Towards Australia

Three things to know before getting a car in Melbourne

2014-10-23T20:28:00.002+11:00

In my experience, the three most important things you need to know before heading to the car dealerships or car yards are:

Number one, know the car you really want or need and stick to it as much as possible.
Number two, know your budget and be very realistic.
Number three, learn how to negotiate and don't be afraid to try.

Firstly, know the car you really want and commit to it. You will understand why this is the first and the probably the most important tip I can give. Australia is home to many car sales and review websites that can offer a wealth of knowledge about both new and old, affordable, practical and cheap to run, reliable, cars to avoid. They also give you a good insight if you are thinking about buying used cars. Equally important, think about your purpose for the car. If you think you will keep the car in the next 10 years, align your choice to the life (or lifestyle) you are about to expect. In that way, if your circumstances chance you don't end up selling a car for a new one at a cost. Remember, any used car will (always all the time) sell way lower than how much you paid for it. Visit carsales.com.au, drive.com.au, mynrma.com.au and take your time browsing through these sites. Car hunting in these sites can be very relaxing activity sometimes.

Secondly, after you have found the type of car you want, know how much you are willing to spend for it. We are talking about budget. The price of the car is just one thing, the running cost which includes insurance, registration, petrol, and regular servicing will be an extra cost once you have owned a car. Insurance can be paid monthly or one time and may vary from a third party (~$200+) to comprehensive (~$800+) in a year and will greatly depend on a lot of factors. Try getting a quote for the car of your choice in AAMI.com.au so you get a better picture, play around the choices and see how it affects your premium. Registration is paid once a year and presently costs around ~$600 in Melbourne, like insurance, the price can vary with your location. If you will drive to work everyday like I do, and live within 20-30 minutes away, you will probably spend around $40-$60 a week in petrol for a 2.0 litre compact suv, so factor that in as well when you choose a car. Regular servicing is a must if you want to keep your car in good condition. Some servicing can cost as little as ~$100 and others can be more than that and can be as regular as annual or for every certain number of kilometers. If you don't want to spend much on servicing, choose a new car with capped-price servicing. Google it up and you will know what I mean. Decide if you will pay for the car in cash or take-out a bank loan. If you have money to spare, then buying the car in cash is always a good option and save loan interests. If you are thinking of getting a bank loan or get financing, then a standard rate of ~10% per annum is common. Once you know how much the car of your choice will be, you can work out the figure how much your monthly amortization will be for a term. Try playing around Westpac's loan calculator here.

To get an even better deal, look out for interest free car deals. They usually start 3 months before the end of the financial year (end of June) and may extend longer. If you can get a car for no or very little interest at all, you my friend have found a bargain.

Visiting car dealerships and car yards can be both a fun and intimidating experience. Just like shopping, the joy of searching for something to buy is always fun. The intimidating part comes in when a salesman spots you, comes to you, and spends his valuable time asking you questions of what car you want and how this particular car you are looking at or sitting on is just perfect for you. Be careful with every word you say as they can use it to hook you in. Do not have second thoughts of saying No if you are not happy with the deal they offer you. If you find it difficult to resist offers from pushy sales people, bring a friend who can dig you out of the sales-hole. You will thank your friend for saving you.

Thirdly, Negotiate. There is so much power in negotiation that you can never underestimate its benefits. Upon visiting the dealership, In Melbourne, I find it useful to always ask if for a better price. I always find myself in a situation that a marked down price can be further reduced. Whatever the sticker price is on a car, on your mobile phone, look up carsales.com.au and compare the price of a similar car with a comparable age, mileage, and condition. Always compare, then negotiate. Negotiate respectfully, because in my experience, a dealership will always work out (to an extent) that they can make a sale from you.

Enjoy car hunting.

How to get a driver's licence in Victoria

2013-10-16T14:00:00.000+11:00

Before my scheduled flight to Melbourne, I tried to familiarize myself how to drive in Australia. The best way we can start is Googling "Driving in Australia" or in my case "Driving in Melbourne." Then you'll learn about enforced speed limits, how we never thought about Roundabouts in the Philippines and the Hook-Turn which is only and proudly Melbourne CBD only.

Below is the licence ID issued in Victoria and is current as of writing.

If you already drive in the Philippines and have a driver's licence, before you leave the country, get a licence certificate from the Land Transportation Office. Among all information, it should show the date you first got your licence issued. Vicroads needs that date with your name correctly spelled on the paper.

If you are heading to Melbourne, you can read more about the road rules at Vicroads.
If you have a drivers licence in the Philippines, to get a Victorian licence, you will undergo a process called international licence conversion. The licence conversion will require you to take a Knowledge Test, a Hazzard Perception Test, and a Practical Driving Test. You have to pass the first test inorder to proceed to the next. Make sure you are familiar with the guide to solo driving if you will be driving in Melbourne, all you need to know is explained there so you can safely drive in the beautiful city of Melbourne.

As soon as you arrive in Melbourne, get a driving instructor. Hire a local driving instructor, ask him to gauge your driving skills. If you are serious about getting a Victorian licence, your driving style in the Philippines might just not work in Australia. Ask friends for referrals, they can most likely give a reliable recommendation. Once you've had your driving lessons, make sure you are comfortable with your instructor, otherwise, it is best to find another instructor.

