Siwel Blog

Writing a Resume

2012-01-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

This is an example of a resume that I created and you can use it as a template if you want.

Este es un ejemplo de la hoja de vida que cree y puedes usarlo como plantilla si quieres.

_____________________________________________________________________

#Name

Place and date of birth: #ABC - #Department – #Country – #dateofbrith
Passport Number: #XXX
E-mail: #abc@abc.com

EDUCATION

#Year University Name City - Country
#Career_Name

#Year University Name City - Country
#Career_Name

INTRODUCTION

At the moment I work for “Company Name” in City - Country, where I am a Database Programmer; Since 100 years ago, I had been in charge of design and modification of database structure according to changes in law and keep the user’s information up to date, create and modify packages in PL/SQL Oracle 11g through Oracle Developer tool.

Prior to this position, I worked in the company "ABC" for 100 years as Analyst Programmer. My roles in several projects which I was participating were: gather requirements from users to accomplish new business rules, programming using Oracle PL/SQL, PHP, and JavaScript for the ERP Company Name software called “XYZ” and programming using NetBeans Ide 6.9.1 for the payroll software called “ABC”.

Prior to this role I worked in Deparment Name of Company Name as a Help Desk Agent. During 100 years, my role was: Attend system’s requirements like software and hardware installation, setup Pc’s, Printers or email accounts.

I would categorize my major skills and experience as follows:

- Knowledge and experience of several languages programs like VB.NET, C, PHP, and PLSQL.
- Experience with different type of databases like FoxPro, MySQL, Postgress, MS Access, SQL Server and Oracle.
- Experience with the use of patters like MVC, Singleton and Factory.
- Knowledge of UML methodology.
- Experience with different kind of O.S. like Linux, Windows and Unix.
- Able to participate in a programmer’s team.
- Experience in writing reports.
- Some experience in scripting language: UNIX, Linux, and Shell Scripts.
- Able to work under pressure.

BACKGROUND

Date1 – Today Company Name City - Country

Company Description ….

Position : Database Programmer

I am in charge to keep up to date the user’s information and present the information updates to governmental entities. Also I’m in charge to design and modify database structure according to change in law.

Duties:

• Developing and enhancing stored procedures for database application (Oracle 11gi).
• Design, develop and maintain application program in VB .NET, PHP and PLSQL.
• Designing and optimizing database schema and queries.
• Consulting with internal customers to design and code to meet their requirements.
• Data analysis, extracting and reporting.

Date1 – Date2 Company Name. City - Country

Company Description ….

Position : Analyst Programmer

I was in charge to give maintenance the payroll software built it on Java called “ABC”, later I was assigned to the project “Project Name” which is the software to manage all the user’s information joined to Company Name, which was elaborated in PHP and Oracle 11g and JavaScript.
Duties:

• Design, test and deployment structure and database objects using Oracle 11g.
• Implementation store procedures’ tuning using PLSQL and Oracle Developer.
• Implementation of different financial reports.
• Development and system modules update using VB .NET, PHP and PLSQL.

Date 1 – Date2 Company Name City - Country

Position : Help Desk Agent

Company Description ….

I was in charge to attend system’s requirements like software and hardware installation.

Duties:

• Desktop Windows PC installation and setup.
• Printer installation and setup.
• Microsoft Exchange mail setup.
• Find solutions to Technologies problems like virus and others.
• Customer services by phone, email and personal.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

Oracle 11g Administration Databases
Oracle PL/SQL 8i,9i,10g and 11g
PHP 5.2 and previous versions
JavaScript
Java
Visual Basic .NET

Name
Passport: XXX

Writing an employer reference

2012-01-29T16:21:00.000-08:00

This is a little example of an employer reference that I wrote when I was getting all the documentation required for the Australian visa application, I hope it would be useful for the people who wants to use it as a template, for me it was very effective and I hope It would be for you.

Este es un pequeño ejemplo de una carta de referencia que escribí cuando estaba reuniendo toda la documentación requerida para aplicar por la visa Australiana, Espero que sea util para las personas que quieran usarla como plantilla, para mi fue efectiva y espero que lo sea para ustedes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Date, City - Country

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Name identified by Passport Number, has been working in Company Name since Date1 to current as a full time employee, during the period from Date2 to Date3, the position he hold is XYZ.

He was in charge to Description of the Job.

His principals’ duties were:

• Design and modify database objects (Oracle 11gi) according to changes in law.
• Create and update store procedures(Oracle 11g) which manage affiliate’s information
• Create and update Software XYZ modules (ERP Company Software) both in presentation and data tier (PHP and Oracle 11g).
• Tuning to procedures and queries using PLSQL.

Name is extremely organized; he can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. He is flexible and willing to work on any project that is assigned to him. He has my highest recommendation.

If you would have any further questions with regard to his background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Boss Name
Position in the Company
Company Name
Tel. 12345647 Mobile : 311-11111111
City, Country
Mail : mailAddress@gmail.com

Colombia Panel Doctors

2011-07-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

In this link you can find which Clinics and doctors are allow to take medical examinations for Australia Immigration purposes. Panel Doctors - Colombia

In our particular case we took the medical examinations with the first one and it was because when we call the attention was excellent and they already knew which documents are required.

Spanish Version.

En este link puedes encontar que clinicas y doctores son permitidos para tomar los examenes medicos para propositos de migracion a Australia.
Panel Doctors - Colombia

En nuestro caso particular tomamos los examenes medicos con el primero de la lista por que cuando llamamos por telefono la atencion fue excelente y ellos ya sabian que documentos se requieren.

Melbourne, Australia

2010-12-19T22:29:00.000-08:00

English Version
I had started this post 3 times before, actually sometimes I finished it but just only now I published reasons?
I could say so many but the true is that the laziness and be learning new things in a new country and a radical change make you be focusing all the time.
The flight was excellent, of course very long and many flight hours (6 hours from Bogota to Santiago Chile, 12 from Santiago to Auckland, 3 from Auckland to Sydney and 1 from Sydney to Melbourne).
Since the first moment the change is amazing, in the Airport didn’t check us the baggage (11 Suitcases), we only said that we bring some powder milk for our daughter and some basic medicines like pain killer and pills against cold. Imagine how difficult is to push two trolleys at the same time with all the suitcases, but the Melbourne people kindness shows up since the first time, an airport employee helped us with one of the trolleys some part of the journey and later a common Melbourne citizen helped us to get to airport counter.
Then in Melbourne we took a taxi to the place we previously rented by internet and we immediately settled there, the people who rented that apartment are very nice and we recommended widely. (If there is someone interested in that place, the link is: Glenmore)
The next step was to look for a house to rent and fortunately that only last two weekends, we applied for two houses and both were assigned to us then we decided for one of them. That is a good thing here in Melbourne because you can apply for several houses and you don’t have to pay anything to do it. When we settled down in the house then I start to find a job and only it took me 3 weeks, during that time I applied about 20 job offers and I had 3 interviews and now I am working with one of those companies, the funny thing is about three weeks later to be working I received a call from one of the other companies which a presented interview and they offer me to have a final interview but I had to tell them that I already was working and thanks them for the opportunity.
The fist week my wife and daughter got out to play at the park and they found a community hall and in that place they found a playgroup for our daughter, my wife enrolled her straight away.
Now because of that playgroup we had met a lot of Australian families and some of them had invited us to have dinner, BBQ’s and some other activities, in that group only are 3 immigrant families included us so we had been learning about the Australian life style.
I don’t want to make this post too long so I am going to finish here and later on I will write about Internet, buying car, buying furniture, arrange bills etc.

