Australian Visa & Immigration Issues

[southsydney00]

if your goal is to migrate here in australia in the SKILLED INDEPENDENT CATEGORY, the website to go to is www.immi.gov.au .

go to VISAS AND IMMIGRATION ( in that website), then go to WORKERS. there youll find the different visa categories you can apply for.
check out the SOL to see if your occupation is needed in Australia (Form 1121i )


there is also a POINTS TEST. check if you generally qualify (kung pasado ang age, skills, english proficiency, work experience) to see if you really have the chance of obtaining a visa.


for example, kung high school teacher ka and you are 30 years old, you are in the skilled occupations list at pasok ka sa age (less than 45 years old)- meaning australia MAY accept you as an immigrant if you can pass the SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST under the assigned assessing body (in this case, its TEACHING AUSTRALIA-website can be found in the SOL as well) and english test.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE WORK BEGINS.
STEP 1.
after finding your category, go to the website of your profession's assessing body. there you can check the required experiences, education and certifications you need to be recognized as a skilled worker.
they may ask for certified copies of your employment certificates, diplomas, seminars attended, proof of education, legal certificates to prove your citizenship etc.
just photocopy the original documents then have them notarized, marked as certified true copies.
the requirements will be different for each and every profession.

TIP: read the guidelines of the assessing body carefully. take into consideration what they are looking for. follow these to the dot. hindi pwede ang pwede na. follow the rules.

you have to send you application to australia to YOUR PROFESSION'S DESIGNATED ASSESSING BODY and then hopefully the results are positive then youre off to the next stage.

if you pass this stage, youll receive a letter from the assessing body and youre almost halfway through the process if you have this.

STEP 2. Take the IELTS or English Test. Look for the IELTS grade required for your nominated profession.
Hopefully, pasado din.

STEP 3. Now that you have been assessed as skilled and have passed the IELTS test, go back to the website, www.immi.gov.au, then download the migration application forms and apply for migration (for you and your family).
if you get 120 points or more, you can apply for the Skilled Independent category, which means once approved, you can settle anywhere in Australia with your family. i fall under this category and for the record, walang show money involved dito.

or if you get 110 points, you can apply under the other skilled categories like the state sponsored or if youve got family there, family sponsored. there are options available.
one such state is victoria (capital city, melbourne) which sponsors certain skilled workers na kulang sa area nila. you just have to submit an application for sponsorship online, send them your skills assessment result and IELTS result (you can scan and send it through email unless they ask for a physical copy of the documents). if they need your skill, theyll sponsor you, theyll send you an email. print that email and send it with your application.

it took 9 months after i lodged our application for our visas to be released. i corresponded with the immigration office via email. it was definitely cheaper. but you have to regularly check your mail to see if the migration office has sent you a notice or needs other supporting documents. be patient. they dont really send out replies for "kulit mails"

about 6 months through that 9 months of waiting, they sent me an email requesting for medical check up from our family. they have appointed clinics you can go to.

other tips: there is a category for the skilled workers called MODL or SKILLS IN DEMAND. this gives you extra points and gives you a bigger chance as far as reaching the 120 points is concerned. if you have a skill under this category, swerte mo.

as far as paying the aus immigration is concerned, you can get a bank check from the ANZ BANK in makati for a fee (P600-800?). that is an acceptable payment method for australian applications.

there is also an occasional background check, hindi to ginagawa sa lahat. pero there have been some applicants na chini check sa workplace or the like to see if the facts they have given are true. ive read this in the international forum for applicants to australia. i did not experience this though. pero might as well be informed.