Here's a summary of stages one will go through in converting your Philippine driver's licence to a Victorian driver's licence:

Learner's test. Has 32 questions about how to be a safe driver in Melbourne. To pass you need toscore at least 78%. It took me a month to finish studying the driving handbook and it is pretty challenging to remember all those things. Give it a shot here.

Hazzard test. Once you pass the Learner's test, you can apply to take the Hazzard Test. Videos will be shown to test and assess your knowledge of the road rules and your judgement. This is a 45 video test and will need to score at least 54% to pass. Learn more about the test here.

Practical Driving test. Finally, what you learned in the learner's and hazzard test, plus your actual driving experience will come together to pass the practical driving test. During the test day, a Vicroads examiner will seat with you to give you directions and assess your driving skills. The whole test is divided in two stages. Pass the first stage and you move on to stage two. More about the practical driving test here.

To be very honest, I was happier when I passed the practical driving test than when I got my visa approved. When you get to that stage, you'll no what I mean.

Ever wonder if your present job can bring you to Australia?

2013-10-14T16:07:00.000+11:00

Goodness! Our blog attracts more people from non-engineering backgrounds asking me questions, what about my skill or occupation, is it needed in Australia? How can I go about the skills assessment?

Well my dear friends, this post is for you. I will show you how to take that first step, that will lead you to a new life in Australia.

First off, know what skill or occupation you want to use or be assessed for in your application for skilled migration to Australia. Once you find that occupation in the list, know the skill code, you will need that some time. Then find your assessing authority as well. It is with them that you submit your application for assessment.

Below is a screenshot of the skilled occupation list for illustration. Column A is the occupation, B is the skill code, and C is the assessing authority.

Your step by step guide, here we go:

1. Know if your skill or occupation is in Australia's list.

Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

2. Find the contact information of the assessing authority for your skill.

Assessing Authorities

So, if you are a Nursing Clinical Director, your skill code is 134212 and your assessing authority is ANMAC.

Address:
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council
PO Box 400
Canberra City ACT 2601
Australia
Email: anmac@anmac.org.au
Website: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council

And if you are an Engineering Manager, your skill code is 133211 and your assessing authority is Engineers Australia.

Address:
Engineers Australia
Engineering House
11 National Circuit
Barton ACT 2600
Australia
Email: msa@engineersaustralia.org.au
Website: Engineers Australia

Simple, right?

Off you go and let us know if you find your skills in the list.

Moving to Australia: How much do I need to bring?

2013-10-12T21:11:00.000+11:00

I have been asked by many of our followers with this question. My answer is simple, It depends. It depends on a lot of factors that I will try to spell out the best I can based on my experience.

A few factors I will name that I think will significantly affect your budget and expenses. How many of the members of the family are leaving for Australia? Can you or a member of the family cook? Where you live and your proximity to the CBD and will you live in a share house? Where you live and where you will or can find work will tell if you need a car or when public transportation is enough, the fourth. I'll stop here for now, I know I know there is more to add but I'd rather start somewhere and let you leave your questions in the comments section below to expound on this very dear subject.

To give you an idea, my monthly budget was:

Rent = $650; room for single person, includes utilities and internet connection

Food = $400; this is a little generous already to allocate take-away meals 50% of the time

Fare = $236; if you live within zone 2 and work in the city and work for 5 days a week

Phone = $45; if you get a plan, can be heaps cheaper if you go with a prepaid service

Roughly, you should allocate $1,331 per month for living expenses for a single person. For a family, expect more.

Briefly, allow me to go through them.

How many you are in the family will significantly affect your expenses. 2-3 bedroom rental houses 30 minutes away from the CBD can range between $300 to $400 per week unfurnished. This excludes utility bills which are paid every 2-3 months. The closer you are to the city, the more expensive rental properties are. If you go alone, a room can be rented at around $150 to $170 per week for the same location. Most of the time, this includes utilities and internet connection.

Food. The big questions is, can you cook? Eating outside or buying food is relatively expensive here in Australia compared to the Philippines. Personally, I spend between $75 to $100 on food per week. I cook (sometimes), and enjoy a couple of take aways during the week. For a family, you might spend a little more but this means you cook your meals and perhaps no take aways. Just an idea, a kilo of marinated mixed chicken sections is around $7 to $9. White rice is around $2 per kilo. A kilo of bananas, $2.50. A better view of grocery prices can be obtained from the website of one of the biggest grocery chain in Melbourne, Coles.com.au and view their weekly catalogue. Oh, take aways (or takeouts) averages between $8 to $11 per meal.

