriate and adapted to achieve the purpose for which it is to be determined" and "that the requirement is no more restrictive or intrusive than is required in the circumstances."

It's this wording in the act that has the University of Canberra Professor questioning whether the government is on solid ground with the ban.

"I just find it hard to comprehend how a blanket ban on people leaving is the least restrictive way of managing this health crisis," she said.

 

 

Surely there needs to be a more compassionate and less concrete way of managing this? Surely if you can prove that you are now fully vaccinated and provide say 2-3 negative tests in the lead up to both your outbound and return flights, this should allow for at least some freedom of movement to visit loved ones? The risk of spreading Covid by a fully vaccinated person who has tested negative and by common sense would understand the need to wear a mask and take precautions is quite low. Compare that to the far more risky and damaging impact these types of hard line and concrete restrictions are having on the population's mental health and wellbeing.

A vaccination / negative test 'passport' system needs to be rolled out IMO.

And a final thought, does it not seem odd to people that the only two countries in the world that require such a strictly enforced exemption to leave the country right now are Australia and North Korea?

Just saying.

Ok, thanks folks. So I just need to wait for the next window which is early March in order to submit my ROI.

I have my EOI ready. I may have to add an IELTS to the mix to get my points bumped up.

As you asked Monster, my 186 was declined over a mere technicality which was a mistake on the part of my employer for nominating me too early. I believe this shouldn't exclude me from getting a 190. At least my lawyer didn't think it would. I'm not using a lawyer ongoing as the costs were too much on top of the lost 10,000. I'll ask for her help again closer to the time of (hopeful) visa nomination.

Hi all,

I'm a Senior Registered Mental Health Nurse, originally from Brighton, England and currently living in Melbourne. I had my 186 visa declined due to a technicality late last year with over $10,000 thrown down the drain but that's another story! I'm now in the process of applying for a 190 State visa and my migration lawyer thinks I have a good chance of getting nominated.

I've completed an EOI, and I was under the impression that I then wait for the State of Victoria to contact me (if they want to nominate me) and they do this by viewing my EOI in Skillselect. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that the State then may choose to select me via the Skillselect page and if they do it triggers an invitation to apply for a visa?

However, I have just now registered an account on LiveinMelbourne and I am confused with the Registration of Interest (ROI). Is this something in addition to the EOI and if so how do I actually complete an ROI? The LiveinMelbourne page won't let me and seems about as helpful as the Immigration website i.e it takes you round and round in circles like one endlessly frustrating feedback loop. I cannot find the link to complete a Registration of Interest. Is this because the only way to apply for an ROI is during the tiny monthly windows of opportunity i.e is it only possible to even find the link to register an ROI during the next window 2/3 - 8/3? Or is it that an ROI can only be completed once my EOI has been selected by Victoria from Skillselect?

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

James

Sorry I seemed to have confused everyone by essentially hijacking this thread! I’m not the original poster with the eye issues.

I’m in a similar boat in that I want to apply for the same business visa with reduced hours. I’ve not yet signed any contract for this visa and we’re in the first stages of application.

13 hours ago, MaggieMay24 said:

When you apply for the 186 visa, you declare your intention to work in the nominated (full time) occupation with your employer for 2 years following the grant of the visa.  If you're already intending not to work full time, then you aren't living up to what you've declared in your application.  Probably not something I would post on a public forum.

I’m not trying to be sly or scam the system in any way!

I just want to know if the 186 visa allows someone to work part time at 4 days per week or not?!

You’re saying you declare your intention to work (full time) in the nominated occupation but where does it say you have to work full time from the immigration site?

Thanks.

On 13/09/2019 at 13:13, Wonderingaloud said:

Whilst on the 457 you must work full time, up until the 186 is granted. I presume this remains the same if you go onto a bridging visa if your 457 expires before the 186 is approved, as the bridging visa usually has the same conditions/limitations as the previous visa. 

If you reduce your hours whilst on the 457 you are in breach of your conditions which will not bode well for your 186 application.

This was posted by Raul Senise afew months ago in relation to a query about work obligations and the 186. Raul is a reputable migration agent who regularly posts on this forum.

“Although many applicants  glance over the details, as part of the 186 visa application, applicants agree to the following declaration:

"Warning:
Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence.
The applicant declares that they:
Agree to take up the position for at least two years.
Understand that if the applicant, any family members included in the application or third parties acting
on behalf of the applicant, provide (or have provided in a previous application) false or misleading
information, or bogus documents either knowingly or otherwise, the visa application will be refused
and the applicant subject to three year bar in relation to visas to which the fraud criterion applies. Any
visa granted may be cancelled."
 

It can be argued that not remaining in the position for 2 years is a breach of the above. It is rare, but it does happen.”

 

 

Thanks for the info.

However, I’m not trying to reduce my hours whilst I’m on the 457 or bridging visa. I want them reduced to 4 days per week only once I’m granted the business sponsorship.

I’m essentially hoping to ask for a different contract with the business, which I think will be granted by my employer...but only if the visa allows it?!

On 10/05/2019 at 09:03, MaggieMay24 said:

Your 186 has no work restrictions on it.  You can work in any occupation, for any employer, at any legal rate of pay and working however many hours you agree with your employer.  You can choose not to work at all.  From an immigration standpoint, you have no limitations.

Hi Maggie, do you have any links from the immi website which state this to be the case? I can't seem to find anything which says this.

I'm currently on a 457 and hoping to get sponsored on a business visa, also in the hope that I can do so part time at 30 hours per week.

Thanks in advance.