Spanish Version

He empezado este post más de 3 veces, de hecho algunas veces lo he terminado pero solo hasta ahora lo vengo a publicar, cuales son las razones?
Podría decir muchas pero la verdad es que solo se trata de pereza y de estar enfocado en las nuevas cosas que un país Nuevo y un cambio tan radical lo llevan a uno a descubrir.
El vuelo fue excelente, por supuesto muchas horas de vuelo (6 de Bogotá a Santiago de Chile, 12 de Santiago de Chile a Auckland, 3 de Aukcland a Sydney y finalmente 1 hora de Sydney a Melbourne).
Es impactante el cambio desde el primer momento, en el Aeropuerto no nos revisaron las maletas (11 en Total), solo dijimos que traíamos leche para la bebe y la formula del médico, así como medicamentos comunes para la gripa y Dolores de cabeza. Ya se imaginaran lo difícil manejar dos carritos con todas las maletas, pero la amabilidad de la gente se dejo ver desde el primer momento pues los encargados del Aeropuerto nos ayudaron hasta cierto punto y luego un ciudadano cualquiera nos ayudo el resto del trayecto.
En Melbourne tomamos un Taxi hasta el sitio que habíamos alquilado y nos instalamos inmediatamente, las personas que nos alquilaron, súper amables, ampliamente recomendados. (El link, por si alguien está interesado es: Glenmore )
Luego empezamos con la búsqueda de vivienda la cual afortunadamente solo nos tomo 2 fines de semana, aplicamos a 2 casas y las dos nos las asignaron, luego decidimos por una de ellas. Esa es la ventaja de Melbourne, tu puedes aplicar a cuantas casas quieras pues no debes pagar nada para poder aplicar, una vez instalados en la casa empezamos con la búsqueda de empleo la cual solo tomo 3 semanas, durante esas 3 semanas apliqué como a 20 empleos de los cuales tuve 3 entrevistas y en una de ellas quede y empecé a trabajar, como 3 semanas después de estar trabajando me llamaron de una de las empresas que había presentado entrevista para una entrevista final pero les comente que ya estaba trabajando que estaba muy agradecido por la oportunidad.
Mi esposa la primer semana salió con la niña a un parque cerca de la casa y en el centro comunitario encontró un grupo de juegos para los niños y se inscribió inmediatamente, ahora gracias a ese grupo hemos conocido a varias familias las cuales no han hecho invitaciones a comer, salidas a parques y otras actividades. La mayoría de esas familias son australianas y solo 3 familias del grupo somos inmigrantes, lo cual ha hecho que vayamos aprendiendo el estilo de vida australiano.
Para no hacer este post tan largo lo dejare allí y luego escribiré sobre el internet, compra de vehículo, compra de artículos para el hogar, servicios públicos etc.

Useful Links

2010-03-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

Browsing through internet I found this list and I think is very useful for any who is interested in the Australian visa process.

Navegando por internet encontré esta lista y pienso que es muy útil para cualquiera que esté interesado en el proceso de visa Australiana.

http://www.gettingdownunder.com
http://www.pomsinoz.com/
http://aussieneighbor.freeforums.org
http://www.immi.gov.au
http://www.citizenship.gov.au
http://www.passports.gov.au
http://www.mrt.gov.au (Migration Review Tribunal)
http://www.nz-oz.gov.au (for Kiwis heading to Australia)

MIGRATION AGENCIES
http://www.themara.com.au
http://www.mia.org.au

COMMUNITY MIGRATION ADVICE in AUSTRALIA
http://www.iarc.asn.au (Sydney)
http://www.rilc.org.au (Melbourne)
If elsewhere in Australia, IARC or RILC may be able to refer you

STATE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES
http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au
http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au

IMMIGRATION FAQs
http://www.ptlabs.com.au/visas/faq.php
http://www.austimeline.com (Timelines)
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/ (for US citizens in Australia)

SKILL ASSESSING AUTHORITIES
http://www.ieaust.org.au (Engineers)
http://www.aaca.org.au (Architects)
http://www.icaa.org.au (Accountants)
http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au (Accountants)
http://www.nia.org.au (Accountants)
http://www.aps.psychsociety.com.au (Psychology)
http://www.acs.org.au (IT)
http://www.anmc.org.au (Nurses)
http://www.naati.com.au (Translators)
http://www.detya.gov.au/noosr/ (Teachers, plus general information)
http://www.workplace.gov.au/TRA/ (Tradesmen)
http://www.vetassess.com.au (Most 50 + 40 point occupations)
A full listing can be found on form 1121i (Skilled Occupations List)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING
http://www.ielts.org
http://www.oet.com.au

GOVERNMENT PORTALS
http://www.fed.gov.au
http://www.nsw.gov.au
http://www.vic.gov.au
http://www.qld.gov.au
http://www.sa.gov.au
http://www.wa.gov.au
http://www.tas.gov.au
http://www.act.gov.au
http://www.nt.gov.au

DRIVING LICENCE
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Other authorities can be found through the state government portal.

AUSTRALIAN EMBASSIES
http://www.australia.org.uk (London)
http://www.ahc-ottawa.org (Ottawa)
http://www.austemb.org (Washington DC)
http://www.australian-embassy.de (Berlin)
(All overseas DIMIA offices)
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/ (All overseas Australian missions)
Not every Australian mission has a DIMIA presence.

FOREIGN EMBASSIES in the AUSTRALIA
http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/protocol (Full listing)
http://www.britaus.net
http://canberra.usembassy.gov
http://www.canada.org.au
http://www.nzembassy.com/home.cfm?c=18

BANKING
http://www.commbank.com.au
http://www.anz.com.au
http://www.stgeorge.com.au
http://www.national.com.au
http://www.westpac.com.au
http://www.australiancu.com.au
http://www.bankwest.com.au
http://www.banksa.com.au
http://www.hsbc.com.au
http://www.citibank.com.au
http://www.migrantbanking.co.uk (Commonwealth Bank, London branch)
http://www.americanexpress.com.au

REAL ESTATE
http://www.property.com.au
http://www.realestate.com.au
http://www.domain.com.au
http://www.tenants.org.au (Tenants rights)

HIGHER EDUCATION
http://www.go8.edu.au
http://www.hecs.gov.au

DISTANCE LEARNING
http://www.une.edu.au
http://www.deakin.edu.au
http://www.monash.edu.au
http://www.usq.edu.au
http://www.ola.edu.au
http://www.oli.tafe.net
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk

NEWS and MEDIA
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.ninemsn.com.au
http://www.seven.com.au
http://www.theaustralian.com.au (National)
http://www.smh.com.au (Sydney)
http://www.theage.com.au (Melbourne)
http://www.afr.com.au (Australian Financial Review)
http://www.crikey.com.au
http://www.mikesradioworld.com/oceania.html (Radio stations online)