Transportation. I can only speak for Melbourne as I have not taken public transportation in the other states I have been to. Public transportation is cheaper than buying a car, but not all of your destinations will be covered by public transportation. Long walks can be a part of your daily commute to work. If you live in the suburbs and work in the city, prepare to pay between $7 to $11 per day for public transportation. The most convenient option is to get a car. If you have the money to spare, you can get a car as soon as you arrive, that means you can pay it in cash or put it on your credit card. Decent and a relatively reliable car can range between a few thousand dollars. Carsales.com.au can give you a better idea on the price range for the car you like. Petrol costs almost the same as in the Philippines. A comprehensive car insurance starts at $800 a year, third party insurance can be as low as $200 a year. Registration starts at $600 a year or more. These figures will be dependent on the kind of car you have, with or without modifications, etc. Costly but convenient. If you have a Philipine driver's license, you can drive in Victoria for 6 months (last time I checked) before you need to get a Victorian Driver's licence. However, I recommend new immigrants take driving lessons and obtain a Victorian driver's licence as soon as they arrive before they find a job. Driving in Victoria will be covered in another blog post.

Communications. You will probably need a phone with data for around $30, could be more, could be less depending on how much credits you you need for voice calls, text messages, and data. Telco's in Australia seldom offer unlimited data in a plan, if they do, it could be relatively expensive (figure around $70 or more monthly. As soon as you arrive in Australia, you need to get a local phone number so prospective employers can contact you and know you are local, that you can attend an interview when invited. Sim cards can be bought in major grocery shops like Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi. You can also recharge through these shops, recharge here similarly means to a load (if you are from the Philippines, you will understand what I mean). Oh yeah, make sure you put your new phone number in your cover letter, resume, and linked-in profile.

So Yeah (talking about trying out a very Australian expression), these are just a few important budgetary items one would-be immigrant needs to be prepared for. If I am to suggest, prepare atleast 6 months worth of monthly expenses, the more, the better, should a job become available at a later date than expected.

A thank you note from Bell Payla and Family.

2013-09-27T08:30:00.000+10:00

Few weeks ago, a previous colleague of mine received one of the best news he has ever had. His Australian Skilled Independent Visa application, you guessed it, has been approved. He sent his message to me through facebook (with a family picture and VISA Grant Notice LOL) and allow me to share it with you.

Apparently, I can't increase the size of the picture to make the Visa Grants readable without the picture overlapping the other columns of this blog.

I hope this blog has done the same (or can do the same) for you and your family. If you wish to share your experience of success (or tips to share) with your IELTS, Skills Assessment, and Visa approval, you can share it in this blog by contacting me, towardsaustralia@gmail.com.

Believe me, your testimony has the power to inspire others.

God speed to everyone, and I am just a comment or email away for any inquiries.

The Ultimate Checklist: Skilled Independent Visa: Permanent (Subclass 189)

2013-04-15T21:01:00.004+10:00

The visa requirements form is the mother of all process (as far as I am concerned). It summarizes all information an applicant needs to know, the processes they need to undergo, the forms that needs to be filled out, the documents that needs to be submitted, etc etc. How late is this post? Tell me about it. I am just going crazy why I have not made this blog entry from day one of this blog. Enough said, let me explain a little why this post will take you from start to finish.

Individuals who wants to be organized prefers to keep a list of all things that needs to be done. Like myself, I personally prefer to develop a list for just about anything. When I go on vacation, I do a list of what to bring, things to do, where to go, etc. When I plan my week, I write the activities that I need to do and tasks to perform for every day of the week. A checklist, is that simple handy dandy tool that can get you from zero to hero, that if you commit to it.

During my application for permanent residency to Australia, it was never uncommon to face questions like: "What is the process?, What to do first?, How much money do I need to prepare for the application?, What are the necessary documents that I need to submit?" etc etc. That's why this blog exists, so I can answer as much question as I can, without repeating myself. =)

Ok, here we go. This form, this one form, will get you off the ground for your Skilled Independent Visa application. You only have two things to do as a priority, Read and follow. Then, research. Finally Ask. This post however, only the Read and Follow thingy is covered. Researching and Asking is basically a personal thing and will totally depend on how serious you are with your application.

The form I am referring to is the Document checklist for visa applications: Skilled independent visa: Permanent (Subclass 189). The new subclass for skill select that replaced Subclass 175.

The form begins with instructions for the checklist. Then followed by the main sections:

*Points test and skills assessment. Here, you will know how much points you have and if your chosen skill is on the required skills in Australia. The appropriate assessing body is also identified for your chosen skill and from there, you will know how to have your skills assessed.

*Forms. All forms that is required to submit. Medical examination, etc etc. It is worthy to note that the application form for permanent residency is not posted here since a valid visa application will have to be lodged online. So no paper form then.

*Charges. Do you want to know how much your visa application costs? You'll find it here.

*Personal Documents for Applications. (I need not explain)

*English Ability. This will show you what is required with your English ability and how to show proof of ability.

*Health Requirements. This is about the medical examination that an application needs to undertake once requested by the case officer.

*Character Requirements. You will need to submit a Police Certificate (clearance) for every country you have stayed in for a cumulative of 12 months or more.

So, how do you find the checklist? Should be pretty easy to follow, right? As far as I am concerned, Australia's visa application process is pretty self explanatory. I always find myself complicating the questions, calling long distance Australian immigration to ask the questions I have, where in fact, if you take the questions and instructions as they are, it is what it is.

My final word, it is what it is, but of course, you can always ask.

God Speed everyone, may you reach your goal of getting to Australia as a permanent resident. So far, I am loving it here. It has been 8 months and life is really good.