[southsydney00]

from a new migrant's point of view, this is what i have to say...

if youre willing to work in whatever job you find when you first get here, youll be fine. basta may pera nang pumapasok, youll definitely get by. basta may trabaho.
later on, makakahanap ka din ng trabaho suited for your professional background with better pay. so no worries.

language would be something you'd have to adapt to because theyve got a different accent from the americans, obviously. but youll get there

as far as basic expenses are concerned youd have to worry about rent (around 200-300, more or less), electricity (every quarter, around 100 a month) and food.

you can cover this expenses just as long as you have a job. kaya wag munang mamili. but of course if youre one of the lucky few to get really good jobs agad, well and good

as far as catholic schools for grade schoolers are concerned, siguro cheapest you can get is around 1000 a year..but you can get discounts if you have more than one child studying in that school. this is a very general figure. other schools are really expensive.

what people usually do is to enroll their kids in the nearest schools (catholic or public) para walking distance lang. that's the most convenient.

australia's a great place where you can learn and grow a lot.

good luck!

[bethegirl]

i am currently processing my application for an australian company, kaso di ko alam kung saan sa mga categories na belong ang customer service/sales eh. patulong naman po.

[amegakure]

hello

pinag-aralan ko na po yung guidelines sa www.immi.gov.au. palagay ko naman, qualified ako (post-assessment at tests). ang problema ko lang pa ay...nag-tnt yung nanay sa oz (hanggang ngayon). kapag nag-lodge po ba ako ng application (dahil gusto ko legal ang pasok ko), lilitaw ba ito sa background check? nakita ko kasi sa form na hinihingi mother's name. kung oo, magiging problema ba ito sa application ko (rejection, blacklist)? hahanapin ba nila yung nanay ko para mahuli nila? maraming salamat.

[bucks 'n bogut]

from a new migrant's point of view, this is what i have to say...

if youre willing to work in whatever job you find when you first get here, youll be fine. basta may pera nang pumapasok, youll definitely get by. basta may trabaho.
later on, makakahanap ka din ng trabaho suited for your professional background with better pay. so no worries.

language would be something you'd have to adapt to because theyve got a different accent from the americans, obviously. but youll get there

as far as basic expenses are concerned youd have to worry about rent (around 200-300, more or less), electricity (every quarter, around 100 a month) and food.

you can cover this expenses just as long as you have a job. kaya wag munang mamili. but of course if youre one of the lucky few to get really good jobs agad, well and good

as far as catholic schools for grade schoolers are concerned, siguro cheapest you can get is around 1000 a year..but you can get discounts if you have more than one child studying in that school. this is a very general figure. other schools are really expensive.

what people usually do is to enroll their kids in the nearest schools (catholic or public) para walking distance lang. that's the most convenient.

australia's a great place where you can learn and grow a lot.

good luck!

eh southsydney00, papano naman daw yung mga managers at mga AVPs sa atin na migrants, meron din ba daw chances na pagsimula nila na managers agad sila na uutusan nila agad yung mga taga dito at tatawagin silang ser? pwede din daw bang ganun..

kasi may nagpapatanong eh

at saka pwede rin daw sila tumira sa eastern suburbs kasi nandoon yun mga rich and famous para mas angat sila sa mga counterparts nilang taga blacktown na pag nagtanong bibiglang sasagot ng "ang layo" keber na kala mo hindi sanay sa bugbugang biyahe sa metro manila from fairview to makati to binan laguna and cavite

[southsydney00]

kakatawa ka

kaya sa mga aalis pa lang at sa mga gustong umalis..umayos po tayo

[southsydney00]

hello

pinag-aralan ko na po yung guidelines sa www.immi.gov.au. palagay ko naman, qualified ako (post-assessment at tests). ang problema ko lang pa ay...nag-tnt yung nanay sa oz (hanggang ngayon). kapag nag-lodge po ba ako ng application (dahil gusto ko legal ang pasok ko), lilitaw ba ito sa background check? nakita ko kasi sa form na hinihingi mother's name. kung oo, magiging problema ba ito sa application ko (rejection, blacklist)? hahanapin ba nila yung nanay ko para mahuli nila? maraming salamat.

hindi naman siguro...from my experience, the immigration dept is fair. hindi mo naman kasalanan nag tnt nanay mo. opinyon ko lang

[nohohon]

hi all, i am planning to lodge my application in Australia this comming January. I have an aunt in Australia (with her family). My sarili na silang bahay at napatayong school sa Australia. I graduated in UP. Currently working as an I.T professional. Sa tingin nyo ba malakas na yung chance ko na makapasok though 2 years of relevant experience pa lang ako sa work ko? Sa December uwe kasi sila ng family nya balak ko padala na alng yung application ko sa kanila.. Under Sponsored Skilled MIgration yung apply ko. Thanks!

