Where do we go from here??? ?????

If getting,
 all our documents in place -
applying-
nerve wrecking waiting -
was not enough ....the next hurdle we need to somehow get through is WHERE do we go now??

Since the Visa Grant - I have been having dreams about different places in Australia.

To be honest, my first choice is:

PERTH

WHY? 
The weather sounds fabulous - not as cold as Melbourne or Sydney.
Its not as "big" as Melbourne or Sydney - yet sufficiently big.
Sounds like the perfect place to raise a family.
Lots to see with regards to the great outdoors and nature.

WHY NOT? 
Its just too far away!! far away from Melbourne or Sydney.
Should the need ever arise - it would be an adventure on its own to travel the distance to meet family!


Second choice is:

MELBOURNE

WHY? 
Lost to do, and see
Family Friendly
Compared to Sydney -  Affordable
Lots more Job opportunities than Perth

WHY NOT? 
Too cold!!!!!!


Third Choice is :

SYDNEY

WHY? 
Well, just because....
It's Sydney - besides it being multi-cultural , it is a tad warmer than Melbourne
Lots more job ops
Loads , loads happening

WHY NOT? 
Too expensive to make a home.
Too much of a city -  feel "lost" in the midst of so much and so many!



And we have till Summer (Winter in Ozzie land) to make up our minds!!!!

Visa labels

Australian Visas are essentially electronic and technically Label Free.
That means, you do not need a Visa label in your passport to travel to Australia. All you need is your Visa Grant letter (with the IMPORTANT Visa numbers in it) and the airline will check your validity and let you board the flight.

That said, i have heard too many cautionary messages to let this pass. I intend to get my Visa Label on my passport. After all the money, time and effort spent - I would really hate some ill informed airline staff refuse me boarding access!!

So I will be playing it safe and get my Visa label on my passport!!!

Here is an excerpt from immi.gov.au

 " Expansion of Label-Free Travel
Note: Each person travelling to Australia will still need to apply for and be granted an appropriate Australian visa before travelling to Australia.  " 

From 1 October 2012, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mongolia and Nepal have been included in the list of countries that will be able to travel to Australia without a visa label in their passport. This is known as 'label-free' travel, making travel to Australia simpler and more secure. 

Label-free travel means people travelling to Australia will not require an Australian visa label as evidence of the grant of an Australia visa. Instead they will receive a grant letter that clearly explains the conditions of their visa. A visa label is not required as Australia's electronic system enables visa status to be confirmed electronically.   "

I really dont know which other countries figure in their "list" - if anyone does know - please be most helpful and educate me!!!

All the best!!

Benefits of Australian PR

After the initial excitement on gaining an Australian Permanent Resident Visa. 

I think its only fair - i educate myself (and you)  on its advantages. 

Here's what i learnt so far - courtesy the internet and good friends : 
First of all, 

Who is a Permanent Resident? 
A PR is a non-Australian citizen - who has been granted permission to live indefinitely in Australia. 

Benefits of permanent resident status include:

• You can work in any field in Australia , under any employer . Some  Government & Defence jobs a re however restricted to citizens.
• You may apply for Citizenship after fulfilling some criteria.  (normally about 4 years  stay and some others)
• You may sponsor relatives for permanent residence, subject to fulfilling residence criteria and assurance of support requirements.
• All Children born inside Australia (to PR Parents) will be Australian citizens by birth.
• Access to medical and social security benefits, though there is a 2-year waiting period for some benefits.
• You may  travel to New Zealand without applying for a New Zealand visa. (this right is not "inherited" - it depends on New Zealand government policy) 
• Unrestricted rights to live, work and study in New Zealand. (This right is granted by the New Zealand government.)
• On the Education front - access to Free primary & secondary education in Public Schools.
• Tertiary Education has "domestic" fees as opposed to International Student fees. 
• Real Estate , an incentive (financial )is normally awarded as a First Home Owner Grant. Stamp Duty is waivered on the same grant.
• Security Benefits include: 

1. Loss of one's job , does not mean having t leave Australia
2. In case of ill health / loss of job/ death etc. the individual and other dependent members of the family can continue living as permanent residents
3. Children who grow older and get independant do not need a fresh application process to continue living in Australia. They are already Permanent Residents and can continue being so. 

There are certain responsibilities to fulfill for all the benefits received: 

• You must pay tax. You are part of their system. (once you actually start to reside in Australia) 
• If you do leave Australia - you will not have automatic access to "retirement" / superannuation finances set aside. You need to wait till you have reached retirement age
• While you can use an overseas obtained Drivers license for upto 3 months, you MUST obtain an Australian Drivers license within that time to continue driving.

