I have received numerous inquiries about which agency I went to to assist me in my VISA application. I did hire an agency in the first part of the process, paid half of their professional fee, and never returned to them. I wish I could tell you the agency's name, but then I respect that agency's way of doing business. I was just not pleased with the service.
Everything in this post is purely based on my experience, so don't take this as true for everybody. I will try to balance the pros and cons between hiring-a-migration agent versus doing-it-yourself.
Do you need help with your CDR? We have decided to make available our experience in writing our own CDRs (and our friend's) to YOU.
If you are of engineering background and your skills assessment requires you to submit a competency demonstration report to Engineer's Australia, and you don't know how to start. Perhaps you have started your preparation and may need someone with an experience to review your work and give recommendations on how to further improve it, then this might just be an opportunity for you.
Please check this blog regularly for service and service fee updates.Learn more about this service.
If you are of engineering background and your skills assessment requires you to submit a competency demonstration report to Engineer's Australia, and you don't know how to start. Perhaps you have started your preparation and may need someone with an experience to review your work and give recommendations on how to further improve it, then this might just be an opportunity for you.
Please check this blog regularly for service and service fee updates.Learn more about this service.
You don't need an agent, you need a friend.
Cheesy as the title of this post may sound, but the truth in it is beyond the value a migration agent can provide.
I applied with a friend, actually two friends. Three of us were serious about the application, so we never let a single doubtful idea or question stand in our way. We constantly share information about what we learned with our research.
I applied with a friend, actually two friends. Three of us were serious about the application, so we never let a single doubtful idea or question stand in our way. We constantly share information about what we learned with our research.
New skills list published for Australian skilled migration program
New skills have been published from the DIAC website last June 13, 2012. There is very little change on the list.
Four occupations have been added:
133513 Production Manager (Mining)
234912 Metallurgist
251411 Optometrist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
and Four were also removed:
Four occupations have been added:
133513 Production Manager (Mining)
234912 Metallurgist
251411 Optometrist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
and Four were also removed:
Australian VISA points requirement lowered to 60.
If you barely reached 65 points and you only have 60 points, this sounds like heaven's answer to your prayers. A recent news from the DIAC has changed the passmark from 65 down to 60 in accordance with the new SkillSelect system.
"SkillSelect is a new electronic service for managing the skilled migration program. Intending migrants without an employer sponsor wanting to live and work in Australia will need to complete an online EOI, then based on claims of their skills and attributes, will be allocated a score against the points test. SkillSelect will rank intending migrant’s scores against other EOIs." - DIAC
"SkillSelect is a new electronic service for managing the skilled migration program. Intending migrants without an employer sponsor wanting to live and work in Australia will need to complete an online EOI, then based on claims of their skills and attributes, will be allocated a score against the points test. SkillSelect will rank intending migrant’s scores against other EOIs." - DIAC
Skilled-Independent VISA health requirement
A medical assessment is required for a skilled-independent immigrant VISA application. An applicant will be notified to take the medical assessment once his application reaches a case officer. DIAC publishes its list of panel doctors who are authorized to perform the medical assessment of an applicant. In the Philippines, the list is here.
If you submitted an online visa application, you can take advantage of the eHealth medical assessment system.
If you submitted an online visa application, you can take advantage of the eHealth medical assessment system.
How to get an NBI Clearance: My recent experience and how I should have done it quicker and cheaper.
An Australian Skilled-Independent Immigrant has to submit a penal clearance certificate for every country that they have stayed for a minimum of 12 months in total. 99% of my time, I am in the Philippines, so I only have to submit an NBI clearance.
Firstly, I am annoyed by long queues. And almost everybody's rule of thumb for queuing in an NBI office or renewal branch is to be the earliest possible. Robinson's Cybergate in Cebu had an NBI renewal branch, and the never-the-early-bird that I am, I arrived half past 10am and they can only accommodate 200. A security guard, trying to be as discrete as he can, offered me to come back around 4pm when all renewals are
How much does the Australian Skilled-Independent VISA cost?
Once friends knew that my Australian VISA has been approved, the next question will most likely be, how much did you spend for it?
We'll I kept a good list of expenses in the Budget and Expenses page. Check-it out and leave me a comment if you have any questions.
Do note however that your expenses will vary from mine. I published it to give an aspiring immigrant a general idea.
Don't forget to leave a comment if you have any questions.
We'll I kept a good list of expenses in the Budget and Expenses page. Check-it out and leave me a comment if you have any questions.
Do note however that your expenses will vary from mine. I published it to give an aspiring immigrant a general idea.
Don't forget to leave a comment if you have any questions.
Update: My Australian VISA Timeline
Australian Immigration website says it takes between 18-24 months for a skilled-independent VISA application to be allocated to a case officer.
But recently, in my case, I got case officer after 5 months, and then my VISA was approved a week later.
Certainly not the 18 months I expected.
Check-out the timeline page.
But recently, in my case, I got case officer after 5 months, and then my VISA was approved a week later.
Certainly not the 18 months I expected.
Check-out the timeline page.
I got my Australian VISA approved!
Finally, barely 6 months in the wait, I got my visa application approved. The feeling is difficult to explain. I was no longer dreaming of the possibility to migrate, the dream has become a reality.
I learned about the news 5 minutes before a 2 hour meeting began. An email from the DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) popped in my yahoo email account, which I almost refresh every 5 minutes since my medical requirements became finalized online.
I learned about the news 5 minutes before a 2 hour meeting began. An email from the DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) popped in my yahoo email account, which I almost refresh every 5 minutes since my medical requirements became finalized online.
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