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Hi, We are a (French) family landing in Brisbane in 2 weeks with a 175 visa. Our 2 oldest children are being enrolled at Indooroopilly State High School but we need to find a primary school for our last son. We heard about 2 primaty schools in Indooroopilly area : Ironside State School and Indooroopilly State School. Does anybody have any advice for one of these 2 schools? BTW, if a family is arriving in Brisbane for Christmas with a 175 visa, it could be nice to get in touch! Thanks. HenryJones

If you are moving to Queensland and want to know about schools in the area, suburbs or need help finding accommodation or friends in the area, then why not take a look at our sister site: Life in Queensland.

Applying for 190 skilled nominated, with Victorian State sponsorship. I was recently informed by my agent that in order to meet the Victorian State Sponsorship criteria I would require a job offer to support my application and show commitment to Victoria beacuse we have links with another state. My husband's family live in NSW and we have made a few visits there over the last 20 years. My husband also lived in NSW as a student for 18 months in 2006. I have checked the website and for my occupation (French Teacher) there is no requirement for a job offer. Does anyone have any information regarding this? Thanks

If you are moving to Adelaide and want to know about schools in the area, suburbs or need help finding accommodation or friends in the area, then why not take a look at our sister site: Poms in Adelaide.

Hi Guys, I'm a civil engineering student in VIC here and I saw that there are a lot of related occupations that I can apply for a PR in NSW state sponsor site. So, I am wondering that what are that chances that we can apply accross the states like that? P.s: I got 60 Points which is perfectly enough for applying this visa. Thanks in advance

Boko Haram (Islamic Jihadis) have released 80 of the 2090 odd girls they have held captive for over 3 years. they have been forced to convert to Islam and to marry their kidnappers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39833309

hi all, Just got an email from our migration agent who were in contact with the ACT government who say - the state sponsorship visa application processing times are currently between 30 - 60 WORKING days (which id say is anywhere between 6 - 12 weeks). Shir.

Hi All, If you are waiting to here just tell us when you lodged with them and again when you get a decision from them - that way we'll have some way of seeing how long they are actually taking. We lodged with them on 23/3. They recieved our hard copies in Oz on 2/4. This might just give us all something to look forward to.

Hi all, Im pretty much just starting out, im a 25 year old joiner looking at going down the state sponsorship route 176, to get a further up on the priority processing, rather than the 175. My ideal states aren't sponsoring my occupation, but WA is. After speaking to a reputable agent he informed me that if I fly to WA and then if I was to say id been offered a job in VIC, QLD, NSW I could move state, as it is not a condition of the visa? just an agreement with state???? I find this a bit hard to believe as everybody would be doing it. Any advice would be much appreciated. Dan

I have a supervised electrical license, and ive heard of an state sponsership, mainly up in brisbane or rural areas, does anyone have any information on this? cheers, Paul.:wink:

Evening all Sorry if this is a qustion that has come up before, but anyone with any knowledge please help us out. We are coming over on a 475 State Sponsor for SA. This is where we would love to be as we have lots of family there. However, my question is this, if my hubby cannot secure work within the first 6 months are we able to try another State? Under ther conditions of the 475 we need to stay for 2 years in the Sponsoring State (this would be great) but how flexible is this? Obviously we would speak to DIAC & the States involved, but is it a hard & fast 2 year rule or is there flexibility do you think? Is any one else been in this situation? Many thanks all

Hi, Does anyone have any opinions or information on these schools. There seems to be many private schools in the area, but most seem very religious, and wondered if anyone had children that attended these schools Coolum High, Noosa District and Sunshine Beach High. Any comments would be appreciated thanks

