you are cutting it close...there is a high chance engineers will be removed from the sol in 2 month's time...so pray you get invited for processing quick....

I think it's for real this time....the job market in Oz is tough, the resources industry is down, and the general mood of the government and people is protectionism....

The recent changes to the 457 visa is the first step...

But if you are already in process, you will be fine, will not be affected by 1 July changes...

There is no need to use migration agents if you are applying for 189/190....

I appears those working in oz now, and those applying for 189/190 are oz graduates....

wonder if there are people applying who are not graduates of oz...

I suppose it depends on professions, but you have no problems with getting your non Oz qualification registered?....

If your profession is not in the sol (mltssl), you will need to try the 190, which uses the consolidated list (stsol), which includes auditors...

it's all about australian work experience...having worked in oz, and able to quote an australian reference, helps lots in getting a job...the work place is basically pragmatic in principle (non of the msian race based policies)...you prove you can work and function, particularly in the aussie context, they will take you...

working free is nothing unique...my niece also worked pro bono for a couple of months before the law firm offered her a job....

the sol is revised every 1 july of the year....several professions, including accountants, engineers and doctors are flagged for review, and may be removed....

the recent cancellation of the 457 visa introduced 2 new lists to replace the sol and consolidated sol....mltssl and stsol ( the aussies and their acronyms...) which is now the new list used for 189 and 190 visas as well...

https://www.rmaustralia.com/stsol-mltssc.html (those professions on the mltssl are automatically on the stsol, except 16 professions...more details here: http://www.australianmigrationnetwork.com....7-mltssl-stsol/

the door is closing...

the change in "sol" lists will only take effect from 1 july....at this point we don't know if engineers will be removed or not...the only visa currently cancelled is the 457...

the 476 is NOT a migration visa...it only allows you to work for up to 18 months in australia...within 2 years of graduating from an engineering course, from an "recognised educational institution"....which in msia means washington accord institutions.

such visas are pretty useless...if you are not eligible for a some other permanent visa, you will have to leave after 18 months....but it is useful for some groups of people, eg Kiwis, people potentially going to marry an oz/pr etc...as a "bridge" to a more permanent arrangement...

This post has been edited by limeuu: May 12 2017, 01:17 PM

so what's the scam here?...

i still can't see the scam....yet...

unless it's for the migration agent to milk you of application fees....

there is no such thing as "ministry of internal affairs"....

a scam always is for the purpose to getting money from you, somehow....so i still don't see where they are going to ask you for money....unless it's that fake migration agent asking you for "application service" fees...

it would be interesting, no?...lol

No lah...just pretend you are interested and see how they monetise the scam....lol

they are asking for a fair bit of personal information, so i suppose it's best not to lead them on....but it would be interesting to find out how they moneytise the scam....

i would recommend doing the application yourself, if it's the straight forward 189 you are planning to use...you don't need agents...

ielts, both british council and idp conducts them, preparation courses, many places do run familiarisation courses...that's what you need....

it professionals are generally in demand...

you need the respective professional bodies in oz to agree to register, recognise, or generally agree to accept a qualification as equivalent to an australian one...engineers are the easiest, due to the washington accord...

The points system is designed generally to require at least 10 points from language to meet the minimum 60 points...

Why do you say IELTS is a scam?

controls are in place to positively identify the candidate nowadays....the exams are ONLY conducted by IDP and British Council, so I would be very surprise if such abuses occur...

i have personal knowledge about the exam in one of the Msian centres, and I can tell you it does not happen at that centre....

as to essay "bullshit", it's a test of language, not content...so bullshits in perfect english will still get a band 8 and above...lol

a grammatically correct irish or scot accent will still score band 8....lol

note that engineers may be removed from the list, the next cycle (ie, effective 1 july 17)....

and if the processing are done on people with 75 points, and capacity reached easily, then it is unlikely people with 60-65 points can be selected for processing....

therefore, it is imperative to get band 8 and above so you get the full 20 points....