SHOPPING & RETAIL
http://www.angusrobertson.com.au (Books)
http://www.binglee.com.au (Electrical)
http://www.dse.com.au (Electrical)
http://www.coles.com.au (Supermarket)
http://www.dymocks.com.au (Books)
http://www.retravision.com.au (Electrical)
http://www.westfield.com.au (Shopping Malls)
http://www.woolworths.com.au (Supermarkets)

EMPLOYMENT
http://www.seek.com.au
http://www.hays.com.au
http://www.careerone.com.au
http://www.mycareer.com.au
http://www.jobsearch.gov.au

HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE
http://www.centrelink.gov.au (Social security)
http://www.hic.gov.au (Health Insurance Commission, incl Medicare)
http://www.mbf.com.au (Health insurance)
http://www.medibank.com.au (health insurance)
http://www.hcf.com.au (health insurance)

TRAVEL & MOTORING
http://www.flightcentre.com.au
http://www.trailfinders.com.au
http://www.qantas.com
http://www.virginblue.com.au (Main competitor to Qantas)
http://www.sydneyairport.com.au
http://www.melbourneairport.com.au
http://www.greyhound.com.au (Bus)
http://www.drive.com.au (Car prices)
http://www.nrma.com.au (Insurance, Roadside assistance)
http://www.avis.com.au
http://www.hertz.com.au
http://www.bayswatercarrental.com.au (Car rental, Sydney and Perth)
http://www.airlinequality.com (Airline reviews)

TOURISM
http://www.australia.com
http://www.yha.org.au (Budget accommodation)

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
http://www.australia.anglican.org
http://www.uca.org.au (Uniting Church - Methodist/Presbyterian)

WEATHER
http://www.bom.gov.au
http://www.australianweathernews.com
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jamestorm/bristorm.html (Brisbane)
http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/weather.html (Perth)
http://www.dropbears.com/brough (Morning Glory cloud waves)
http://www.realsurf.com.au/ (Surf reports)

WEBCAMS
http://perthcam.bankwest.com.au
http://webcam.omni.net.au (Melbourne)

POLITICAL
http://www.liberal.org.au
http://www.alp.org.au
http://www.aph.gov.au (Parliament)
http://www.aec.gov.au (Elections)
http://www.whitlamdismissal.com (Political history)
http://www.australianpolitics.com

POSTAL & TELECOM
http://www.auspost.com.au
http://www.telstra.com.au
http://www.optus.com.au
http://www.vodafone.com.au
http://www.virginmobile.com.au

UTILITY PROVIDERS (SYDNEY)
http://www.agl.com.au
http://www.energy.com.au

INTERNET
http://www.ozemail.com.au
http://www.pacific.net.au
http://www.ihug.com.au
http://www.iprimus.com.au
http://www.iinet.net.au
http://www.aunic.net (Naming)

DIRECTORIES & SEARCH ENGINES
http://www.yahoo.com.au
http://www.google.com.au
http://www.whitepages.com.au (Online Directory)
http://www.yellowpages.com.au

OTHER GOVERNMENT SITES
http://www.abs.gov.au (National Statistics)
http://www.rba.gov.au (Central Bank)
http://scaleplus.law.gov.au (Legislation Information)
http://www.casa.gov.au (Civil Aviation Safety Authority)
http://www.ato.gov.au (Taxation)
http://www.aqis.gov.au (Quarantine)
http://www.customs.gov.au (Customs)
http://www.firb.gov.au (Foreign Investment Review Board)
http://www.familycourt.gov.au (Family Court, includes divorce information)
(Administrative Appeals Tribunal)

OTHER AUSTRALIA SITES
http://www.austlii.edu.au (Legal Database)
http://www.melbourne2006.com.au (Commonwealth Games)
http://www.taxpayer.com.au (Taxpayers Australia)
http://www.bpay.com.au (Bill payment)
http://www.slsa.asn.au (Surf life saving)
http://www.australianflag.org.au (Australian National Flag Association)
http://www.southern-cross-group.org (Expatriate Australians)
http://www.hea.asn.au (Home-education)
http://www.rfds.org.au (Royal Flying Doctor Service)
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants (Brisbane Fire Ant infestation)
http://www.ntf.flinders.edu.au (National Tidal Facility)
http://www.ga.gov.au/nmd/geodesy/astro/ (Sunrise / Sunset times)
http://www.whereis.com.au (online maps)

Visa Approved

2010-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

A Great News

Visa Aprobada ,Visa Approved,visum goedgekeur,Visa miratuar,تأشيرة وافقت
VISA ЗАЦВЕРДЖАНА,VISA ОДОБРЕНИ,VISA APROVADA, 簽證認可,VISA ODOBRENO,VISA SCHVÁLENO,VISA GODKENDT,VISA GOEDGEKEURD,VISA HEAKSKIIDETUD,VISA inaprubahan,Visa päätti,VISA APPROUVÉ,VISA APROVADOS,VISA APPROVED,VISA ΕΓΚΡΙΘΗΚΑΝ,Visa APWOUVE,A VISA JÓVÁHAGYOTT

Thanks God!!!

Taking Medical Examinations

2010-03-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

We woke up early because our appointment was settled at 7 AM and we live far away from the medical center; it took us 1 hour to get there. When we arrived the medical center was still closed but 5 minutes later the first employee arrived.

She asks us about what embassy was the documentation for, because they make medical examinations not only for Australia but also for Canada, New Zealand and I don’t know what others countries.

Later she asks about the File reference number which arrived in the email that the case officer sent us and we showed her the original passport because we forgot the photocopy. At that time the office was with 7 people more taking the same medical examinations for the same and/or different countries.

Then the secretary took us a picture to each one with a digital camera and fill out the information in a template form for the medical and RX exam and we pay 680.000 Colombian pesos (340 dollars approximately). After that we were called for another employee who took us the blood test and gave us a little plastic can for the urine test.

Afterwards the first secretary gave us the medical order to take the chest RX in other clinic called IDIME, that clinic center was at 10 minutes by car and we arrived there at 10 minutes to 9 am and the attention was really quick but the result took 1 hour to be ready. At that place we didn’t pay anything because the previous money we pay in the doctor’s office include the RX too.
With the chest RX result in a sealed envelope we come back to take the general examination with the doctor but at that time (10 AM) our daughter was sleeping in my arms and was necessary to wake her up, thing no easy to do because at that time is her usual nap time.
Finally we woke up our daughter and the doctor only heard her heart and her lungs and during the entire interview he was watching her and taking notes on her movements and her general behavior.

The interview was really fast; only the doctor takes your blood pressure, hear your breath and your heart, some regular questions and no more. Before noon we had finished all the medical requirements and the doctor told us that everything was ok, very normal.

The medical center is in charge to send the documents to the corresponding office, in our case that office was Sydney because we are applying for a General skill independent visa (175).
We wait 7 days before call the medical center ask them for the tracking number for our documents and there they gave us that number and also informed us that the documents already arrived to Sydney on February 23.

That day (Feb 23) we checked through the evisa system and the medical examinations looked “Received” and 3 days later the status had changed to “Referred” and the March 03 they seem Finalized.

Taking PCC

That was easier, only we needed to call the DAS and ask for an appointment for the next day, and the day of the appointment we carried the national ID, a photo and 15.000 (8 US$ approximately) and half our later we had our Police clearance certificate.

