SheldonMeldrew Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Hello to anyone reading this, I am an English, 38 year old man, in a bit of a muddle. I spoke to a registered migration agent over the phone last week about joining my Australian girlfriend who went back to NSW 3 months ago, to stay (one of her main reasons was her elderly father who was very ill) a partner visa seems unavailable because we have not lived together. We have been an item for 21 months. The agent said I should apply for a 189 because I have an NVQ2 in social care and have worked as a Support Worker on and off for nearly 4 years. He quoted me approximately $8790 for all the assessments and fees in total. I think if I applied without an agency I would save a lot of money so I told him I'll think it over. Then I learnt from the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website that Family Support Workers are not on the skilled occupation list but on the CSOL instead. For which, as I'm sure most of you know, an approved company who cannot get enough local workers has to offer me a job. He never mentioned anything about needing a sponsor, and he said I only have 40 points and need to do an IELTS assessment to get 20 more?! I didn't think an IELTS assessment is worth that? I'm worried that my partner and I will just drift apart in the months to come and there isn't a visa I'm eligible for. If anyone can help I would be eternally grateful. Thank you for reading my ramblings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 The agent you have spoken to sounds a little suspect. I would speak to a good one such as Go Matilda. I personally don't think your qualification will be sufficient and even if so, you may not have enough experience to pass the skills assessment. But, a good agent is going to be necessary. If the skilled route isn't viable there may be a couple of other options. One is prospective marriage visa if you are both willing to get married, the other is if NSW allow relationships to be registered, which can get around the requirement to live together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheldonMeldrew Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 I was a bit surprised when the agent said my qualifications were enough. I won't be contacting Visa First again! Thanks for your input ☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Senise Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 If your occupation is Family Support Worker you would need a Diploma Qualification and at least one year of experience for a skills assessment. It is on the CSOL so you would need either State sponsorship for a subclass 190 visa or a job offer for a subclass 186 visa. If your occupation is Social Worker, you would normally need a degree, although the relevant assessing authority will consider lower qualifications. This occupation is on the SOL so a subclass 189 is possible. Although a careful assessment would be required, from what you have posted, a skilled visa may be difficult. A family visa supported by your partner may be more achievable with some planning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheldonMeldrew Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Thank you Mr Senise. It's heartening that there are people out there who take the time to type messages with good advice. Hats off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Did you note this? A family visa supported by your partner may be more achievable with some planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheldonMeldrew Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Yes I did thank you, now I need to see about registering our relationship and getting a visa to allow me to be in Oz with my girlfriend until the partner visa is processed. Apparently it takes 15-23 months. (Why don't these buggers employ more staff so they can do it faster?! It's not like they don't charge enough money!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 1 hour ago, SheldonMeldrew said: Yes I did thank you, now I need to see about registering our relationship and getting a visa to allow me to be in Oz with my girlfriend until the partner visa is processed. Apparently it takes 15-23 months. (Why don't these buggers employ more staff so they can do it faster?! It's not like they don't charge enough money!) Its nothing to do with employing more staff. DIBP are only allowed to grant somany visas in each class each year. So they split the Spouse Visas into so many per month. Even having more staff would not change that. Many people have to wait over a year. In fact some of us wait all that time onlly to get a refusal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveshe Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Sheldon , for that partner visa you need to have lived together for 12 months and have had joint bank accounts , utility bills and lots of other evidence to prove you have lived together . You need stat decs from people saying you have lived together 12 months , pictures . You need to prove everything for previous 12 months . They like to see it all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 2 hours ago, steveshe said: Sheldon , for that partner visa you need to have lived together for 12 months and have had joint bank accounts , utility bills and lots of other evidence to prove you have lived together . You need stat decs from people saying you have lived together 12 months , pictures . You need to prove everything for previous 12 months . They like to see it all . Not necessarily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveshe Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 8 hours ago, VERYSTORMY said: Not necessarily Well ive got my partner visa and thats what they asked for from me . And if you go on other other Pom pages thats what they are still asking for . You need 12 months of proof you have been together and joint bills and bank statements , letters , photo's and anything else . Even the immi agents are telling them this . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Senise Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 4 hours ago, steveshe said: Well ive got my partner visa and thats what they asked for from me . And if you go on other other Pom pages thats what they are still asking for . You need 12 months of proof you have been together and joint bills and bank statements , letters , photo's and anything else . Even the immi agents are telling them this . Verystormy is correct, this is not the case for everyone. Migration Regulations are complex and diverse and there are often multiple ways to qualify for the same visa. Just because it applied to your situation, does not mean that it will apply to everyone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheldonMeldrew Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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