Which visa should we go for??!

[ItchyFeet76]

Having decided, all along, to go with a 457 visa as we only got 30 points, we've recently been looking at how to gain enough points for PR (via a 190 as it gives us an extra 5 points and is 'apparently' quicker than a 189...?). We were slightly pessimistic about the chances of getting a job offer and also about the economy / job market over there, so thought that if we have a chance at PR then it would be foolish to dismiss it. However, it won't be easy as the only way to get enough points (55 + 5 for state sponsorship = 60) is to have:-

 

* 8 years' experience (I believe anything IT-related would be deemed as 'closely-related' to my husband's IT Security Consultant / Pen Tester occupation);

* IELTS score of 8;

* UK qualification(s) assessed as the equivalent of a Bachelor Degree in Aus (OH has professional quals only - highest is CREST CCT - Check Team Leader);

 

So oh is about to apply to have his skills assessed (hope to submit application next week), and last night he spoke to an IT recruiter in Aus who said his skills are indeed in demand (which is a relief to hear) and he could get him a job by July. The problem is we're not quite ready to go yet as one of our mortgages doesn't expire until Sep and we haven't saved up enough money to go yet (we need £14-15k in total and are about halfway there).

 

Questions:-

 

* Should we stick with the 457 idea and do the streamlined 190 fast-track route to PR after 1 year (available in Vic only)?

* Should we forget about the July job and wait until Oct and look for another 457?

* Should we (after the skills assessment result comes back) do an EOI for the 190 and forget about the 457? We're hoping we'd get PR within 5 months... does this sound achievable?

 

* If we go for PR, I've read that you can do the medicals / police checks before you get the ITA (but after lodging the EOI as you need to give the doctor the ref. no.?) - is this true? If so, why doesn't everyone do this as it surely saves previous time...?

* Do they go into your past medical history on the medicals, or do they just care about whether or not you have TB / HIV? Do you have to do a healthy questionnaire? How detailed is it?

 

My heart is saying "go for July!" as we're dying to get out there, but my head is saying "go for the 190 and wait until Oct." We just don't want to wait too long incase the x-rate falls / job market takes a dive / oh's occupation disappears off the CSOL (or is marked as 'closed for new applications').

 

Also, what would happen if we went for a 190 and, before PR was granted, we found a job that needed to start asap. Could we get a bridging visa to go over whilst the 190 application is still being processed...?

 

Sorry for all the questions, quys.... just really confused. Thought we knew what our plans were and now it's all up in the air :-( Got agents coming to value the house and haven't a clue when to put it on the market or when to tell them we're hoping to move by!

 

Cheers for your patience,

 

I-F :-)

[xlornax]

Some ppl dont want to do medicals upfront as they are only valid for one year and if your visa takes longer than that you would have to redo them..im applying for 189 and done mine before applying as im confident it wont take more than one year

[ItchyFeet76]

Thanks xlornax, I think the 190 is supposed to take around 6 months so I'd probably get the meds done before we apply. Am a bit confused about whether you do the ehealth or emeds thing though!

 

Does anyone know if we could go early (i.e. before our 190 had been processed) if we got a job offer? I don't think you can have a 457 alongside it, can you...?

 

Cheers, I-F :-)

[lebourvellec]

You can not do the medicals before you apply as the clinic requires the trn from you lodged application and I believe now they also require a hap Id.

 

Medicals and and police checks are only valid for 12 months and it's the earliest date that is used to determine you first entry date to Australia. By doing too early, it can leave little time to be able to validate your visas, also the cost of medicals for 2 adults around £650, it will be expensive lesson if required to redo them.

 

I believe you oh occupation is on csol therefore will require state nomination, what would you do if on 457 visa and Vic are no longer nominating you oh occupation.

 

You out could go down the 457 route but it may be a risky option if you are not able to get state nomination or employer sponsored PR, you may find that you may need to return to uk at some point.

[ItchyFeet76]

it's the earliest date that is used to determine you first entry date to Australia. By doing too early, it can leave little time to be able to validate your visas, also the cost of medicals for 2 adults around £650, it will be expensive lesson if required to redo them.

 

Hi lebourvellec, thanks for your reply. Can you elaborate on the above though, please? I'm probably being thick but don't really understand the whole 'validation' thing. Do you have to submit the medical within 12 months of it being done, or actually land in Oz (validate visa) within 12 months...? (I think that's what you're implying but I could be wrong?!).