Information Courtesy : Britsh Expats  /   Wikipedia  /  DIAC

Don't mess with your documents

Just got back from a Discussion Forum.

One of the posters there tells of his sad rejection of his Visa - reason being "Bogus IELTS Results" . 

Needless to say, i was shocked reading that.

I  was always of the opinion that this (IELTS)  was a foolproof system. 

Please be informed there are several rounds of checking, should the Case Officer see the need. 

If they have reason to doubt ANY part of your application re-checking goes in the verification of several documents.

The poster ofcourse was terribly upset. You can avoid this by the following. 

1) Don't mess with your documents - make sure they are original and true.

2) As far as IELTS goes, go to a reputed Test Centre. Do work hard and get the desired results - DO NOT under any circumstances try to look for a shortcut. Its just not worth losing all the money you put in for a Visa Application and the running around for other documents. 

if ever found to be fake - first of all you have NO RIGHT TO APPEAL 

Secondly, you could be black-listed from applying any time soon!

Also , please make sure you sit for the IELTS  "before" you give your application and make sure it is submitted alongside. 

All the Best!

VISA GRANTED

Am i excited or am i excited!!!
I received my Visa Grant today!!
My timeline is as follows:
Application (GSM 175) : 13-5-2012
CO Allotted: 9-8-2012
Request for Information
Viz., Form 80, PCC, Medicals : 9-8-2012
Form 80 submitted: 12-8-2012
PCC: 9-9-2012
Meds send: 9-9-2012
All documents "Met" : 21-9-2012
Visa Grant : 24-9-2012
Four Months - Not Bad at all!!!
Thumbs up DIAC!!!
Super thumbs up to my Agent.
My Agent was particularly sweet - they called me from the Dubai office - had me on speaker phone and shouted out congratulations!!!
Am too excited to post anything more today!!
Until later :)

Document Checklist - an explanation

NOTE: I am not a Migration Agent. Am only trying to be helpful through my posts. 
These points were valid at the time i applied namely May 2012. 
For the "latest" please check www.immi.gov.au





I have just got back from a forum on migration.A lot of questions were regarding the nature of various Documents that DIAC asks for at the time of Visa Application.

I will try to explain it in the best way I can.

Document Checklist. (NOTE: This Checklist is available from www.immi.gov.au. Also each item has been well explained in their links provided. This list is only intended as a guide and not the final word- for latest info. , please go to  www.immi.gov.au)

Basic Eligibility Requirements

1) A completed and signed application Form 1276.
this was valid for for those applying in 2012 BEFORE the new EOI kicked in (July 2012)- no idea about what it is now.

2) Payment of the correct Visa Application Charge.
We made a credit Card transfer for AUD 2960/- at the time. Please check with your bank as well as I have found that some banks block certain transactions unless previously intimated.

3) Evidence of the main applicant’s age.
I submitted my Baptism Certificate. You can also submit your Birth Certificate (it needs to be in English, if not have it translated and then certified). Both your parents name has to be clearly shown as well.

4) Evidence that the main applicant meets the English language threshold.
IELTS Marks/Results Card

5) Satisfactory skills assessment for the main applicant’s nominated occupation on the relevant
Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
 Find which Authorizing Body you need to get your skills assessed from - and attach their certificate.

6) Evidence of recent Australian Study.
I had none.

7) Evidence of recent work experience.
An experience letter from your current employer stating your designation, terms of contract ( Dates or period of work, permanent/ Full time etc. ) and job responsibilities entailed.

8) Health (do not undertake until requested to do so).
Every country has an assigned Panel Doctor set out on www.immi.gov.au website.Visit that doctor and go through any tests they ask you to.

9) Character (do not apply for police clearances until requested to do so).
Local Police Clearance Certificates.


Additional evidence for points test requirements (where applicable) 

10) Evidence of English language ability if claiming additional points for having proficient or
superior English
IELTS Marks/Results Card


11) Evidence of partner skills.
I did not use this - if you do use, it is the same as point 5) above.

12) Evidence of Australian or overseas skilled employment experience in the applicant’s nominated
or closely related occupation.
All Employment reference letters, Payslips (random) , Bank Statements (for proof of salary transfers)

13) Evidence of study and residence in a regional/low population growth metropolitan area.
I had none.

14) Evidence of completion of a recognised Professional Year in Australia.
I had none.

15) Evidence of NAATI accreditation in a Credentialled Community language

I had none.

Personal documents for all applicants  

16)Certified copy of passport bio data page for all applicants.

17) Certified copies of birth certificates or other evidence of age, showing names of both parents,
for all persons in the application.
Birth Certificates in English  or Baptism Certificates.