Towards my first $ pay check

2013-03-29T22:26:00.002+11:00

I found a job 4 days after arriving in Melbourne. When I was in my few weeks to departure to Melbourne, I wasn't excited, more worried, because I am jobless as soon as I arrive and financially, I have enough to last for 3 months without a job. After paying all fees and expenses related to migration, I only had an equivalent of 5,000 Aud dollars left in my savings. That's not much really as my forecasted monthly expense was around 1,300 Aud a month.

I prayed hard to our dear Lord Jesus that He give me a reason to be excited in this next chapter of my life. But his answer, always just in time came to me. My last day in my company was a Wednesday. That same evening, I received a very enlightening email from a friend in Melbourne with a subject line saying "job opportunity." I read through his email and he mentioned that the company he works for needs a repair technician for a 3 month contract to repair all their backlog faulty returns. I immediately sent my resume as he requested hoping his boss likes it and invites me for an interview. Only did I remember that this was what I asked my Lord Jesus about months ago.

The day after, Thursday, I was already in the departure area in Ninoy Aquino International Airport waiting for my 10pm flight to Melbourne. Around 5pm, I received an email from my friend that I his boss wants to interview me on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Excited, I confirmed the Tuesday schedule, 9:30am. I figured, I can use Monday to find my way to the address through the public transportation.

To make the long story short, I was offered the job after the interview and was presented with the salary rate the day after.

I started Monday the following week. Later did I know that this company releases salaries on a monthly basis while other companies give out salaries on a weekly or fornightly (two weeks). So before 30 days was over, I only had 2,500 Aud left.

I was expecting to have my salary credited directly to my bank account the the 27th of September, 30th day since I was hired. That day, it didn't get through. The day after, my boss approached me, and handed me a a sealed envelope with my name on it. The envelope contained the check with my salary. He made sure I received my salary in case the bank had problems getting the money through.

Moral of the short story? Always pray specifically for what you need or want and keep on believing. HE didn't just give me a job, HE gave it to me days later when I left the one I had in the Philippines, and HE gave me a boss that makes sure I get get paid on time. Amen.

First week in Australia

2013-02-03T21:15:00.002+11:00

Know your way around where you live. Transport schedules, bus stops, train stations, tram stops.
Public Transport Victoria has a comprehensive website. It will give you almost all necessary details you need to know to get to your destination from your starting point.

It is important to know that Victoria's public transport system uses a unified ticketing system called Myki. It is a prepaid card that you put money in (top-up) and pay on the bus, train, tram by touching on (as you get on) and touching off (as you get off) on a proximity machine. Money in the card will be deducted according to the zone you are traveling from and to. Melbourne is divided into Zone 1 and Zone 2. Traveling within the same zone is cheaper than traveling between zones. You can read more about in on the Myki website.

Know your way around especially to areas where your prospective employers are. Know how to get there and back. I took the whole day to get to my interview location and back. It was worth it as I was early on the day of the interview even with public transport.

If you will be driving as soon as you arrive, you have to get yourself familiar with driving around Melbourne. It was a big adjustment from my driving style from the Philippines. Traffic laws are obeyed because fines and penalties are expensive, on top of that, you will accumulate demerit points that when it adds up may suspend or cancel your license. Download and study the guide to Solo Driving in Victoria. If you think you will be driving in the CBD, learn how to do the hook turn, it is only implemented in Melbourne downtown and YouTube offers a few hook-turn how-to guide.

Know where the groceries are. Coles is one of the biggest of the many grocery shops you can find around Melbourne. You can buy prepaid SIM cards and phone credits through their cashiers. You can even take money out from your savings account on top of what you pay for, they call it cash-outs.

Language. Although Australia is an English speaking country, I found myself sometimes struggling to understand some words spoken by Australians. So be patient, in time, you will become familiar as you hear them everyday. Watch TV more often, listen to FM radio stations as much as you can, in that way, you can get yourself up to speed with Australian words and accents.

People. Australia, Melbourne in particular is a melting pot of race and culture. It will be very obvious if you take public transport and go to groceries all the time. Indians, Chinese, and Vietnamese are everywhere. I rarely see Filipinos in downtown Melbourne or on trains, we're like gems, hard to find (grin). Race aside, Melbourne greatly respects the different races that forms its population.

Banks and ATMs. As soon as you arrive in Australia, find a bank that is nearest your home or your work place, whichever you prefer. Open a savings account with them and keep your money there. Make sure that the bank has more than enough ATM machines available in places you frequent. It will be expensive to take out money from a different bank's ATM. I chose Westpac as it was recommended by a friend and it has branches near where I live and work.

Travelling to Australia

2013-02-03T20:13:00.002+11:00

It is important to know what month of the year you will be arriving in what state in Australia.
When I arrived here in Melbourne, it was August of 2012. It was the last month of winter. It was not that cold, but it was relatively cold than our coldest in the Philippines. We are talking about 7-14 deg Celsius.

Therefore, if you are planning to arrive in Melbourne during the winter months, bring a thick jacket (preferably with fleece inner lining), a scarf, warmers for your legs because jeans is not enough to keep you warm believe me, bath robe so you can get out of the bathroom not shaking, wooly indoor slippers, and plenty of thick socks. Light jackets are very handy and useful the whole time, I keep at least one jacket with me everyday even during summer. The rest of your clothes in the Philippines will do just fine here in Melbourne.

