AmyL Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) On 24th June I received an invite to apply for my state nominated 491 visa for SA and occupation of counsellor nec. I didn't expect an invite as I had assumed they were not processing provisional visas. Just wondering if anyone has had a grant recently or if any agents know of processing times? I don't want to get my hope's up eagerly watching my inbox over the next couple of months if receiving a decision for this visa is unlikely within the near future Edited July 12, 2020 by AmyL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 12/07/2020 at 21:42, AmyL said: On 24th June I received an invite to apply for my state nominated 491 visa for SA and occupation of counsellor nec. I didn't expect an invite as I had assumed they were not processing provisional visas. Just wondering if anyone has had a grant recently or if any agents know of processing times? I don't want to get my hope's up eagerly watching my inbox over the next couple of months if receiving a decision for this visa is unlikely within the near future Hi We also received our ITA from SA at the end of June, we were told the visa application had to be lodged within 60 days or it would expire. We lodged it around a week ago, now need to send Medicals, Police checks etc Our agent has said that visa processing for offshore candidates is currently on hold due to travel restrictions so they can’t predict when it’ll be processed. We just have to wait and see and know it’ll be a few months down the line. Fingers crossed things improve soon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 1 minute ago, Conyo2588 said: Hi We also received our ITA from SA at the end of June, we were told the visa application had to be lodged within 60 days or it would expire. We lodged it around a week ago, now need to send Medicals, Police checks etc Our agent has said that visa processing for offshore candidates is currently on hold due to travel restrictions so they can’t predict when it’ll be processed. We just have to wait and see and know it’ll be a few months down the line. Fingers crossed things improve soon Yeah we are the same with just needing to send medicals and police certificates. Have our medical on thursday. I had a feeling offshore processing was on hold that's why I was so surprised to get an invite! At least then everything is done though and it is just a waiting game. Fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 20 minutes ago, AmyL said: Yeah we are the same with just needing to send medicals and police certificates. Have our medical on thursday. I had a feeling offshore processing was on hold that's why I was so surprised to get an invite! At least then everything is done though and it is just a waiting game. Fingers crossed! I think the hold must have only come in early July, from what I’ve seen on here. I’m just going to keep an eye on the Govt website to see if the processing times get updated. Sort of hoping they don’t considering we can’t travel anyway! Will you let me know how your medicals go please? I’m dreading it! Also, where in SA were you thinking of going to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, Conyo2588 said: I think the hold must have only come in early July, from what I’ve seen on here. I’m just going to keep an eye on the Govt website to see if the processing times get updated. Sort of hoping they don’t considering we can’t travel anyway! Will you let me know how your medicals go please? I’m dreading it! Also, where in SA were you thinking of going to? I will do yes I'm dreading it as well but booked it for as soon as I could to get it out the way. Will let you know what to expect afterwards! We have been watching youtube videos of suburbs in adelaide to get a feel for it Haha we want to be close to adelaide but not live in the city. We like the look of Glenelg and Henley beach. We had hoped to get over there for a research trip before covid set in this year but we might just make the move when we can and do a bit of exploring when over there to see where we want to settle. Part of the adventure I suppose! What about you where are you thinking of going to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 8 minutes ago, AmyL said: I will do yes I'm dreading it as well but booked it for as soon as I could to get it out the way. Will let you know what to expect afterwards! We have been watching youtube videos of suburbs in adelaide to get a feel for it Haha we want to be close to adelaide but not live in the city. We like the look of Glenelg and Henley beach. We had hoped to get over there for a research trip before covid set in this year but we might just make the move when we can and do a bit of exploring when over there to see where we want to settle. Part of the adventure I suppose! What about you where are you thinking of going to? Yeah we also saw Glenelg and Henley Beach, think they’re quite popular! They look really nice! We looked a bit further inland, still commutable to Adelaide, we just didn’t want to live in the city as we’re not big city fans. We liked the look of Aberfoyle Park. It’s really difficult isn’t it as you don’t know what the areas are like until you actually start living there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJA87 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 12/07/2020 at 21:42, AmyL said: On 24th June I received an invite to apply for my state nominated 491 visa for SA and occupation of counsellor nec. I didn't expect an invite as I had assumed they were not processing provisional visas. Just wondering if anyone has had a grant recently or if any agents know of processing times? I don't want to get my hope's up eagerly watching my inbox over the next couple of months if receiving a decision for this visa is unlikely within the near future I got my invite in March and still no grant. At the time the estimated processing time was 30 days but the last update was up to 85 days, which I have surpassed and now there isn’t an estimated progress time visible anymore. So, I assume my application has been pushed back for a while which is understandable considering Covid. Did you submit and pay for your visa prior to the 28th of June to avoid it being deleted then? https://www.acacia-au.com/state-migration-update-june2020.