Hi there. I am a newbie here. I found this forum to be very helpful. Reading through this tread... http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/78714-176-visa-obligations-unemployment.html I was able to understand that not being able to fulfill the obligation to live in the sponsoring state for 2 years does not have any legal implications. Here is my dilemma... My family and I have been an Australian PR since Nov 2009. However, I have been working in the Middle East and have not relocated to Australia yet. My visa category is Visa 176 with South Australia State Sponsorship. I thought that it'll be a better idea to secure a job offer prior our arrival. But when we learned that my wife is pregnant for our 2nd child, we had to plan much faster because we want to be there months before she gives birth. After months of searching for a job, finally, I was able to get 2 job offers. One is in Adelaide and one is in Melbourne. The job offer in Adelaide I would say is attractive and acceptable. On the other hand, the offer in Melbourne offers a better salary package that also comes with a relocation package. The company in Melbourne is also a global organization so this is something that is difficult to say NO to. I am now considering choosing the job offer in Melbourne over Adelaide. Aside from the better job offer, we've got friends in Melbourne who has offered their assistance to look after my first child by the time my wife gives birth. Their assistance would be very helpful because we've got no relatives in Australia. Here are my questions. 1. I know that I am not legally required to live in Adelaide. My migration agent said that I still have a choice and since I don't intend to live there anyway, I might as well not contact the South Australia government. What can you say about this approach? What implication will this approach make in the near future? 2. Will I encounter any issues with Victoria when we apply for Centrelink, Medicare etc..? 3. Will this be an issue if we apply for citizenship? 4. Will this be an issue if we apply for visas for our relatives if they would have to come visit us for short period of time? I am also considering consulting another migration agent regarding this matter but I thought that maybe some of you guys here can provide some answers too. TIA