Documents. Whatever documents you submitted during the skills assessment and VISA lodgement, bring all of them. Originals and authenticated copies would be good. Bring as many copies of birth certificates from NSO, NBI clearance, Diplomas, Transcript of Records from your schools. If you can get reference letters from all bosses you have worked with, the better. Employment certificates are also useful so don't forget to bring them as well. Bring your medical records as well if you have any preexisting medical conditions. I brought a prescription from my optometrist as well, just in case.

How much can you bring? You will be limited to the kind of ticket you purchased. With PAL, I have 25 kilos worth for checked in baggage and 15 kilos of 2 piece-hand-carry items. With other carriers I believe you can carry more especially if you ask for first time immigrants free baggage allowance. A friend of mine was able to bring 40 kilos. That's 15 kilos more than what I brought. So if you have a limited amount of kilos to bring, bring the most appropriate clothes that suites your purpose in your State of destination.

In my hand carry bag, I brought a set of clothes, all my important documents, and my laptop, and some food/items that needs to be declared with customs (in case they need to check it, it can be easily accessed).

An important reminder though, SOIL. Yes, your shoes or any footwear should be clean from any soil from any foreign country. A piece of paper will ask you to declare if your footwear have any considerable amount of foreign soil on it. You will be asked to clean your shoes before you leave the airport gates.

If you have more to add, please put them on the comments section.

You can read more about climates in Australia per state here.
A list of things you need to know as an arriving traveler.

Ticket to Australia

2013-02-03T09:37:00.001+11:00

Alrighty, here we go. You have that long awaited VISA. What else do you need to legally leave the country and become a permanent resident in Australia?

First, you need to get a stamp from the CFO that recognizes you as a Filipino migrating to another country. I am not sure if OFWs and OFW dependents should get this one, but just ask. For
immigrants, you need to check the orientation schedule for your country you are migrating to. You also need to bring a few things for registration. Visit this page for the complete guide to the CFO process.

Next is getting that ticket to our dream destination. You need to book a flight ahead of time to get a relatively lower fare. If you can book in months ahead of time, the better. Especially if you will use your balance mabuhay miles (if you're with PAL or with any carrier for that matter), you need to book way way ahead of your preferred departure date. Rewards redemption booking is limited per flight schedule. I booked my flight 2 months a head of time. I used my reward miles and only paid for taxes worth 9,000 Php. Without reward miles, my fare would have cost me between 25,000 to 35,000 Php. If you don't have any, look for friends who have no plans of using theirs and you can transfer those reward miles to you and save on some cash for other use.

This may not be significant but if it is your first time to leave the country as an immigrant (to other countries) we are not exempt from travel tax. In the future, however, we are entitled for travel tax exemptions.

First Skill Select Invitation for the month of August

2012-10-02T19:25:00.000+10:00

Again, it's been a while since my last post. I've been busy with all the planning about moving here in Australia so I missed a few updates for everyone.

In my previous post, I mentioned that skill select is a benefit for electronics engineers since our occupation didn't make it to top 5 last year and at the same time due to a large number of lodgement from software related occupations. However,
the recent report about the first batch of invitations for the month of August showed that there have only been 90 permanent resident applicants who received an invitation and most of their point scores were between 75 to 85 points. To obtain such points, I reckon, you must have high IELTS score, an Australian Tertiary education, a PhD, or an Australian Skilled Work experience. 85 points is a high mark, 75 is still a high mark. When I lodged my VISA application, I only had 65 points, just enough to make it to the passing mark.

If my understanding serves me right, the SkillSelect is giving more preference to applicants with the highest marks first then accept applications to applications with lower point scores to reach the monthly or yearly allocation.

Read more about the recent SkillSelect Invitations here and let me know what you think.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/report-2012-08/

Good news for Electronics Engineers, possibly!

2012-07-22T14:31:00.003+10:00

Just when we thought the new Skillselect will bring more uncertainty to our fellow Electronics engineers due to the lack of information available of where you rank in the hierarchy of EOIs, the recent report on migration program has published very helpful information.

From July 2011 to Jun 2012 migration results showed that the top 5 occupations in the skill stream outcome were Accountants, Cooks, Softwares and Applications Programmers, Software Engineer, and Developer Programmer.

This means, there were less than 1,500 Electronics Engineers who applied and got approved under the skilled migration program. The good news is, the lesser applications submitted for a particular occupation, the more likely your EOI will be selected and be invited to apply under the skilled migration program.

This might not be a very pleasant to news to our friends whose occupation belongs to the top 5, but who knows, your accumulated points will be higher than the rest of the application submitted from India, which if I may assume India might just be the source of a greater percentage of software and programming related occupations.

Included in the report is a distribution migrants for every country of origin. This might just give you a better picture of what skills these countries might nominate to the skilled occupation list.

What you need to know about the New Skill Select

2012-07-16T21:38:00.003+10:00

If you have always wondered what the New Skill Select process is like and have not had the chance to research enough or ask friends discreetly without them getting a hint of you looking for something other than "here", then, I'd like to share with you some FYIs about the new program.