[southsydney00]

nohonon, kailangan mo pa din magpa-assess ng skills at mag english test. pag nai pasa mo na yon, pwede ka na mag file ng visa application where your aunt can sponsor you. hindi ka nya pwedeng i sponsor under the skilled migration stream kung wala kang mga naunang requirements.

[tantalizing]

hi all, i am planning to lodge my application in Australia this comming January. I have an aunt in Australia (with her family). My sarili na silang bahay at napatayong school sa Australia. I graduated in UP. Currently working as an I.T professional. Sa tingin nyo ba malakas na yung chance ko na makapasok though 2 years of relevant experience pa lang ako sa work ko? Sa December uwe kasi sila ng family nya balak ko padala na alng yung application ko sa kanila.. Under Sponsored Skilled MIgration yung apply ko. Thanks!

Share ko lang to...
My brother who's now in Melbourne is also in IT. Prior to immigrating to Australia nag-work na din sya sa National Broadcasting Corp. of Papua New Guinea as a programmer for a couple of years. So you can say na may experience na sya.
He was able to go to Australia finally in 2001. However, for nearly four years, he couldn't land a job in IT. He had take on odd jobs. Passe na daw ang knowledge nya. You know how fast technology changes. So he had to reinvent himself. He took an 18-monthcourse in Computer Graphics. Luckily he was already a citizen by that time so he was able to avail of study grants. Bulk of the course fee (around $18,000) was shouldered by the govt.. At the same time, may living allowance pa din sya natanggap. He also worked part-time to augment his allowance. After his course, a couple of demo reels, and apprenticeship, ayun, nagdatingan na serious offers. He's been getting contracts one after another and malaki na offer sa kanya ($70K annual). He's also been able to travel around Australia with his job. In his last job, he worked on the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!
So talagang expect a lot of hard work and be prepared to be in for the long haul.

[nohohon]

nohonon, kailangan mo pa din magpa-assess ng skills at mag english test. pag nai pasa mo na yon, pwede ka na mag file ng visa application where your aunt can sponsor you. hindi ka nya pwedeng i sponsor under the skilled migration stream kung wala kang mga naunang requirements.

thanks southsydney00, so kelngan ko muna mga yun before ko mapasa sa adelaide?

[nohohon]

Share ko lang to...
My brother who's now in Melbourne is also in IT. Prior to immigrating to Australia nag-work na din sya sa National Broadcasting Corp. of Papua New Guinea as a programmer for a couple of years. So you can say na may experience na sya.
He was able to go to Australia finally in 2001. However, for nearly four years, he couldn't land a job in IT. He had take on odd jobs. Passe na daw ang knowledge nya. You know how fast technology changes. So he had to reinvent himself. He took an 18-monthcourse in Computer Graphics. Luckily he was already a citizen by that time so he was able to avail of study grants. Bulk of the course fee (around $18,000) was shouldered by the govt.. At the same time, may living allowance pa din sya natanggap. He also worked part-time to augment his allowance. After his course, a couple of demo reels, and apprenticeship, ayun, nagdatingan na serious offers. He's been getting contracts one after another and malaki na offer sa kanya ($70K annual). He's also been able to travel around Australia with his job. In his last job, he worked on the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!
So talagang expect a lot of hard work and be prepared to be in for the long haul.

