Guys, Aussie's internet actually have quota right? So, they have free wifi at the shops like us in places, say, Starbucks, Old Town etc?

if you have a full time job relevant to your qualification, you should have enough points to start applying for a pr..........and as far as i know, the points, and conditions have not changed, just the 'shortage professions' lists........which of course will change depending on labour conditions......

It is pretty difficult to secure a full-time position without permanent residency. In addition, there is now a processing priority, in which applicants who meet the critical skills list, are employer sponsored or have a family/state sponsorship are given higher priority than those who do not meet any of those conditions. As the critical skills list changes and these changes are retrospective, there is no guarantee on the processing times, which could now last around 2-3 years. This is still marginally better than the average 7 years one takes to secure permanent residency in the US.

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Jan 19 2010, 10:05 AM

yes they have quota..100GB for 1 month enough for u?
thr r many free wifi places around australia...
even u sign up with telstra,optus,etc, they also provide free wifi at certain public places(mostly inside CBD)

Ohh a bit different from here msia right? Im ok with little quota as i dun download many songs and movies.

very big diff in term of speed..
u will nvr want to use msia's ISP after tht..

UTAS Hobart Campus Accommodation. I'm on the waiting list. Nuohhh! Looks like I don't have a choice =S

UTAS Hobart? I visited Hobart 2 months ago. Awesome place, if you can get around!

Tassie is a real nice place to explore and go sightseeing/experience stuff.

Btw, any Monashians who are new to Halls of Residence, need any help, just ask me. I have RA friends /gg

PS : RA = Resident Advisor. They will be your mama and papa away from homa

Oh oh! I got a question! Posted it onto the Monash Thread but nobody goes there anymore

I was lucky enough to get a room at the halls of residences, but dunno which hall yet..

So I just wanna know, do they provide bedsheets and stuff for the rooms? And the kitchens, they only provide the cooking utilities right ie. stovetop but do they also have a fridge and individual cupboards to keep our stuff?

thanks!

i never stayed in one, but i visited my friends. the kitchen and living room is shared and everything is available. like fridge, stove, oven, microwave couches and local tv. and if you are lucky some places got foxtel. its just like a giant kitchen. and rooms got BIRs and beds and desks but dunno about the sheets

there have been a couple of changes within these few mths alone. with the new changes it requires graduates to receive their degree assessment results before submitting the application but as far as i remember u need to have a copy of your cert to be able to do the assessment, which means u need to graduate 1st. most student visas dont hold out that long. this probably means those who want to apply for a PR will need to apply for a TR 1st.

i bet there will be more changes during these 18 mths. the processing period has been increased too in these few mths with the priority processing.

of course you need to graduate first before applying for any visa other than your student visa.........

as i understand it, you will have a few months of student visa left after graduating.......and you can then initiate your application for the bridging visa, and will be given a temporary visa while waiting for the bridging visa to be processed.........you can stay on, do part time work, look for a permanent job etc, but will not be able to leave oz while on this temporary visa.........

once your 18 mths bridging visa is approved, then you have that 1 1/2 years to get enough points and start applying for a pr visa........and you can also leave and return to oz anytime.......

the pr processing takes time, i am not sure what happens if your bridging visa runs out and your pr is not approved yet..........

hello brisbanites! im new to here.. oh.. at least this thread. hope you guys are enjoying your hols!

the place is called oriental smtg.. oriental coffee shop? cant really remember but the viet n chinese restaurant are side by side

not true. most people try to send an application in before they graduate. but it's hard now that the requirements changed. before this they only needed to provide evidence of their degree assessment application. now they want the results in before they proceed with the processing.

most student visas expire in march when the student completes his studies in december the previous year after the finals. most unis graduation ceremonies will only take place in mar/april afaik. the degree assessment will take about a month after u send the assessment application in, which means april/may, at the earliest.

and on a bridging visa u can leave australia as long as u apply for a bridging visa B which allows u to return to your home country in the event of emergencies. that will cost u 60 bucks.

a bridging visa is also indefinite. that means it will never run out until your application is approved or rejected. if rejected, u will be given 1 mth to gtfo or apply for another visa.

This post has been edited by b3ta: Jan 19 2010, 11:53 PM

do you need to physically graduate ie convocate first?....or you can graduate once you achieve all your requirements.....once you get the official confirmation from the uni, probably in december, you can start the process.......

You can start the application once you have a letter of completion and official transcript from the university. The recent rule changes also require you to have a positive skills assessment by the relevant professional body at the time of application. This is the major point of contention because these skills-assessing bodies often take a VERY long time to respond. ACS (for all ICT grads), take an average of 12 weeks, which means it will effectively screw up all onshore applications. ACS is a large scam by itself, charging $300-$400 for the assessment and taking longer than Engineers Australia to issue a short statement certifying our credentials. You can only apply for a skills assessment once you have the letter of completion and transcripts. You do not need the official degree certificates for application.

got my student visa application approved yesterday...did my medical at tung shin hospital last saturday...thanks for those who suggested tung shin...

This post has been edited by highwind85: Jan 20 2010, 04:25 PM

I'm not sure about other professions, but for my course I can actually send in the application for temporary business visa (457) before I graduate. The application would be pending and once you graduate you need to supply them with proof of your degree/certificate and you'll get your visa approved within a few days, probably even the immediate next day.

For those who will be applying, it's better to check with Immigration or any Visa agents regarding this issue. It would be so much easier and faster to submit the application early (eg September or Oct) if possible, instead of waiting till the end of the year. Bear in mind that the last 2 weeks of December would be hell as everybody is on leave for Christmas and New Year... Everything will be in slow motion.

i don't know why 457 is called 'business' visa, but it is actually a skilled employer sponsored visa, ie you have a skill in demand, and an employer is willing to employ and sponsor you........

in your case, once you have got an internship placement, you can apply for 457 and you employing health authority will be you sponsor........

for most other professions (with the possible exception of some types of engineers) it will be a struggle to find an employer willing to employ a non-resident and willing to sponsor your 457 visa before one graduates...........

Who knows why it is called "business" visa, but it's merely a nomenclature issue.

I'm not sure how easy/difficult it is to apply for a temporary visa (?short stay ?visitor pass) without a confirmed employment, but good luck to those who are attempting to do so. For most students their student visa would end around March so after graduation you'll have approximately 2-3 months to find a job and obtain visas and such.