Firstly, the equivalent of the visa subclass 175 to the new skill select is now subclass 189. More on this in the next post.

If you're visa of choice is point tested (subclasses 189, 190 and 489), then good news is the new points system now begins at 60. Last year's passmark was 65.

If you have finally decided to apply for a visa, you must submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) on the department's website.

However, for you to submit an EOI, you must have undertaken an English language test (IELTS in our case), had your skills assessed with a positive assessment outcome, or a job offer. All depends on the kind of visa you are applying for. Hint: When filling out an EOI form, if it requires you one, then you will need one, simple. Although you do not need to attach any documents while submitting an EOI, just make sure that you have all those required as soon as you completely submit an EOI.

You can also submit an EOI regardless of where you are. Whether in our home country the Philippines or even in Australia, you can submit one. An EOI is not a visa, it's just an expression of interest, as far as I know, only when a VISA is granted that you need to be outside Australia.

An EOI is not a written letter like some of us might have been used to, it is an online form in the department's website where you type in required information. Rest assured, your personal information is safe and select information will only be shared to employers.

At the same time, once you have submitted your EOI, as soon as your circumstance change, make sure to update your EOI. We want to publish latest information possible available for employers.

And good news for those who still think they need an agent, with the New Skill Select, you can still, with the assistance of a migration agent. In an EOI, you will nominate a contact information, so you can choose if you want the department to contact you directly or your agent.

More detailed information can be found here >>>> department's link

Do I need an immigration agent?

2012-06-22T23:09:00.003+10:00

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.

First, I'll try to list the Pros and Cons if you choose to pursue the application without the assistance of an immigration agent.

Pros of doing-it-yourself
-save more for your pocket money (between 60k as the cheapest and can go as high as more than 2,000 AUD in professional fees)
-the department can communicate to you directly, enabling you to ask questions directly, receive answers directly, and respond quickly (there, that's three direct reasons). I called the DIAC several times, most who applied personally does. I usually wait between 5-10 minutes in the queue but it's worth the wait. I get the most accurate answers direct from the source and you can ask them anything.
-no third-party to be disappointed with. Let's face it, if you are the type who want things done perfectly and quickly, the way we want, and commensurate to the money we paid for, then think again if you are considering an agent.

Cons of doing-it-yourself
-most of us will be new to the application process, so you don't know where to find the answers to your questions. Worse, you don't know the right questions to ask. That's ok, many immigration applicants are first time applicants and we are bound to ask many questions we feel their answers are very difficult to find.
This means, you have to research, research, and do more research. Google is the best place to start.

Here, the Pros and Cons of hiring-an-agent to assist with your application.

Pros of hiring-an-agent
-in my experience, the agency is most helpful when you are starting with your application. The agency's experience can help you give a clear picture of what to expect, what to start with, and how to do it. They will be helpful when you are mostly clueless about what immigration, qualifications of an applicant, and what its processes is all about.
-options and more options: Agencies don't usually run out of options for you to continue your plans to migrate to another country. Believe me, try to visit one, arrange for a consultation.
-you will feel more positive that your application will be more successful if you hire an agent. That's how i felt when i started and I can't deny its benefit.
-you don't have to know what goes on in the application process
-when you have a question, the agency can mostly answer them. take note, mostly, not all.
-the agency's experience in dealing with VISA applications will be of great help if you encounter any problems along the way.

Cons of hiring-an-agent
-the department no longer communicates to you, but to the agent directly thus your speed of response will depend upon how quick and attentive an agent will be in attending to applications, remember, you hire an agency, you are not the only applicant they assist in VISA application, there could be many of you per agent.
-cost, the cheapest professional fee will cost you at least 60,000 pesos. the most expensive will cost you more than 2,000 Australian Dollars. These fees are only true to Philippine based migration agencies. They can cost more if you hire agencies in Australia.
-you still do most of the legwork which is gathering all your required documents

Now, if you feel you really need an agent's assistance, then make sure that:
-The agent you choose is MARA registered. This means, an agent has to be recognized by Australia to assist VISA applications and makes sure that the agents are qualified. You can search if an agent or its authorized representative is MARA registered.
-an agency or agent has proven track record with positive feedback from previous customers. Google the agency or agent's name. You might, just might, find something.
-in my case, I'd choose an agency whose office is in close proximity to my location. I will feel more secure if I see a big, clean, and well-staffed office.

Hiring an agent or doing the application yourself is still a personal choice. If I have plenty of extra cash, I'd go for an agent, but my hands-on approach to my application will redundate (if there is such a word) the agency's role in my application.

Tell us your experience if you are happy with your agent or more happy that you did it yourself.

You don't need an agent, you need a friend.

2012-06-20T07:00:00.000+10:00

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.

While reviewing for IELTS, we shared hard copy notes and downloaded audio materials. By doing this, you just double the amount of materials you can practice with. We also took the mock exam together.