Those paper (PCC) we uploaded for the e-visa system on March 03, 2010 because we had to wait for the translations.

I want to add the Attention in the medical center was excellent and reliable, they know all the procedure and they have software where there is the template for every form you need in this case 26EH and 160EH.

Case Officer Assigned

2010-02-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

A week ago, I was working on my computer at 11 PM when I decided to open my email account just to check if some email had arrived, when I saw a new email with the subject Adelaide Office, at the beginning I didn’t understand what was it about but when I started to read the body of the email a big wave of emotions fill my body. The message was from our case officer who is requesting that we take the medical examinations and send the police clearance certification (PCC).
Also in the email there is a statement that says: “Timeframe for response
You must respond to this request within 28 days after you are taken to have received this letter”. So, taking that in count tomorrow we’ll take the medical examination and the PCC on the weekend.
Despite the new regulations DIAC issued last February 8th, our case in going really fast because only took 92 days since we apply for the PR to have case officer assigned.
Thanks God!!!.

Funcionario del caso Asignado

Hace una semana, estaba trabajando en mi computador como a las 11PM cuando decidí abrir el correo solo para revisar si había llegado algún email, cuando vi un nuevo correo con el título Oficina Adelaide, al principio no entendía de que se trataba pero cuando empecé a leer el mensaje del correo una gran ola de emociones invadió my cuerpo. El mensaje era de nuestro funcionario del caso quien está solicitando que nos tomemos los exámenes médicos y enviemos los certificados judiciales.
En el correo también hay una oración que dice: “Plazo para responder Usted debe responder esta solicitud dentro de los 28 días después de haber recibido este correo”. Así que tomando eso en cuenta mañana nos tomaremos los exámenes médicos y el fin de semana los pasados judiciales.
A pesar de las nuevas regulaciones que DIAC publicó el pasado 8 de Febrero, nuestro caso está yendo bien rápido porque solamente tomó 92 días desde que aplicamos por la PR hasta tener funcionario del caso asignado.

Gracias Dios!!!.

Applying for a PR

2009-12-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to apply for a PR Visa, one is paper base and the other one is online, according to my research is better to apply online because you can track your application 24 hours at day, another good reason is that you send your documents through the system in digital form, the only thing you need to do is scan your documents and upload them to the Evisa System. Of course if your documentation is in another language than English, you need to attach the translation made it for an official accredited translator and every document has to be certified by a notary or another official entity.

When you apply through the paper base method, you need to send the physical documents through a courier or post company and they (DIAC) send you an acknowledge letter by post whence you receive the notification one or two weeks later but with the online method the acknowledge letter arrive the same day by email.

We were in that dilemma because although we wanted to apply online, we hadn’t credit card, then we decided to apply for a credit card in the bank where we have our savings but when we were gathering the necessary documentation, one day my wife was talking with one of her old university classmate and the subject pop out and she offered her credit card so we apply online the last November 10.

Those are the documents we sent with our application:

1. Certified photocopy of National Id (Principal and secondary applicant).
2. Certified photocopy of Passports (Every applicant).
3. Photo passport type. (Every applicant).
4. IETLS score (Principal and secondary applicant).
a. Our daughter didn’t need to show English proficiency because her age.
5. Certified photocopy of Birth certificate (Every applicant).
6. Certified photocopy of Baptism certificate (Principal applicant)
a. We decided to send this document just in case because the birth certificate is very old and it doesn’t see very clear.
7. Certified photocopies of overseas qualifications (Principal applicant).
8. Certified photocopies of employer references (Principal applicant).
9. Certified letter of human resources current employer. (Principal applicant).
10. Certified photocopies of Pay Slips 2005-2009 (Principal applicant).
11. Certified photocopies of Income certificates 1998-2009 (Principal applicant).
12. Certified photocopy of marriage certificate.
13. Skill Assessment (Principal applicant).
14. Resume (Principal applicant).
15. Prove of community language (Spanish) (Principal applicant).
16. Form 80 (Principal and secondary applicant).
a. We decided to send this document although it hasn’t required yet.

The Evisa system has some constraints like the size of the file attached (1 MB max), the maximum number of files you can upload (60 files) and the types of files; then you need to be aware how to attach the documentation.
We decided to group similar documents in one PDF file and in the same file we included the official translation.

Now we are waiting the case officer’s assignation and according to some forums and some web sites where you can see some statistics that can occur in 6 or 12 months so we have to have a lot of patience.

Spanish Version

Hay dos formas de aplicar por una visa de residencia permanente, una es en papel y la otra es en línea, de acuerdo a mi investigación es mejor aplicar en línea por que tu puedes consultar el estado de tu aplicación las 24 horas del día, otra buena razón es que envías los documentos a través del sistema en forma digital, lo único que debes hacer es escanear tus documentos y cargarlos en el Sistema de visa Electrónico (Evisa System). Por supuesto si tu documentación esta en un lenguaje diferente al ingles, necesitas anexar la traducción hecha por un traductor oficial certificado y cada documento debe estar certificado por notaría u otra entidad oficial.

Cuando aplicar por el método de aplicación en papel, necesitas enviar los documentos físicos a través de mensajería o correo y ellos (DIAC departamento de inmigración Australiano) te envía una carta de acuse de recibo por correo por lo cual tu recibes la notificación una o dos semanas después pero con el sistema en línea el acuse de recibo llega el mismo día por correo electrónico.

Nosotros estábamos en ese dilema por que aunque queríamos aplicar en línea, no teníamos tarjeta de crédito, entonces decidimos aplicar por una tarjeta de crédito en el banco donde tenemos nuestros ahorros pero cuando estábamos reuniendo la documentación necesaria, un día mi esposa estaba hablando con una vieja compañera de la universidad y el tema salió de pronto y ella ofreció su tarjeta de crédito entonces aplicamos en línea el pasado 10 de Noviembre.

Estos son los documentos que enviamos con nuestra aplicación:

1. Fotocopia certificada del la cédula (Aplicante principal y secundario).
2. Fotocopia certificada del pasaporte (Aplicante principal y secundario).
3. Foto tipo pasaporte (Cada aplicante).
4. Puntaje del IELTS (Aplicante principal y secundario).
a. Nuestra hija no necesita demostrar habilidad en ingles por su edad.
5. Fotocopia certificada del registro civil (cada aplicante).
6. Fotocopia certificada del certificado de bautismo (aplicante principal)
a. Decidimos enviar este documento por si acaso ya que el registro civil esta muy viejo y no se ve claramente.
7. Fotocopia certificada de estudios en el exterior (Aplicante principal).
8. Fotocopia certificada de referencias laborales (aplicante principal).
9. Carta certificada de recursos humanos del actual empleador (Aplicante principal).
10. Fotocopia certificada de recibos de pago 2005-2009 (aplicante principal).
11. Fotocopia certificada de certificados de ingresos 1998-2009 (aplicante principal).
12. Fotocopia certificada del certificado de matrimonio.
13. Revalidación profesional (aplicante principal).
14. Hoja de Vida (aplicante principal).
15. Prueba de Habilidad en otro lenguaje (español) (aplicante principal).
16. Forma 80 (Aplicante principal y secundario).
a. Decidimos enviar este documento aunque no lo han solicitado aun.