18) If you or any applicants are married, certified copies of marriage certificate(s) and evidence you
are in a genuine and continuing relationship.
or
If you or any applicants are in a de facto relationship, independent evidence that you have been
living in a genuine and continuing relationship for at least 12 months.

19) If you or any applicants have been divorced or permanently separated please provide certified
copies of the divorce document(s) or statutory declaration/separation certificate as appropriate.

20) If your partner does not intend to migrate with you provide a statement explaining why and if
they intend to join you in the future.

21)If you or any applicant has been widowed, please provide a certified copy of the death
certificate(s).

22) Evidence of functional English language ability for all applicants over 18 years of age.
An IELTS exam or A letter from University stating course studied was in English.

23)Completed form 80 for each person aged 16 years and over.

24)Two recent passport photographs (45mmx35mm) for all applicants and any dependents who
are not migrating.

While I wait

This waiting game has to undoubtedly be the worst phase in the entire Migration process.

Its been 10 days since my Medicals were sent out - about 7 days since they are supposed to have received it - about 2 days since the RIGHT processing center  "might" have received it - and I am biting my nails!!!!

I have been in and out of various "discussion forums"  such as britishexpats, expat forum, pomsinoz etc.etc....looking for possible answeres/ clues/ outcomes/ timelines etc. etc.


Sadly, there is no certain answer  till i actually get my very own Visa Grant.

They say "Patience is a virtue", and so I patiently "wait"....

While i wait heres  a list of what I am doing in relation to my trip to Oz.

1) Reading up on what to expect on arrival

2) Things to do as soon as I land (www.immi.gov.au has some very helpful books on the topic)

such as tax Number etc.

3) Finding cheap flight options to Oz.

4) Looking at possible job opportunities

5) Reading up on how i can enhance my Resume to meet Australian Lingo.

6) Possible suburbs

7) Last but not least reading up on how to keep my kids entertained :)

"He that can have patience can have what he will. "Benjamin Franklin 

this happens to be my favourite "Patience" quote..... at the moment :)







While I wait - i also happen to be unwittingly thinking of all things Australian :)

Till we meet again :)

PCC and Medicals - Kuwait

Ok so we applied for our visa GSM175 Skilled Independent in May 2012.
As far as we were concerned, we thought we could expect something only towards the end of the year at the earliest. So off we went on a 40 day long vacation. (and a vacation it was....awesome )

Early in the month of August my agent desperately tried to reach me since my Kuwait cell was switched off....lucky for me, i checked my mail that day .....and i was assigned a Case Officer about 5 days ago!!!
I was asked to furnish a few more documents such as Form 80, English requirement proof for my spouse, PCC and Medicals.

The first two were easy enough, I had them prepared and sent  asap - the bummer was I was in India and only a few days were left for us to return back to Kuwait, hence Indian Meds were out of the question. All we needed was a Kuwait PCC- that was not a possibility since we were in India > We would be returning during the LONG Eid Weekend- needless to say no work would be done in Kuwait for another few days. My nerves started playing on me , imagine getting this far and to be helpless.

The reason for my worry was that we were given 28 days to furnish all this.My agent however told me that I was getting nuts over nothing. We made it to Kuwait  right on Day 1 of Eid Break - as soon as Kuwait resumed work, we raced against time to submit everything and sent it all two days later than was asked of us.

Prior to this, my agent had asked our CO for an extension explaining the delay.


So....how did we get the Kuwait PCC?

KUWAITI  PCC

Step 1: Make an appointment with the Australian Embassy in Kuwait. They have fixed days for this, so tell them you need to get the Kuwaiti PCC for Ozzie Immigration.

Step 2: Take your Visa Summary and Request for Information letter with you (sent to you by your CO) and show it to the Consulate. Pay 9KD  per letter for the service (we were 2 of us, so we paid 18KD/-)

Step 3: Try and reach Criminal Evidence Dept. in Dajeej before 11:00am, else they will ask you to come the next day. We had to go the next day.
When you go there , take 2 passport size photographs, the letter from the Ozzie Embassy, Civil ID Copy, and Passport Copy.
They take your fingerprints, your photo again. 5 days later, collect your PCC.


MEDICALS

Step 1:   Talk to the panel doctor approved by the DIAC for Kuwait.
At the moment, the only approved Panel is Dr. Rafat Bseiso in Hadi Clinic.
Ask him about requirements, costs etc. for us, it came upto

Step 2:  Take your original Passport and Passport copies with you and do the following:

 24KD/- per person (consultation and fees of him filling our forms)
15KD/- per person for Xrays (above 18 years)
4KD/- per person for Urine tests (above 5 years)
We were asked to do HIV tests at the Government facility off Cairo Street
5KD/- per person. (above 15 years)
Did all the tests and the doctor sent our results to Ozzie land....
you are not allowed to send it yourself- the envelope has to be sealed and signed by the doctor itself.