While preparing the requirements for Skills Assessment, we still share tips on how to compress into 2,000 words a single career episode - which we find a little challenging due to the brevity Engineers Australia require. We also share contact persons to expedite processing of our PRC documents. The two months wait for our PRC registration conversion from Electronics and Communications Engineering to Electronics Engineers only took us 2 weeks. We also standardized the Work Experience template for our application. Since our company does not provide one, we agreed to use one template so when we submit to Engineers Australia, they will not notice a difference in the same document coming from one company.

While preparing requirements for notarization by a lawyer, we shared the same template for a notarized document and used the services of the same lawyer.

While preparing to lodge for the VISA application, we fill-out the online forms together. Find answers to questions together. We lodged on the same day, though I successfully lodged mine the day after due to a technical issue.

We keep ourselves updated with case officer allocations.

We shared statuses while fulfilling case officer requirements.

We shared the excitement and thrill while waiting for every online status change of our visa application.

And we were happy for each other when we finally got our VISAs.

Though we have not celebrated our VISA grants yet over a banquet, nevertheless, we helped each other get to where we want to be.

Oh, we will also fly on the same flight and live on the same house when we get to Australia.

It would have been challenging for me to go through the process alone without a friend.

So gather your friends with you and commit yourselves to a supporting relationship as you go through the application process. The application process is more fun when done with friends. Believe me.

New skills list published for Australian skilled migration program

2012-06-15T14:34:00.003+10:00

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:

234211 Chemist
252711 Audiologist
331111 Bricklayer
333411 Wall and Floor Tiler

This is also good news to fellow Electronics Engineers, our occupation is still on the list.

For more occupations, visit the SOL.

Australian VISA points requirement lowered to 60.

2012-06-15T14:10:00.001+10:00

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

This new program can be both a benefit and a challenge. Expression of interests along with an applicant's points will be ranked in each occupation. Therefore, only applicants who belong to the top spot of the pool of applicants per occupation will be invited to apply for a skilled visa.

Unlike the present skilled migration program, regardless of occupation, applications are processed in the order they are received.

This will take effect immediately as soon as the SkillSelect website goes live. I am assuming July 1, 2012.

Go to the DIAC website to read the full news.

Skilled-Independent VISA health requirement

2012-06-13T04:24:00.000+10:00

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.

A skilled-immigrant visa has two health forms to fill-out. Form 26 is for the Medical Examination, it contains what tests will be required for an applicant to submit. It contains the usual requirement for physical examination and some blood tests. Form 160 is for a chest x-ray requirement. Bring these forms along with the letter of request from your case officer that you are required to undergo a medical assessment.

Fortunately, there is an eHealth enabled clinic in Cebu. An eHealth clinic can submit an eVISA applicant's medical assessment results online. As such, results reach the Health Operations Center within a day after all results are available. This helps speed up the VISA assessment process.

I went to Nationwide Health Systems Cebu on a friday, 3 days after I received a request from my case officer. This clinic is on the 3rd floor of a Jose Borromeo building, opposite of Cebu Doctor's emergency entrance which is at the back.

Medical Clinic
Nationwide Health Systems Cebu Inc.
Room 302 Jose C.Borromeo Building
Governor Roa Street, Capitol Site
Cebu City 6000
Philippines
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 5 pm
Telephone: +63 32 238 6053
Fax: + 63 32 238 6053
Doctor(s):
Dr Odette Basal
Dr Julieta R G Coruna

If you choose to pursue with an eHealth application, you must have lodged an online visa application. If so, forms are available for download directly from your electronic application status page. The forms will automatically bear your TRN (Transaction Reference Number), your passport number, date of birth, and the country where your passport was issued.

This clinic accepts applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis. As soon as the building opens at around 6.30 in the morning. write your name on a piece of paper outside the clinic's door. That's the priority list. After 8am, the clinic will no longer accept more applicants.

My experience. I had to wait until 8am for the clinic to open. There were plenty of applicants in a single day and the clinic is in a very warm spot, so be prepared get lots of sweat. After submitting forms 26 and 160, I paid 2,800 Php - the standard rate for skilled-immigrant VISA medical assessment. Since a urinalysis is required, I was asked not to take anything sweet before the specimen was taken. So I brought along with me a bottle of water just to keep that pee clean and clear.

The physical exam and urine sample are taken in the clinic. After, a gentleman will guide you to Cebu Doctor's Hospital to have your chest x-ray taken. We were asked to go back at 1.30pm to the clinic for the blood extraction. A laboratory rep will take your blood sample.

I was done by 2pm.

What's your medical assessment day like?

How to get an NBI Clearance: My recent experience and how I should have done it quicker and cheaper.

2012-06-11T00:58:00.002+10:00

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

completed. He said, he knows someone who can process my clearance even after office hours. He didn't mention how much. Instead of waiting for 7 hours, I went to the main office where I think I can get an "expedited processing" assistance.

So I went, and stood outside the canteen looking for help. But nobody came to me with an offer. After 15 minutes, I thought I'd come back next time and be early. Barely 5 meters from the gate, a gentleman approached me to help. I guess he knows I gave up to wait since I brought with me no green paper. The gentleman guided me to a nearby canteen outside the NBI office, he took out an application form and to my surprise it had a priority number on it and a date. I thought, this guy must have connections inside. So I filled out the form, he took my details, and noticed he spoke on his mobile phone and passed on my information. He gave me a chair just outside the canteen to wait. 5 minutes later, he asked me to wait in a window where an applicant's biometrics are taken. Another 5 minutes later, I was called, my picture and finger prints taken, and my records had a hit. Somebody with my profile or name had a criminal record. I know it takes 2 two weeks to get a hit cleared, but I don't want to go back for it. So I tried to push the envelope a little further and offered an "expediting fee", but the gentleman inside the office insisted on two weeks.