El sistema de visa electrónico tiene algunas restricciones como el tamaño del archivo anexado (1 MB máximo), el número máximo de archivos que puedes subir (60 archivos) y los tipos de archivos; entonces debes estar pendiente de cómo anexar la documentación. Nosotros decidimos agrupar documentos similares en un archivo PDF y en el mismo archivo incluimos la traducción oficial.

Ahora estamos esperando la asignación del funcionario encargado de nuestro caso y de acuerdo a algunos foros y sitios webs donde se pueden ver algunas estadísticas dicha asignación puede ocurrir en 6 0 12 meses así que tenemos que tener mucha paciencia.

Priority Processing

2009-11-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

Since last September 23rd , 2009 the immigration department started with a new priority processing criteria and that priority affect not only the new applicants but also the applicants who already are in the process for a long time, even those who the case officer ask them for medical and police records.

The priority processing is (For 175,475 and 176 visas among others):

1. Employer sponsored
2. Nominated by Stated or regional government and occupation is in the CSL
3. Sponsored by family and occupation is in the CSL
4. Applications neither nominated nor sponsored but occupation in the CSL
5. Nominated by Stated or regional government and occupation is not in the CSL
6.
a. Occupations in the MODL
b. Sponsored by family and occupation is not in the CSL
7. All other applications.

As I got the skill assessment with an ASCO code which is in CSL (2231-79 Oracle Specialist), then I tried to get and Sponsorship from Victoria State last October in order to harry up our process but they answer me in 3 days denying my request.

At least we can say that we tried!!!! Now we have to apply for a visa 175 which processing times are longer, about 15 months.

Spanish Version

Desde el pasado 23 de septiembre de 2009 el departamento de Inmigracion empezó con una nueva prioridad de procesamiento y esa prioridad afecta no solo a los nuevos aplicantes sino tambien a los que ya estan en el proceso por largo tiempo, incluso a aquellos a los que los funcionarios del caso les solicitaron los registros medicos y policiales.

La prioridad de procesamiento es (for las visas 175,475 y 176 entre otras):

1. Patrocinado por un empleador.
2. Patrocinado por un estado o region y con ocupacion en la CSL (Lista de profesiones criticas o necesitadas)
3. Patrocinado por un famliar y la ocupacion en la CSL
4. Aplicaciones sin patrocinio de un familiar ni estado pero con la ocupacion en la CSL
5. Patrocinado por un estado y la ocupacion no esta en la CSL
6a. Ocupacion en la MODL (Ocupaciones en Alta demanda)
6b. Patrocinado por un familiar y la ocupacion no esta en la CSL
7. Las demas aplicaciones.

Como obtuve la revalidacion con un codigo ASCO (codigos de ocupaciones en australia) el cual esta en la CSL (2231-79 Especialista en Oracle), Entonces trate de obtener patrocino del estado de Victoria el pasado Octubre para acelerar nuestro proceso pero respondieron en 3 dias negando la solicitud.

Al menos podemos decir que lo intentamos!!! Ahora tenemos que aplicar por la visa 175cuyos tiempos de procesamientos son mas largos, alrededor de 15 meses.

Third time's a charm

2009-09-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last friday my wife went to Ozi International (the institution where a took the IETLS) to ask for my IETLS score and then she called me to say "I can believe!!, you did it!!!"
my IETLS score was:

Listening: 7.0
Reading :8.0
Writing: 6.0
Speaking 6.5
Overall Score: 7.0

Now to send the documents to DIAC.

Spanish Version:

La tercera es la Vencida

El pasado viernes my esposa fue a Ozi International (institución donde tome el IETLS) a preguntar por mis notas y entonces me llamó a decir "No lo puedo creer!!!, Lo lograste!!!"
My resultado fue:

Listening: 7.0
Reading :8.0
Writing: 6.0
Speaking 6.5
Overall Score: 7.0

Ahora a enviar los documentos a la DIAC.

I ALMOST DID IT

2009-07-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

I ALMOST DID IT

Last Friday we received the IELTS score and it was a bitter sweet moment because my wife got the score she needed but mine was not enough.
This time my IELS score was:

Listening:6.5
Reading:5.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking:6.5
Overall score:6.5
It was contradictory because the previous IELTS I got 7.5 in reading skill and this time it was my weakness area, however, I already knew it because when we finish the exam we share our experience and I realized that I made a mistake because there was an exercise where we had to read an article about ants in the Sahara and the article was compose for ten paragraphs from a) to J) and there was about 10 questions where we had to answer with two letters referencing the paragraphs where they talk about what they ask for and I did not read the instructions appropriately and I thought that I must answer with only one letter; that’s why I said to my wife for me that exercise was very difficult because I always found two paragraphs matching the answer and I decided to answer with one of those, then she said “No, the answer had to be both!!!!!”.
Well, that was my experience and I write about it because if someone read this blog and She/he is going to take the exam don’t make the same mistake.

My problem was that I was very confident with the exam and I only take care with the writing area, so, my advice is read carefully every instruction and always see and understand the example.

Finally, I just want to say that I am going to take the exam again as soon as possible.

CASI LO LOGRO

El viernes pasado recibimos la calificaciòn del IELTS y fue un moento agridulce por que mi esposa obtuvo el puntaje que necesitaba pero el mio fue insuficiente.
Esta vez mi puntaje del IELTS fue:

Listening: 6.5
Reading :5.5
Writing :6.5
Speaking:6.5
overall score:6.5

Fue contradictorio porque el IELTS pasado habia obtenido 7.5 en el Reading y esta vez fue mi area mas debil, sin embargo ya lo sabia por que cuando finalizò el examen compartimos nuestra experiencia (con mi esposa)y me di cuenta que habia cometido un error por que habìa un ejercicio donde tenia que leer un articulo de las hormigas en el sahara y el articulo estaba compuesto de 10 parrafos enumerados de la a) a la j) y habian 10 preguntas donde teniamos que responder con dos letras referenciando los parrafos donde ellos hablaban acerca de lo que preguntaban y yo no lei las instrucciones apropiadamente y pensaba que tenia que responder con solo una letra por lo cual le dije a mi esposa que para mi ese ejercicio fue dificil por que siempre encontraba dos parrafos que hacian juego con la respuesta y decidi responder con una de las dos entonces ella me dijo "No, habia que responder con ambas!!!!"

Bueno, esa fue mi experiencia y escribo de ello porque si alguien lee este blog y el/ella va a presentar el examen no cometa los mismos errores.
Mi problema fue que estaba muy confiado con el examen y solo puse cuidado al writing asì que mi concejo es leer cuidadosamente cada instruccion y siempre mirar y entender los ejemplos.

Finalmente, solo quiero decir que voy a presentar el examen nuevamente lo antes posible.

IELTS Second Try

2009-07-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

As I wrote in a preview post, I already took the IELTS exam but the score was not enough so I decided to take it again and then the last weekend was the day.

The exam had an additional ingredient and it was that my wife was going to presented too so the last weekend we were one next to the other taking the evaluation.

Yesterday was the speaking part and my wife was very optimistic and confident, by my side I was relax but still aware.

The evaluation score will arrive the next 24 of july so we are waiting!!!