CURRENT ACT STATE SPONSORSHIP PROCESSING DATES: As at 25 July 2011: Subclass 176 / 886 visas: 3 Aug2011 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme: 26 Aug 2011 The SMP Occupations List July 2011 will remain in effect until the new 2011/12 SMP Occupations List is published. The 2011/12 SMP Occupations List is expected to be published in September 2011. ICT OCCUPATIONS ARE CLOSED AS PER NEW LIST Please check the following links for ACT sponsorship. ACT Skilled Migration Program State Migration Plan (SMP) Occupations List July 2011 ACT State Migration Plan Nomination Guidelines July 2011 Hey POMS I am starting a new thread for new ACT, Canberra State Sponsorship program (Just like my pal Uli started for Victoria). Guys any of you in ACT thread could updated their sponsorship status as : Name: Date of SMP application: Trade/profession: Visa type: Delays/further docs requested: SS received: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Comments: While your application is being processed by ACT this would be our color code: ACT Sponsorship Applied : Green ACT Sponsorship Approved : Purple ACT Sponsorship Rejected : Red Visa Filed :Orange Visa Granted :Blue Comments :Black Total Applied : 19 Visa Granted : 5 Visa Filed : 7 Sponsorship Granted : 11 Sponsorship Awaited : 4 Sponsorship Refused : 4 ******************************* February 2011 Applicants ******************************* Name: Orion25 (#1 Grant) Date of SMP application: 25 Feb 2011 Trade/profession: Property Valuer Visa type: 176 State Sponsored Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS received: 26 May 2011 Comments: CO - 15 June 2011 Medicals done - 11 July 2011 Medicals delivered to and signed for by DIAC - 18 July 2011 Visa Granted: 10 August 2011 ******************************* March 2011 Applicants ******************************* Name: rhump3 (#3) Date of SMP application: March 1st 2011 Trade/profession: Policy Analyst Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: SS received: 28 May 2011 comments: The suspense is killing me! Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Visa Granted: 22 August 2011 Name: Breezer (#2 Grant) Date of SMP application: 1st March 2011 Trade/profession: Office Manager Visa type: 176 - ACT Delays/further docs requested: Initial SS refusal however being recommended for review due to submission errors by immigration agent. SS received:16 June 2011 Form 1100 Uploaded:28 June 2011 Visa Filed:28 June 2011 Medicals done - 29th July 2011 Medicals delivered to and signed for by DIAC - 5 August 2011 Visa Granted: Yes Name: MRG (#4) Date of SMP application: March 7th 2011 Trade/profession: Housing Officer Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: SS received: June 7 2011 comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Visa Granted: No Name: pntaylor ( Pete & Cat) (#3 Grant) Date of SMP application: 7th March 2011 (iirc but will check) Trade/profession: Business Professional (NEC) Visa type: 176 Family Sponsored (originally applied in May '09) Delays/further docs requested: SS received: 07/06/2011 Form 1100 Uploaded: Advised it was sent today CO: 20 June 2011 Comments: Visa Granted:9 September 2011 No Name: Foha2012 Date of SMP application: March 13 2011 Trade/profession: 2231-79 linux. now 261399 (ACS applied Apr 20th) Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: SS Refused:June 22,2011 comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Name:Boodzz Date of SMP application: March 15th 2011 Trade/profession: System Administrator Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: SS Rejected:June 7 2011 comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Name: Aussie2B Date of SMP application: around mid March Trade/profession: Advertising Specialist Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: Submission errors by my agent caused the decision to be delayed SS received: July 8th 2011 Form 1100 Uploaded: Sent to DIAC on July 8th 2011 Visa Filed: September 6th 2008 (originally lodged a 176 Family Sponsorship visa) Comments: Visa Granted: No ******************************* April 2011 Applicants *******************************' Name: journeydownunder (Emma & Alan) (#1) Date of SMP application:14th April Trade/profession: Advertising specialist Visa type: 176 ss Delays/further docs requested: 15th April asked me to shorten our commitment statement!! SS received: 18th May 2011 comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Visa Granted: No Name: conor222 (H Logan) Date of SMP application: 14 Apr 11 Trade/profession: General Manager Visa type: skilled sponsorship Delays/further docs requested: none as yet SS received: Not yet Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Comments: Visa Granted: No Name: qsar1 Date of SMP application: 14 April 2011 Trade/ Profession: Developer Programmer Visa type: 176 Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: comments: IELTS 8, L:8.5, R:8.5, W:7, S:8 Visa Granted: No Name:sohc (Ronald Kalaquian) Date of SMP application: April 29, 2011 (received) Trade/profession: Systems Administrator Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS received: Rejected but got SA State Sponsorship:jiggy: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Comments: Visa Granted: No ******************************* May 2011 Applicants ******************************* Name: Big Bob(#5) Date of SMP application: 8 May 2011 Trade/profession: ICT Security Specialist 262111 Visa type: 176 State Sponsored Delays/further docs requested: Job Searches in skilled nominated occupation SS received: 23 August 2011 Form 1100 Uploaded:5 Sep 2011 Visa Filed:1 Sep 2011 CO Allocated: 13 Sep 2011 Medicals/PCC:12 September 2011 Visa Granted:21 September 2011 No Comments : Name: Rachel 80(#4) Date of SMP application: 11 May 2011 Trade/profession: Project Administrator Visa type: 176 State Sponsored Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS received: 19 July 2011 comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed:1st Aug 2011 Visa Granted:15 Sep 2011 Name: Muditha Heenkenda Date of SMP application: 11 May 2011 Trade/profession: Surveyor Visa type: 176 State Sponsored Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS received: Not Yet comments: Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Visa Granted: No Name: Canberra 2011 Date of SMP application: 20/05/2011 Trade/profession: Real Estate Agent Principal Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: SS received:25 July 2011 Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed:31 July 2011 Comments: Visa Granted: No Name: KarenHen Date of SMP application: 27 May 2011 Trade/profession: Systems Administrator Visa type: 176 State Sponsored Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS Rejected: 7 July 2011 comments:Not enough cash in bank Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: ******************************* July 2011 Applicants ******************************* Name: Desire Date of SMP application: 15/07/2011 Trade/profession: Systems Administrator Visa type: 175 Delays/further docs requested: Not Yet SS received: Not Yet Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Comments: Visa Granted: No Name: Nazmul Date of SMP Verification for Limited Occupation: 19 July 2011 Date of SMP application: 19 August 2011 Trade/profession: HR Advisor Visa type: 176 Delays/further docs requested: Not yet SS received: 21 Sep 2011 Form 1100 Uploaded: Visa Filed: Comments: verification will be denied if skill matching with recently advertised positions is not provided.

Hello all Still plodding through the Visa process (state sponsorship) and we have got to the point where we must decide on which state would offer us the best opportunities, preferably South. I'm an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) (unlicenced) and we have looked at each states SOL. WA: is out of the question at the moment as we are not on their SOL. SA: I'm on their list but there are some conditions to be met, I read this to be that you must gain work experience in this state, can anyone clarify this? Victoria: I'm on their list with no conditions so this may be a possibility. NSW: This state is broken down into four areas and the SOL for each does not include any Aircraft trades. I get the impression that there is not a great requirement for aircraft engineers on a state sponsorship visa and yet this occupation is on the skills shortage list for Australia. I would be grateful if anyone could confirm my findings or offer some advice. Thank you all Ian and Debbie

Does anyone have or know children attending this school? I have searched and searched but cannot find out any info about other peoples experiences at the school...anything good or bad would help in deciding if its a possible school i would like to send my children to. Thank you in advance x

hi, anyone have any idea about state sponsorship 2013 for ICT courses from any state? is any state is going to open new occupation in july ?

