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.