Spanish version

IELTS Segundo Intento

Como escribi en un post anterior, ya había presentado el exament pero el puntaje no fue suficiente por lo que decidí tomarlo nuevamente y así la semana pasada fue el día.

El examen tuvo un ingrediente adicional y era que mi esposa lo iba a presentar tambien así que el fin de semana pasado estabamos uno al lado del otro presentando la evaluación.

Ayer fue la seccion de Speaking y mi esposa estaba muy optimista y confiada, por mi parte estaba relajado pero alerta.

El resultado nos llegará el proximó 24 de Julio entonces a esperar!!!

Skill Assessment Achieved

2009-05-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

Versión en Español

La semana Pasada llegó la carta de validación del título, ahora tengo 15 puntos mas para el proceso de visa a Australia por que la ACS me clasificó como apto en el grupo A con el codigo ASCO 2231-79 (Especialista en Oracle).

English version

Last week arrived the skill assessment letter, now I got 15 points more for the Australian Visa Process because the Australian Computer Society classified me as suitable in the group A with the ASCO code 2231-79(Oracle Specialist).

My IELTS Score

2009-05-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Version en Español

Hace dos semanas recibí los resultados del IELTS, cuando vi el puntaje en cada area no sabía si reir o llorar porque obtuve un buen puntaje promedio (6.5) pero no obtuve el puntaje que necesitaba en cada area. Estos son mis resultados:

Listening: 6.5
Reading : 7.5
Writing : 4.5
Speaking : 6.5

Para ser honesto, esos puntajes estan de acuerdo al tiempo que pasé practicando cada area, por ejemplo, paso por lo menos 3 horas escuchando archivos mp3 diariamente, cuando voy al trabajo, cuando regreso a casa y antes de acostarme.

En cuanto a la lectura, paso al menos 5 horas diarias navegando en internet, leyendo noticias, algunos blogs y otra clase de páginas pero obviamente en Ingles.

por otro lado, tengo un amigo que me llama cada que puede y practicamos el speaking y tambien paso algún tiempo conectado al Skype buscando quien este dispuesto a practicar Ingles.

Sin embargo, la practica de la escritura no es tan frecuente, aunque trato de escribir en mi lista diaria de tareas por hacer todo en ingles y compré un cuaderno para practicar con algunas tareas del wirting del IELTS que tengo, ahora me doy cuenta que solo escribí 3 paginas en el cuaderno, lo cual significa que no estoy dedicando mucho tiempo a esa area.

Lo bueno es que ahora sé cual es my area mas débil y voy a trabajar en eso. También trataré de conservar el nivel en las otras areas y presentar el examen el próximo mes.

English Version

Two weeks ago I received the IELTS score, When I saw the score in every band I did not know if laugh or cry because I got a good overall band score (6.5) but I did not get the score that I needed in every band. These are my results:

Listening: 6.5
Reading : 7.5
Writing : 4.5
Speaking : 6.5

To be honest, these scores are according to the time I spent practicing every skill,
for example I spend at least 3 hours daily listening some mp3 files, when I go work, when I return home and before to go to sleep.

In regard to the reading skill I spend at least 5 hours daily browsing through internet, reading some news, some blogs and others sort of pages but obviously in english.

On the other hand, I have a friend who call me every time he can and we practice the speaking skill, and I also spend some time connect to Skype looking for someone who is willing to practice English.

However, the writing practice is not so frequent, although I try write in my daily list of thing to do everthing in English and I bought a notebook in order to practice with some IELTS witing tasks that I have, Now I realized that I wrote only three pages in my notebook which means that I am not spending too much time in that skill.

The good thing is that now I know which is my weakness area and I am going to work on that, also I will try to keep my level in the others areas and present the test next month.

Taking the IELTS Exam

2009-04-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I took the IELTS first part the last Saturday, it is difficult to talk about it because I felt really comfortable taking the exam but you don't really know, so is better to wait.

The exam's first part was the listening and into that part the first section was about a person who arrived to the electronics' store and he wanted to buy a Barbecue and there were a lot of options and I had to write on the blank spaces.

The second section was about an interview to a councilor from a suburb and he was explain the programmed changes they had and I had to write a letter which was on a map and match them with some given names or places.

The third and fourth section was a about the Bicycle's History and I had to write down on the blank spaces.

The reading part was really long; the first reading section was about some advertisements and you had to match them with some sentences.

The second reading section was about a brochure from a hotel chain and you had to give the title to each paragraph according to the sentence they give you.

The third reading section was about a syllabus and you had to math every paragraph with some titles. And the last reading section was about a fire that happened in Paris in 1666 and you had to write if the event happened after, before or during the fire, and in another kind of questions you had to say if the information they gave you according to the reading was true, false or not given.

In the first writing section you had to write a letter to a magazine editor because they made some mistakes in the magazine and you were in a foreign spoken English country and you had to say where were the mistakes, to give the correction and suggest some topics for the next magazine issue.

In the second writing section they said that sport team activities at school teach students more than the game themselves.
They also said that you had to write a letter where you agree that point of view, and you had to support that view with some examples and experiences and tell what you believed it is important for young people the things they learn during sport activities for their life.

The speaking section was yesterday at noon and I was very, very nervous. The instructor started asking me how I pronounce my full name and how I wanted he call me. Then he told me that I had to describe the place where I live, for example in an apartment or house, how many rooms etc.

Later he told me "How can you improve you house to be more comfortable there", next he told me "What is the room you like the most in your house". At that part I was so nervous that I didn't understand the question so I told him "Can you repeat the question please" cause for me is better to ask again before to give a bad answer.

Later he changed the topic and asked me "What is the most interesting place where had you been?" and then he told me "Which country would you like to visit?".

Finally he gave me one minute to take notes if I wanted and he gave me two minutes to talk about a topic, the topic was "If you would have time, what course would you take?" and then he asked me two questions about the same topic and the questions were: "Do you believe the institutions and universities give those courses you mention before focused to the employment?" and the other was "Do you believe that course would be difficult for you?". And then he change the topic and asked me "What would you like the most, type or handwriting and why?".

Well, as you can see I had been thinking a lot about that exam, every second I find other mistake that I did and I regret for it.

But you never know so it is better to wait!!!!!!!

Presentando el IELTS

Presente la primera parte del IETLS el pasado sabado, es dificil hablar acerca de este pues me sentí realmente comodo presentando el examen pero nunca sabes en realidad, por lo tanto es mejor esperar.

La primera parte del examen fue el Listening y en esa parte la primera seccion fue acerca de un señor que llegaba a una tienda de electronicos y quería comprar una parilla y habian muchas opciones de parrillas, y yo tenia que escribir en unos espacios en blanco.

La segunda seccion fue una entrevista a un concejal de un suburbio y el explicaba los cambios que tenian programados hacer, y lo que tenia que hacer era hacer parejas entre unas letras que estaban en un mapa y unas fraces dadas.

La tercera y cuarta seccion fue acerca de la historia de la bicicleta y habia que escribir en los espacios en blanco.

La parte del reading estaba larga,la primera seccion fue acerca de unos anuncios o clasificados y tenian que hacer juego con unas sentencias dadas.

La segunda seccion del reading fue acerca de un folleto de una cadena de hoteles y tenia que dar titulo a cada parrafo de acuerdo a la lectura.