So I left, and the gentleman approached me, I told him my record had a hit, and he said for a little more extra, I can get it cleared in less than 1 hour. I didn't want to spend more on him. I already gave him 500. I thought these two are trying to rip-me-off. I calmed myself and insisted to return after two weeks.

Luckily, a week later, my VISA reached a case officer's desk and I had to submit to a medical assessment. The clinic was a few meters away from the NBI office, so I called the gentleman who took my biometrics, gave him my official receipt number hoping he could verify that my record was cleared. But the line was choppy, so I didin't hear him respond to my question if I could drop by the office.

I went instead. I gave my receipt to the Releasing window, and to my surprise, my NBI clearance is being handed out to me. I have it now on my hand within 1 week, not two.

The next day, I came to work and shared my experience with friends. I was told, it would have been quicker and cheaper if I came an hour or two before the office closes at 4pm. Well, this is why this post is important to you, if you don't want to wake up early, and take a leave from work to get a clearance, follow my friend's advice.

Now, share this post on your facebook wall. This might be of help to somebody close to you.

How much does the Australian Skilled-Independent VISA cost?

2012-06-10T23:11:00.001+10:00

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.

Update: My Australian VISA Timeline

2012-06-10T22:51:00.003+10:00

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.

I got my Australian VISA approved!

2012-06-10T22:40:00.002+10:00

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.

Keeping the good news to yourself is just unbearable. For two hours, I thought of going out from the meeting just to call my parents and my sister - who at that time was also waiting for her Canadian VISA approval. My manager was there, so I just contained all the excitement of a good news as if I was about to burst like a big red balloon.

Anyway, it says "Multiple entry to Australia and VISA holder allowed to stay in Australia, indefinitely." How's that?

Prepare for your Skilled Independent Visa 175 application

2011-12-10T00:25:00.000+11:00

Fillout the online form weeks or months ahead before your preferred lodgement date. (Link)

Make sure all information are correct. To be very sure, ask a person you trust to review your entries.

From the checklist, prepare the necessary documents that you need to submit as attachment. Make sure non-colored official documents are properly certified. Scan these documents and name them accordingly. This link should show you how to attach documents to an online application.

One thing I learned by doing, is that there's always a tricky part: First, be careful when you declare both migrating and nonmigrating dependents. If you do, additional requirements will be asked from them like police and birth certificates, etc, so be careful. Second, you will be required to declare countries where you and your dependents have stayed for at least 12 months or more. The 12 months can be made up of shorter periods. As such, if you or your dependents have stayed for more than 12 months in a country, a police certificate shall be required. See link on how to claim character and penal requirements.

After lodging my application online, I was surprised that there are additional requirements not on the checklist. Like the need for the scanned page of the applicant's passport biopage. In the checklist, this will be only needed if a birth certificate is not available. The applicant's passport sized photo is required as well. Again' not on the checklist and surprised me, good thing I found one in my files. If you have a picture kept in your computer but not sized correctly, idphoto4you.com can resize a picture based on passport size for any country..

Prepare a credit card with sufficient balance. A 175 visa costs 2960 AUD as of this writing, around 127k pesos through a Philippine bank. Get the updated rates here.

When submitting your application online. Click the submit button once only. Pressing it several times might double or triple the application as with the charge of 2960 AUD. So be careful.

Always, always read the form and follow instructions. If things are not clear, you can always contact the department. (How to contact the department)

Australia needs you

2011-08-04T14:45:00.000+10:00

I was caught by surprise when I learned that my skill is currently in demand in Australia. I only thought Canada is my only option for migration but they have no need for an Electronics Engineer now, even for the last 2 years. While browsing in facebook, I came across an advertisement about Australia's updated skills list. So I followed
the link and to my surprise, my occupation is there and have scored 60 points, the highest at that time.

For you to know if Australia needs your skills, visit the link >>> Skilled Occupation List <<<. There is approximately a hundred skills in demand right now. And if you are up to date to the recent changes, occupation no longer receive points, as long as your occupation is on the list, all you need is to score at least 65 points, and then you can apply for skilled-independent migration.

Finally, the Skills Assessment result is here!

2011-08-03T12:00:00.000+10:00

After 16 weeks, I finally received a notification about my assessment results through email. Normally, Engineers Australia send the results through snail mail without notifying the applicant. In my case, I seek the arrangement of having a courier pick up my document, as such, Engineers Australia notified me through
email. There is a challenge for this however, the courier company needs the shipper, in this case Engineers Australia, to contact them directly. But Engineers Australia refused to do such. Therefore, I resorted to have it sent by snail mail.

Anyway, the letter says something like this:

Once you receive this letter, you can then start preparing for the final lodgement of your skilled immigrant visa application.

Stay tuned, I am in that process right now.