Location for HIV Test (Virology Lab) : 

Virology Lab, MOH, Kuwait

Take Route 30 - Take the exit for Cairo Street and keep to your  left till you reach the signal; this turns  to Cairo street. 

Take your  left and go further ahead on Cairo street.

Then take the first right turn which has a board - "Nahda Street" 

You see a roundabout with a Kuwait Towers sculpture in the middle. 

Here take the third exit and then take a right. 

You come to the Kuwait Flour Mills Bread factory and next to it the Virology Lab. 

You have to put a 5 KD/- stamp on the paper given to you by the doctor asking for HIV Test. 

Take the request form and give your blood and come back after three working days. 

Collect the blood reports 

So off went all our results.....

Now, my online Visa status says  everything is met- only the health requirements are outstanding....

So now......we wait....

The IELTS Results

Hey guys!!

The last i wrote , it was about agents and my IELTS attempt...

I failed to give you an update...

My results came out soon enough :

It went something like this....

Listening - 8.5  
Reading - 8.5
Writing - 8.0
Speaking - 7.5


Overall 8.0 - meaning , my English is pretty darn good!!!
ummm...well, i already knew that DIAC did not :)

I was not happy with my speaking results, but i think it was fair since i contradicted myself (rather dumb really) once and I knew then and there it was not a good thing.

Anyways, alls well that ends well and it was enough to give me additional points to get 65 points to apply for the GSM175 Skilled Independant Visa!!!...phew....


So on to the next step....applying for my Visa.

Agents - to use or not to use

SO heres the deal with agents.

Some prefer them some do not.

In our case, we knew absolutely nothing of the process and were far too busy with our careers to bother going through every nook and cranny of the migration process on DIAC's website www.immi.gov.au

All i knew was that i wanted to migrate and permanently live in Australia using my qualifications.

So i did a google search - got a list of websites. Was i sure they were the real thing?

No- how could i be? o

The only way to be sure is to check the MARA website- do a check on the said agent. If his/her name and number is in- by all means go ahead.

But a word of caution - try communicating with your agent - physically on phone or skype.

As you proceed you will find that it is essential that you both are on the same page and both of you understand each other perfectly.

We chose a global migration agent - so far no major complaints - i did have a few but the company or rather my Customer Service Agent did a fine job of sorting it all for me.

But for those of you who would rather do it all yourself and save a lot of money in the process, please do so.

We paid our agent 1200KD for their services.

The cost implication totally is as follows:

Agent Fees: 1200KD

AACA Skills Assesment : 300KD (1000AUD)

IELTS :69KD

Visa Application :1000KD (2960AUD)

This is about it. There will be other fees later during the medical checks PCC etc.

But since i have not yet done them I will leave it for later.

The IELTS

So what's the big deal with the IELTS?

I mean I know English and I really don't need anyone else to tell me whether or not I can communicate and understand the language!!

Anyways, as it goes DIAC won't take my word for it- and gave the IELTS I did.

I could not give it in Jan as earlier suggested- but that's a long story.I ended up giving it in the last week of March.

Do i really need to
prove my English proficiency!

The process itself was easy enough.

First things first :

Please Register.

In Kuwait atleast, there are lots of people appearing for the IELTS- I had to wait about a month after registering for the first available slot.

The IELTS is conducted every second week n Kuwait. 

Having registered online through the British Council, I was given 3 days to make the payment and complete all the registration formalities.

Having done that I decided to take the bull by the horns and took my IELTS preparations quite seriously - its a good thing I did.

Listening is not so much about understanding what is being spoken as it is about concentrating.

(I lost my concentration for about a couple of seconds during the real test itself - and lost 4 answers in the bargain. I guessed the answers and wrote them anyway (there are no negative marks for the wrong answers) - lets see how that goes- assuming i got all four wrong , i should get a 7.5 for listening hummmphh!!!)

Reading for some crazy reason was not my strong point- I read a lot , am an avid reader- but I just could not manage getting more than a 7.5 at all my practice tests. Well we'll soon find out how I actually did the real test!!

Practice, Practice ....

Writing - that was the easy part

Speaking - not bad just don't get nervous.

In all, it is pretty good and not that hard- but there is such a thing like over-confidence.

As and when you do give your IELTS here is my word of advice:

Practice :)

Until next time - Cheers!!