La tercera seccion del reading era de un programa de estudios y tenia que emparejar las parrafos con algunos titulos y la ultima seccion del reading fue de un fuego que ocurrio en Paris en 1666 y tenia que escribir si el evento paso despues, antes o durante el incendio, y en otra clase de pregunta tu tenias que decir si la informacion que te daban de acuerdo a la lectura era verdadera, falsa o no dada.

En la primera seccion del writing habia que escribir una carta al editor de una revista por que ellos habian cometido unos errores en la revista y tu estabas en un pais foraneo donde hablan ingles y tenias que decir donde estaban los errores, dar la correccion y sugerir nuevos temas para la siguiente emision de la revista.

En la segunda seccion del writing decian que las actividades deportivas en equipo en el colegio enseñan a los estudiantes mas que el juego en si.
Tambien decian que habia que escribir una carta donde aprobaras ese punto de vista y tenias que apoyar ese punto de vista con algunos ejemplos y experiencias y decir por que creias que era importante para los jovenes las cosas que aprendian en las actividades deportivas para su vida.

La seccion del Speakin fue ayer al medio dia y estaba muy pero muy nervioso. El instructor inicio preguntandome como pronunciaba my nombr completo y como queria que me llamara el a mi. Luego me dijo que tenia que describir donde vivia, por ejemplo en un apatamento o casa, cuantos cuartos etc.

Luego me dijo "Como podria mejorar su casa para estar mas comodo allí?", luego me dijo "Cual es el cuarto de su casa que mas le gusta?". En esa parte ya estaba tan nervioso que no entendí la pregunta y le dije "Me puedes repetir la pregunta por favor" por que para mi es mejor preguntar antes que dar una mala respuesta.

Luego el cambio el tema y me pregunto "Cual es el sitio mas interesante donde has estado?" y despues me dijo "Cual pais te gustaria visitar?".

Finalmente me dio un minuto para tomar notas si queria y me dio dos minutos para hablar de un tema, el tema fue "Si tuvieras tiempo, que curso te gustaria tomar?" y luego me hizo dos preguntas del mismo tema y las preguntas fueron: "Crees que las instituciones y universidades dan esos cursos que mencionaste enfocados para el empleo?" y la otra fue "Crees que el curso seria dificil para ti?" y despues cambio de tema y me pregunto "que te gusta mas, escribir en el computador o a mano, por que?"

Bueno, como pueden ver he estado pensando mucho a cerca del examen y cada segundo encuentro otro error que cometí y me lamento por ello.

Pero uno nunca sabe entonces es mejor esperar!!!!

IELTS Material

2009-03-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

These days, many people had worte asking me about IELTS Material, so here's the address where you can find it.
IELTS MATERIAL

Also, others ask me about English traslator, so here's the personal contact information about the traslator who help me about my documents, He lives in Cali - Colombia.

GONZALO ESCOBAR KAFURY Telf: (57) - (2) - 6646859

P.S: The traslator gave me the permission to publish his information.

MATERIAL PARA EL IELTS

Estos días muchas personas me han escrito preguntando por el material del IELTS,entonces aqui pongo la dirección donde la pueden encontrar.

IELTS MATERIAL

También otros me han preguntado por el traductor de ingles, entonces aqui coloco su información personal, este traductor fue quien me ayudó con mis documentos, vive en Cali - Colombia.

GONZALO ESCOBAR KAFURY Telf: (57) - (2) - 6646859

Nota: El traductor me dió permiso para publicar su información.

Skill Assessment - ACS 2

2009-03-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Skill Assessment - ACS 2

The last Friday (March 13th), my skill assessment application change from “To be allocated” status to “In progress”, I hope to receive good news soon.

Meanwhile I’m studying to present the IELTS exam which I’m going to present the next April 18th, I made the registration with OZI International and it cost 450.000 Colombian pesos (200 U$ Aprox).

The registration to the IELTS exam is really straightforward, the only you need is fill out a form which you can download it from Internet (IELTS Page), attach two passport photos and the payment receipt.

VALIDACION DEL TITULO - ACS 2

El pasado viernes 13 de Marzo. el proceso de validacion del titulo paso del estado "A ser Asignado" a "En Progreso", Espero recibir buenas noticias pronto.

Mientras tanto estoy estudiando para presentar el examen IELTS el cual voy a presentar el proximo 18 de Abril, Hice la inscripcion con OZI Internacional y costo 450.000 Pesos (Aproximadamente 200 U$).

La inscripcion al exament IELTS es realmente sencilla, lo unico que necesitas es llenar el formulario que puedes bajar de Internet (de la pagina del IELTS), anexar dos potografias tipo pasaporte y el recibo de pago.

Skill Assessment - ACS

2009-03-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

SKILL ASSESSMENT - ACS

The past February 11th I made the International transfer to the ACS (Australian Computer Society) through Bancolombia and two days later they gave me the Swift code to attach like a payment prove, the transaction cost me 765.577 Colombian Pesos (300 U$ aprox) cause although the ACS fee was 400 AUD (264 U$), the bank charge you 72.000pesos (28 U$ aprox).

The February 13th a Friday, I went to DHL and sent the documents for the Skill Assessment, the shipping cost 128.000 pesos (53 U$) and the February 16th arrived the package to ACS, since that day it's in to be allocated status.

VALIDACION DEL TITULO UNIVERSITARIO - ACS

El pasado 11 de Febrero hice la transferencia internacional a ACS a través de Bancolombia y dos días después me dieron el Swift Code que anexé como prueba de pago.

La transacción me costo 765.577 pesos colombianos (aproximadamente 300 dólares Americanos) pues aunque el costo en ACS es de 400 dólares australianos (264 Dólares americanos), El banco cobra 72.000 pesos (28 Dólares Americanos aproximadamente).

El 13 de Febrero, un viernes, Fui a DHL y envié los documentos para la validación del título, el costo del envío fue de 128.000 pesos colombianos (53 Dólares Americanos) y el 16 de Febrero llegó el paquete a ACS, Desde ese día esta en el estado "Para ser Asignado."

Family Support

2009-01-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

I think one of the most important things you have to have during the Visa Australian Process is the family support, cause it's a long process and is compose by several stages where you have to be patient; sometimes you get the documents quickly, sometimes you have to deal with inneffient secretaries or friendly people who are willing to help you, but it doesn't matter what if you're convinced about your decision and also you count with family support, you go on with the hope of a better future.
This post is dedicated to my wife (Laura) who is the person support me and thanks to her tolerance and comprehension I can carry on looking for a better future for my family at the expense of sacrifice.
Thanks God for give me this wonderful family!!!!

APOYO FAMILIAR

Creo que una de las cosas mas importantes que debes tener durante el proceso de obtención de la Visa Australiana es el apoyo familiar, por que es un largo proceso y esta compuesto por diversos pasos donde tu debes ser paciente; algunas veces tienes los documentos rapidamente, algunas veces tienes que lidiar con ineficientes secretarias o gente amigable que está dispuesta a ayudarte, pero sin importar nada, si tu estas convencido de tu desición y cuentas con apoyo familiar, continuas con la esperanza de un mejor futuro.

Esta publicación está dedicada a mi esposa (Laura) quien es la persona que me apoya y gracias a su tolerancia y comprensión puedo continuar buscando un mejor futuro para mi familia a costa de sacrificio.