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 26 minutes ago, PJA87 said: I got my invite in March and still no grant. At the time the estimated processing time was 30 days but the last update was up to 85 days, which I have surpassed and now there isn’t an estimated progress time visible anymore. So, I assume my application has been pushed back for a while which is understandable considering Covid. Did you submit and pay for your visa prior to the 28th of June to avoid it being deleted then? https://www.acacia-au.com/state-migration-update-june2020.php I assume the link relates to state sponsorship applications? We lodged our state sponsorship application in April and paid the fee then. We got notified in June that it had been accepted, which is the point where we put our full visa application in to DOHA When you say you got your invitation in March, do you mean notification that you were successful in gaining state sponsorship and applied for the 491 visa through DOHA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 48 minutes ago, PJA87 said: I got my invite in March and still no grant. At the time the estimated processing time was 30 days but the last update was up to 85 days, which I have surpassed and now there isn’t an estimated progress time visible anymore. So, I assume my application has been pushed back for a while which is understandable considering Covid. Did you submit and pay for your visa prior to the 28th of June to avoid it being deleted then? It is frustrating the waiting game. Such a long process anyway made worse by all the madness with Covid. I applied for state nomination end of feb. Got nominated and invite to apply 24th june and lodged visa application on 6th July. The link is for state nomination applications being deleted if not submitted and paid for rather than the full visa applications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJA87 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 It’s been so long that I forgot that there was a fee for state nomination. Ok, that makes sense then. yes, I do mean that. State sponsorship in March, then applied within the 60 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 29 minutes ago, PJA87 said: It’s been so long that I forgot that there was a fee for state nomination. Ok, that makes sense then. yes, I do mean that. State sponsorship in March, then applied within the 60 days. I think it all just starts to merge into one after a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 23, 2020 Author Share Posted July 23, 2020 On 21/07/2020 at 13:46, Conyo2588 said: I think the hold must have only come in early July, from what I’ve seen on here. I’m just going to keep an eye on the Govt website to see if the processing times get updated. Sort of hoping they don’t considering we can’t travel anyway! Will you let me know how your medicals go please? I’m dreading it! Also, where in SA were you thinking of going to? Just letting you know how medicals were I was so stressed going in I've got such a fear of doctors but It really was not as bad as i thought. Whole process was about 45 minutes. We went to the manchester one. We arrived and were given sample pots for urine sample and signed a paper to consent to being examined (we got wrong for not bringing our own pen so bring one!). You go to the loo when you are ready and then got called in and we were seen together at the same time. Went through medical history (any diagnosis, under any specialists, any medication etc.) Had blood pressure taken, did quick eye test just reading some letters, then stripped down to underwear and listened to chest and lungs, checked ears, checked body over for lumps and bumps, checked reflexes then had to stand up and touch your toes () ... then bloods. Got dressed went back in waiting room and was called in for chest xray which took all of 10 seconds. Was really just like a good old fashioned routine doctors check up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 12 hours ago, AmyL said: Just letting you know how medicals were I was so stressed going in I've got such a fear of doctors but It really was not as bad as i thought. Whole process was about 45 minutes. We went to the manchester one. We arrived and were given sample pots for urine sample and signed a paper to consent to being examined (we got wrong for not bringing our own pen so bring one!). You go to the loo when you are ready and then got called in and we were seen together at the same time. Went through medical history (any diagnosis, under any specialists, any medication etc.) Had blood pressure taken, did quick eye test just reading some letters, then stripped down to underwear and listened to chest and lungs, checked ears, checked body over for lumps and bumps, checked reflexes then had to stand up and touch your toes () ... then bloods. Got dressed went back in waiting room and was called in for chest xray which took all of 10 seconds. Was really just like a good old fashioned routine doctors check up. Thank you so much for updating me, I really appreciate it! I feel much better now that I know what to expect Not sure how my partners going to feel trying to touch his toes Do you get weighed together? I really don’t want him seeing my weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 50 minutes ago, Conyo2588 said: Thank you so much for updating me, I really appreciate it! I feel much better now that I know what to expect Not sure how my partners going to feel trying to touch his toes Do you get weighed together? I really don’t want him seeing my weight it's very undignifying standing there starkers trying to touch your toes So you get seen together but the doc only does one person at a time so your partner will be seated near the door and then you will be seen to so he won't be anywhere near you or the scales 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 1 hour ago, AmyL said: it's very undignifying standing there starkers trying to touch your toes So you get seen together but the doc only does one person at a time so your partner will be seated near the door and then you will