I'm not immigrating to Australia

The challenge about maintaining an Australia-themed blog is that it created an impression to some of my peers in the Philippines that I have migrated to Australia. Here are some facts to correct this misconception.

1. My partner is an overseas Filipino worker in South Australia that started in early 2007 and will last up to the end of 2010.
2. Half of my time is spent in the Philippines. I visit Australia to be with family although most of my Internet time is spent on concerns in the Philippines. I haven't really explored opportunities although in my earlier research, I noticed that the location I'm in (Findon / Adelaide / South Australia) is not exactly a hotspot or hub for it.
   

Admittedly, my partner explored getting a permanent residence status but it got declined. Having a non-immigrating special child in the Philippines is the reason behind it. Being rejected is a major setback in a sense that my kids studying in Australia right now won't be able to enjoy schooling opportunities. They will have to study with an international student status as two of them starts their university or TAFE studies next year.

I'll be back in Australia later this month to spend the Christmas season there while working on my scheduled return to Manila this January or February.

So I hope that clarifies - I'm not immigrating to Australia.

IELTS as Permanent Resident Requirement in Australia

When applying for permanent resident status under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857) or Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856), depending where you are based, one of the requirements you'll encounter is to pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

However, if the medium of instruction in the conduct of your college education was English, you can also request a certification from your school to attest to it. If accepted, this may possibly waive the IELTS requirement.

An IELTS exam rates your speaking, reading, writing, and listening in English capability. If you are taking the exam, here are some personal tips that I'd like to share:

Listening:

• Take time to review.
  I think it is practical to join an IELTS review especially the "listening" part to get used to the British and Aussie tone of voice.
  
  
• Take notes during the exam
  Especially the last listening task as taking notes, keywords, will help you not get confused in figuring out the answers.
  

Writing:

• Practice "writing" again
  If you have not been writing too much and using the computer most of the time, your hand may ache from doing the essay part. I experienced that on the 2nd task. If I'll get to do it again, I would have done the 2nd task first.
  
  
• Grammar review
  No harm in doing it especially since the writing task needs to get done in a short span of time.

Reading:

• If you haven't been reading much, it is important to get yourself to do it.
  
  
• During the exam, read the questions first before the reading task.
  
  
• While reading, underline the important points so you can refer to them when answering the questions.

Speaking:

• Get yourself interviewed. Talk about:
  
• Yourself and what you do.
  
• Family members.
• The things you like.
• Your point of view on issues affecting our lives
  
  
• Elaborate your answers
  Be able to fully explain what you meant is important.
  
  
• Be natural
  Talk to the interviewer like being interviewed for a job. Put your best foot forward and show your "pleasing personality".

Take the online sample review. Don't be surprised if some of them will really show up in the exam. ;-)

P.S. I took the exam last August 2008 in Manila. Result was released last September 2008 and got a total band score of 8.0. The highest band I got is 9.0 in speaking.

Medical requirements for Australia permanent resident visa processing

Skilled workers who are already in Australia have the option of getting a permanent resident status. If you are based in areas like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne, and Perth, your path to permanent residence is by filing the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856).

Skilled workers based in other areas, considered as regional or low population, can file the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857).

Prior to filing, one needs to complete an x-ray and medical examination. The first that needs to be done is the chest x-ray. You need to fill up form 160 and bring it with you along with your passport and a passport-size photo.

You need to call any of the following HSA Group offices to make an appointment for your chest x-ray and medical consultation. In some cases, appointment is not necessary for chest x-ray. However, you need to call as the venue for chest x-ray is not necessarily in the same address listed below

Once you are finished with the chest x-ray, you can call again to arrange the date of your actual medical examination. You will need to fill-up form 26 and bring your passport. Always make sure to visit the HSA Group offices website to get updated information.

Areas under Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856):

• Brisbane
  Level 7
  340 Adelaide St
  Brisbane QLD 4001
  telephone 07 3307 9444 and 07 3307 9440
  

• Melbourne
  Level 4
  501 Swanston St,
  Melbourne VIC 3000
  telephone 03 9224 8381
  

• Newcastle
  13 Darby St,
  NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
  telephone 02 4915 5400
  
  
• Perth
  Level 3,
  553 Hay Street
  Perth WA 6000
  telephone 08 9324 6444
  
  
• Sydney
  Level 5, 136 Chalmers St,
  SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
  telephone 02 8396 0600
  
  
• Wollongong
  Level 3, 43 Burelli St,
  WOLLONGONG, NSW 2500
  telephone 02 4253 6400
  

Areas under Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857):

• Adelaide
  Level 8—West
  55 Currie Street
  Adelaide SA 5000
  telephone 08 8468 6084
  
  
• Canberra
  1st Floor,
  15 Bowes St,
  WODEN ACT 2606
  telephone 02 6269 2001
  
  
• Darwin
  Level 1, Cavanagh Centre
  43 Cavanagh Street
  Darwin NT 0800
  telephone 08 8981 7492
  
  
• Hobart
  200 Elizabeth Street
  Hobart TAS 7004
  telephone 03 6281 4000
  
  
• Labrador
  102 Imperial Parade
  Labrador QLD 4215
  telephone 07 5631 4800
  
  
• Parramatta
  Level 4, 2-10 WentworthSt,
  PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
  telephone 02 9806 7333
  
  
• Townsville
  Park Haven Medical Centre
  7 Bayswater Rd
  Hyde Park QLD 4812
  telephone 07 4795 7800
  

More information can be found at health requirements for visa applicants.

Immigration to Australia by Skilled Workers

Since my partner started working in Australia, I often get asked a lot of questions as to how we went through it. Basically, he was recruited and went through an agency. In my opinion, I always think it is best for anyone who wants to work in Australia to go through such a process.

What makes Australia better compared to other countries like Canada is that professionals have a chance to practice their profession here.

The agency that helped my partner and brother-in-law to process their papers is ABC Global. If there are others worth mentioning, let me know and will add here. However, please make sure you are mentioning them based on your experience.

Employer sponsored workers usually get any of the following visa:

• Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (subclass 457)
  This visa is good for 3 months to 4 years. This is the visa that my partner and brother-in-law got, through their employer, that allows bringing of family members to study and also work in Australia. Although I haven't explored the option to work here yet.
• Those who are recruited by an educational institution gets an Educational Visa (subclass 418).
• Recruited doctors, general practitioners and specialists, gets a Medical Practitioner Visa (subclass 422).
• If you will be working for a religious organization, there's also the Religious Worker Visa (subclass 428).
• Those who are recruited by a sporting club or be competing in sports tournament gets a Sports Visa (subclass 421).

Non-employer sponsored can still apply on their own provided they meet the requirements stated in the skilled categories.

Skilled Worker Permanent Visa
Once here, both the employer and employee can take the next step of applying for a Skilled Worker Permanent Visa.

If you are based in areas like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne, and Perth, your path to permanent residence is by filing the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856).

In our case, as we are based in regional or low population growth areas, our option is the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857).

There are medical requirements that needs to be completed before an application can be lodged though.

To help you get adjusted as well, here are some interesting blog post to read:

• How to speak Australian