 

Yes, oh's occupation is currently on the CSOL and he feels confident it will remain so, but nothing is for certain and whilst his skills are currently sought after, there aren't that many jobs around as it's quite a new occupation. Not sure if a shortage of jobs but also shortage of skills affects the permanence of an occupation on the CSOL...? I've emailed Victoria (again) but they never replied to my other emails (actually that's a lie - they did reply but said I needed to speak to DIBP as it was concerning PR!) so am not hopeful of an informative reply!

 

The benefits of going down the 190 route speak for themselves, but we don't want to turn down job offers whilst we're waiting for it to be processed (and I don't think we could land (whilst it was being processed) to start a job...? Hence my question about bridging visas...). However, the benefits of a 457 are that we'd be out there quicker and would be taking advantage of the good exchange rates, the good UK property market (just got a very good valuation and if we wait until summer to market property we'll be competing with every other Tom, Dick & Harry, and I can't see prices going up any more), my oh's occupation being on the CSOL, Vic currently having no school fees for 457....... We've found they do a fast-tracked, streamlined route to PR which means working for a Vic employer for 12 months and then getting PR within 2 weeks, so this would be preferable to going down the transitional 186 route. Perhaps we could ask for something in the contract (when / if we find work) stipulating that, if my oh is still working for the employer, they will support him on the fast-tracked PR route...?

 

PS - What's a hap ID??

 

Thanks :-)

[Tigerstripes]

You have to land within 12 months of your medical or PCC being completed (whichever is earliest). Therefore, people who don't want to go over permanently that early go on holiday to validate their visas.

 

a HAP ID is the reference number on your medical referral form. You only get this when you have lodged your application.

 

i'm not sure about your other questions though.

[xlornax]

I done my medicals before I applied..got hap id number by registering wth my health declerations/ e medical

[lebourvellec]

I done my medicals before I applied..got hap id number by registering wth my health declerations/ e medical

If you are on a 457 - it is possible to do them before.

[xlornax]

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/health-requirements/my-health-declarations.htm

Im confused..thats not how I understand it

[Chami]

Having decided, all along, to go with a 457 visa as we only got 30 points, we've recently been looking at how to gain enough points for PR (via a 190 as it gives us an extra 5 points and is 'apparently' quicker than a 189...?). We were slightly pessimistic about the chances of getting a job offer and also about the economy / job market over there, so thought that if we have a chance at PR then it would be foolish to dismiss it. However, it won't be easy as the only way to get enough points (55 + 5 for state sponsorship = 60) is to have:-

 

* 8 years' experience (I believe anything IT-related would be deemed as 'closely-related' to my husband's IT Security Consultant / Pen Tester occupation);

* IELTS score of 8;

* UK qualification(s) assessed as the equivalent of a Bachelor Degree in Aus (OH has professional quals only - highest is CREST CCT - Check Team Leader);

 

So oh is about to apply to have his skills assessed (hope to submit application next week), and last night he spoke to an IT recruiter in Aus who said his skills are indeed in demand (which is a relief to hear) and he could get him a job by July. The problem is we're not quite ready to go yet as one of our mortgages doesn't expire until Sep and we haven't saved up enough money to go yet (we need £14-15k in total and are about halfway there).

 

Questions:-

 

* Should we stick with the 457 idea and do the streamlined 190 fast-track route to PR after 1 year (available in Vic only)?

* Should we forget about the July job and wait until Oct and look for another 457?

* Should we (after the skills assessment result comes back) do an EOI for the 190 and forget about the 457? We're hoping we'd get PR within 5 months... does this sound achievable?

 

* If we go for PR, I've read that you can do the medicals / police checks before you get the ITA (but after lodging the EOI as you need to give the doctor the ref. no.?) - is this true? If so, why doesn't everyone do this as it surely saves previous time...?

* Do they go into your past medical history on the medicals, or do they just care about whether or not you have TB / HIV? Do you have to do a healthy questionnaire? How detailed is it?

 

My heart is saying "go for July!" as we're dying to get out there, but my head is saying "go for the 190 and wait until Oct." We just don't want to wait too long incase the x-rate falls / job market takes a dive / oh's occupation disappears off the CSOL (or is marked as 'closed for new applications').

 

Also, what would happen if we went for a 190 and, before PR was granted, we found a job that needed to start asap. Could we get a bridging visa to go over whilst the 190 application is still being processed...?

 

Sorry for all the questions, quys.... just really confused. Thought we knew what our plans were and now it's all up in the air :-( Got agents coming to value the house and haven't a clue when to put it on the market or when to tell them we're hoping to move by!

 

Cheers for your patience,

 

I-F :-)

 

I applied for my 189 and the processing was quite fast...for 190 you have to wait to be nominated too and there is a cycle for that. so all in all, waiting for 190 can add to the processing time....