be seen to so he won't be anywhere near you or the scales Haha thank god for that! And yes, I can imagine your dignity does take a little dive then Thanks for all the info Be sure to keep me updated on your visa progress! We’re on roughly the same timescales so it’ll be good to see how somebody else is getting on x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 7 minutes ago, Conyo2588 said: Haha thank god for that! And yes, I can imagine your dignity does take a little dive then Thanks for all the info Be sure to keep me updated on your visa progress! We’re on roughly the same timescales so it’ll be good to see how somebody else is getting on x You're very welcome Yes and same to you, keep me updated! It's nice to know someone who is going through the same process for SA x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD there is light Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 Hello, To let you know that I also had ITA on 27 June for 491 SA. Will be applying within the 60 day timeframe. Never been to SA so a bit like you here. Seeing I am a bit behind in my DOHA application, is it a case of 'accept' and then I will be notified of documents that need to be submitted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 (edited) @RD there is light Oh gosh I'm not sure as I had an agent put all my stuff together and submit it. I know I completed a form 80 on invitation which was submitted and then I received a request to action police checks and medical pretty much soon after submission. My medicals and police checks were requested pretty much immediately after lodging the full visa application so just something to be prepared for as you have 28 days to show evidence that you have acted on the request I.e booking medical appointment and uploading this into your account. I'm not sure if that was at all helpful! What part of SA are you thinking of going to? Edited August 2, 2020 by AmyL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD there is light Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 Me again. Just lodging apapplication now, though asking for character checks to be completed. Is this different to police checks which seems is requested afterwards visa app submission? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD there is light Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 On 03/08/2020 at 04:33, AmyL said: @RD there is light Oh gosh I'm not sure as I had an agent put all my stuff together and submit it. I know I completed a form 80 on invitation which was submitted and then I received a request to action police checks and medical pretty much soon after submission. My medicals and police checks were requested pretty much immediately after lodging the full visa application so just something to be prepared for as you have 28 days to show evidence that you have acted on the request I.e booking medical appointment and uploading this into your account. I'm not sure if that was at all helpful! What part of SA are you thinking of going to? Thanks so much Amy. And sorry for late reply. As our agent was not helpful at the earlier skills assessment stage, we decided to work without him. What you have mentioned is helpful indeed. No idea where we'll go to in Adelaide as yet, not even sure when borders will open to allow 491 holders into Australia, though will be following SA 491 holders closely. We may even end up a small community supporting each other once we are over there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyL Posted August 16, 2020 Author Share Posted August 16, 2020 2 hours ago, RD there is light said: Thanks so much Amy. And sorry for late reply. As our agent was not helpful at the earlier skills assessment stage, we decided to work without him. What you have mentioned is helpful indeed. No idea where we'll go to in Adelaide as yet, not even sure when borders will open to allow 491 holders into Australia, though will be following SA 491 holders closely. We may even end up a small community supporting each other once we are over there! yes that would be nice to have a little community with everyone in the same boat! 2 hours ago, RD there is light said: Me again. Just lodging apapplication now, though asking for character checks to be completed. Is this different to police checks which seems is requested afterwards visa app submission? I believe the character check is the police check :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD there is light Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 On 16/08/2020 at 23:44, AmyL said: believe the character check is the police check Thanks very much AmyL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD there is light Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 On 13/07/2020 at 04:42, AmyL said: On 24th June I received an invite to apply for my state nominated 491 visa for SA and occupation of counsellor nec. I didn't expect an invite as I had assumed they were not processing provisional visas. Just wondering if anyone has had a grant recently or if any agents know of processing times? I don't want to get my hope's up eagerly watching my inbox over the next couple of months if receiving a decision for this visa is unlikely within the near future Hi Amy, Just to give you a quick update. I was granted 491 visa on 5 Feb 2021! We have to make first entry by 5 Feb 2022 so hope travel restrictions lift. As you may be aware we are offshore and were nominated by SA. I am a non-critical occupation so the grant comes as a pleasant surprise considering the order of visa grants for priority occupations. Total timeline from visa lodgment: 21 Aug 2020 to 5 Feb 2021 (168 days). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulhand Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 4 hours ago, RD there is light said: I am a non-critical occupation What occupation are you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conyo2588 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 4 hours ago, paulhand said: What occupation are you? On another post, he’s advised he’s a Plumber, SA state nomination 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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