Hi all We have been lucky enough to have been granted a Skilled (migrant) (class VE) subclass 176 (skilled-sponsored) visa. We were sponsored by Adelaide but not sure if that means we are bound to live and work in Adelaide. Information on the interent is a little vague. We have been told it is only a moral obligation to live and work there, but wondered if there would be any fall out from immigration if we didn't live / work there. A 176 visa means we can live and work anywhere in australia but worried about the state sponsorship meaning more that just giving us the points we needed?? Arrrgghhhh can anybody help clarify this? Has anyone done it??:mad: We really want to live in Perth where my family is. Thanks x :hug:

Hi All, I wanted to have some good pieces of advice from you... As far as I have seen in the SMP's, there are 2 states (WA & SA) AND 1 Teritorry (NT) that are sponsoring recruitment conusultant (Not sure whther occupation remains till the time my sister applies for it )... My Question is that what do you people think which state in terms of JOB VACANCIES and SALARY is the best for this occupation...For the sake of a quick decision for my sister...She can not decide as we donot know what the salary packages of diff states are and where my sister can find a job abit easily then the other.... Please donot give me links to different websites coz ive altrady seen them and they cannot giv a good idea abt actual real situation there... Thanks all................. Hoping for answers here

http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/Hsc.aspx http://bettereducation.com.au/school/secondary/nsw/nsw_top_secondary_schools.aspx

Diff b/w regional SS AND State Sponsoreship time frame??????? hey all u helpful people out there!!!!!!!!! Little info plssss!!!!! What is the difference between Regional state sponsorship and state sponsorship time frames? I hav heard from somwere that regional SS applications ones are moving fast for NT and are not taking 30 weeks???....is tht information true or not????? please present your viewsssssssss!!!! Tc

Hi folks, I received an email from immigration SA today (2 Nov 2010) informing my SS application was approved. My ANZSCO is 261313 Software Engineer. I just lodged my 176 online visa application with DIAC. Will upload all the documents tomorrow. My timeline: 11-May-2010 ACS applied 20-May-2010 IELTS L7R7W6S6.5 25-Aug-2010 ACS approved (261313) 11-Sep-2010 IELTS L7R7.5W6.5S6 27-Sep-2010 SA SS applied 02-Nov-2010 SA SS granted:jiggy: 02-Nov-2010 176 lodged xx-xxx-2011 176 granted

Hi all, Please someone could advise me about applying to the state nomination with the Western Australia. I want to do the online application for the state nomination with Western Australia. I went through the Western Australian web site and I couldn’t understand about what is state nomination application form. Is that Skill Sponsored Visa (SSV) is a state nomination application? Please if you could advise me. Many thanks Thas

Hi, We got our 176 Visas and there is no specific condition mentioned in our visas. The visa does not says that we should stay in the sponsored state for the first 2 years etc etc... I was just wondering whether anybody landed and settled in a city other than the sponsored state??? I know that there is no legal commitment to stay in the sponsored state and the applicant is having a moral commitment to the state. If the applicant gets a job offer in other state, whether he can move there?? If we can move, what we should do.. like just inform the State and go?? We plan to land during Nov this year and would like to get views of our members... ( We applied during Sept 09 and got our 176 visa during March ''11. My friend applied during same time during Sept '09 also got his 175 visa during April '11. Which means no benefit for applying under State Sponsorship!!!) Satish

Hello Everyone Me and my partner are planning to move to Australia. Our last visit was 2 years back on a student visa while my partner got a TR.I have been working as a Graphic Designer since 2010. We are good on the point test, but my offshore work ex is only 2 years plus.Do i qualify for a 190 visa as i have been told that i am under experience and wont get a state sponsorship (graphic design is open in ACT). I have to take a chance on the vetasses. I don't know whether this thread is repeated, but would really like a clear opinion on this. Thanks