Wow, ok naman in return yung naging hard work niya. Sana ako din. Astig nakasama pa sya sa HP! Sana by that time na makapunta ako dun mabilis na lang makakuha ng IT related work. Or kahit di din naman ok lang din.. Venture muna sa iba then try to study ulit hehehe

[tantalizing]

Yup! pero talagang dumaan sa hirap..Dun nga sa dating casual job nya, imagine, pinapagwalis sya ng supervisor nya pag wala syang ginagawa. Yung supervisor nya na yun, high school grad lang yun..Talagang, minsan maaawa ka sa sarili mo..but kailangan focused ka talaga. Never surrender and think positive!!

[southsydney00]

nohonon, if youre planning to go through the skilled migration, kailangan talaga go through the process of assessment and english test (unless makahanap ka ng employer who will sponsor you).
pero hindi katulad sa US na your relatives can petition you just because you are related - here, you have to prove your skills. so, you better start researching para pagdating ng tita mo, well informed ka na at alam mo na ang mga kailangan mong gawin.

tantalizing, your bro's story is nice. talagang maraming challenges, pero think positive and stay grounded. ok dito.

[tantalizing]

tantalizing, your bro's story is nice. talagang maraming challenges, pero think positive and stay grounded. ok dito.

yup,.my other brother and his family are also migrating there; my husband's aunt married to an Aussie is there; almost everybody i know is there. ...since PNG (where I studied High School) is very near Australia, it was logical for most of the pinoys in PNG to move on to Australia so have tons of friends there. In fact, we feel more at home whenever we go to Australia than in the US. Plus, it's nearer the Philippines.

[nohohon]

Thanks tantalizing and southsydney00 for your replies

[ladyOz0619]

hi southsydney, its me again...hope you can again shed some light here..if you remember na i asked questions reg. 457 visa for spouse and as you said i dont have to apply for a seprate visa for myself since my husband is already holding 457 visa..now we have followed up with our migration agent and according to them..the company who sponsored the visa for my husband does not want to shoulder some expenses if they will also allow us to be granted as secondary applicant for 457 visa...almost 20 spouses kami na nagapply..now according to the company baka palitan daw ng visa hawak ng mga husband namin..at gawin nalang "immigrant"

my Q's are:

how long would it take to change visa like 457 to become an immigrant?
what will be the process in becoming an immigrant?
can the company/employer sponsor this for the employee?
if my husband become an immigrant will i have the same category?

I guess my question here is all regarding becoming an immigrant?
kc feeling ko eto na ang gagawin ng company ng husband ko para iwas gstos sila and alam ko ksama talaga sa fringe benefits ng company nila un..ang worry ko matatagalan pa bago ako makasunod sa husband ko sa australia...

thanks again...

[southsydney00]

hi ladyoz. this is solely based on my opinion and i do not claim to be an expert. the decision for husband's employer to sponsor him as an immigrant may be a blessing in disguise. it will give you permanent residency and let you enjoy the benefits of being an australian PR or citizen in the future. if he does indeed apply for that visa, his dependents (you and your children) can be included in the application without additional charges. kung ipa-shoulder ng company ang ibang expenses at this stage, it will still be definitely worth it. others apply without the security of a job and basically just spend out of their own pockets. at least your husband is already employed.

the big question is, kailan kaya ia-apply ng employer ng husband mo ang sponsorship for migration. yan ang di natin masasagot. hope all goes well. dont worry, i think sooner or later, makakasunod ka din sa kanya.

[ladyOz0619]

oo nga noh...atleast maganda pala talaga if maging immigrant na *** damay na din me...at it is indeed a blessing while this will be processed e secured ang job nya hopefully pati future namin... my husbands 457 visa will expire in 2010 i hope before matapos un maging immigrant na ***... at correct ka dyan un din ang question ko if kelan iapply ng company nya un..accdg to my husband tomorrow they will have a meeting with their HR to tackle these issues..hopefully there will be a good outcome..ill let you know...sana within the year makasunod ako sa knya hirap malayo sa mahal sa buhay lalo pat *** pa kami anak..

thanks again southsydney...

[citrix29]

I'm planning to apply for student visa any advice????