Gracias Dios por darme esta maravillosa familia!!!!

I

Other Little Step

2008-12-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

The translated documents for the Skill Assessment arrived, Today I took copies of the translations and I did certified in a notary, the only thing I need now is the employer reference, which I hope to take them ready for the next week and send all the documents for the Skill Assessment to ACS.

OTRO PASITO

Me llegaron los documentos traducidos para la revalidación de mi título, Hoy saqué fotocopias de las traducciones y las hice autenticar en una notaría, solo me faltan las referencias laborales, las cuales espero tenerlas listas para la próxima semana y entonces enviar todos los documentos de la revalidación a ACS.

Videos de Australia

2008-11-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

Gracias a un amigo que tambien esta en el proceso de migracion a Australia, quien me envio unos links para ver video de las principales ciudades de australia y de sus regionales.
Para los que quieran ver dichos videos de los hermosos paisajes que tiene australia este es el link:

Videos de Australia

Thanks to a friend who is in the Australia migration process, who sent me a links where you can find videos of the principal Australian cities and some regionales.
If someone want to watch those videos of the Australia's beautiful landscapes here is the link: Videos de Australia

IT growth in negative terrain: Gartner

2008-11-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

Como es bueno estar informado de la nueva tierra donde viviremos, pues hoy encontre esta noticia que no me gusto pero nada, pero que se le va a hacer...

Andrew Colley | November 11, 2008

WORLDWIDE ICT spending growth could reverse into negative territory as early as next year, technology analyst firm Gartner said.

Gartner has been unearthing progressively more negative sentiments among some of the biggest IT buyers across the world since it began interviewing chief information officers for its annual IT management survey in September.

After interviewing around 400 executives representing about $60 billion worth of the world’s IT spend each year four weeks ago Gartner had forecast IT spending growth would hover around 3.3 per cent for the 2009 calendar year.

Today Peter Sondergaard senior vice president of Gartner Global Research said that the company had revised its forecasts downward after pushing its interview tally to around 800 CIOs representing over $100 billion worth of IT spend.

Gartner's current IT spending growth forecast hovers between 0 and 2.3 per cent and, if the recession strikes the major economies hard, it could go into reverse and sink to -2.5 per cent.

Only as late two weeks ago Gartner's worst-case forecast set IT spending growth at 2.3 per cent.

The worst case scenario is based on the presumption that recession in the major economies is irreversible.

"The presumption is that you get to a true economic defined recession in the US and in all of the major economies in Europe and that you have an impact in South America and in Africa that is substantial - not necessarily negative growth from budget perspective but substantial. It also presumes that although you retain some level of GDP growth in Asia and it will be positive it will probably not be enough to maintain average IT budget growth globally," Mr Sondergaard said.

Mr Sondergaard said that hardware suppliers would be the worst hit by the worldwide financial crisis as companies sought ways to hold off on big spending projects.

The impact on software companies would come later, Mr Sondergaard said.

"In IT budgets there's almost something like a safety net underneath what can happen rapidly. The safety net you have is in software contracts. If you could break them it gets really bad but generally you wait for the update cycle," he said.

"What will happen short-term which we're already starting to see is that people are delaying hardware acquisition and particularly things in the distributor space such as peripheral equipment, notebooks, (desktops) which have some implications then for the software that runs on them."

Gartner said that companies would increasingly turn to cost optimisation technologies such as server virtualisation and internet telephony.

Segundo Paso Hacia Australia

2008-10-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

El fin de semana pasado me puse a la tarea de reunir todos los certificados de notas y los diplomas, tanto del colegio como de la Universidad y el lunes hice certificar todos los documentos en una notaría cerca al trabajo.

El martes ya con todos los certificados en la mano, los envié a un traductor (Autorizado NAATI como se requiere para la Obtención del Skill Assessment de la ACS), es un traductor que vive en Cali y es super amable, si alguien está interesado en sus datos, simplemente me escriben al email siwel2008@gmail.com, adicionalmente para las personas que vivimos aqui en Colombia nos sale mucho mas barato, pues en meses pasados se me ocurrio cotizar con un traductor Australiano y a pesar de que te responden super rápido, el precio es mucho mas elevado. Adicionalmente, con el traductor que conseguí, tengo la tranquilidad que es la persona que realiza las traducciones para personas que estan en el mismo proceso pero que han contratado una agencia. Por lo tanto estoy muy contento de haber dado mi segundo paso. Espero la proxima semana estar recibiendo nuevamente los documentos para enviarlos a la ACS lo mas pronto posible.

Ah, tambien el día de hoy estuve averiguando como realizar el pago por medio de una transferencia de fondos internacional y es super sencillo, solo fui a Bancolombia y me dijeron que si tenia una cuenta con ellos, simplemente es que vaya a la oficina de giros internacionales de ellos mismos y que tenga el dinero suficiente en la cuenta y listo, ellos hacen la transferencia en dolares Australianos como se requiere, ah eso si me advirtieron que la transferencia se debe realizar antes de medio día por que si no, la transacción quedará registrada al día siguiente por cuestión de la diferencia de horario con Australia, adicionalmente me informaron del valor de la transación el cual es 29 dolares Americanos mas iva.

Continuando con mi practica de ingles, esta semana he estado muy juicioso estudiando en la página de http://australianetwork.com/studyenglish/ que es excelente, la recomiendo así como tambien la página http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm que fue recomendada por alejandro del blog http://fromca2australia.blogspot.com/ muchas gracias alejandro.

Así que hasta ayer se puede decir que tenia cubierto el tema del Reading leyendo muy atento los periodicos Australianos, el Listening con las páginas antes mencionadas, el Writting con la practica de este Blog y lo que trato de escribir en el trabajo, pero me preocupaba mucho el Speaking asi que me baje el programa Skype que se utiliza para realizar llamadas por Internet y les cuento que es una herramienta invaluable, ayer mismo después que lo baje, me puse a buscar contactos de personas que quisieran practicar Ingles y me encontré con el foro http://forum.skype.com/ donde puedes encontrar muchisimas personas interesadas en practicar diferentes idiomas, así que estuve realizando llamadas hasta que alguien de UK me respondió, fue una muy buena practica aunque la verdad corta por la diferencia de horario pues en UK eran las 4 AM sin embargo quedamos de volver a hablar. Así que les recomiendo utilizar dicha herramienta y si desean practicar conmigo pues mi Skype Name es: siwel.aragon

... Y nuevamente para continuar ejercitando el Writting en Ingles pues aqui va la versión en Ingles.

The last weekend I put hands on gather all my qualifications, my mark sheets and diplomas from high school and university and Monday I did certify all documents in a notary near my work.

Tuesday with all certified documents ready, I sent them to a translator (NAATI translator authorized as is required by ACS in order to get the skill assessment), he is a translator who lives in Cali and is a very nice person, If someone is interested in this contact, only send me an email to siwel2008@gmail.com, furthermore for people who live in Colombia is cheaper because some months ago I quoted with an Australian translator and although they answer quickly, the cost is so high. Also with this translator I mean with the Colombian translator, I’m relax because I know he is the person who make translations for people which are in the same process but that they are hired an Agency. So I’m very happy to had begun the second stage. I hope to received those papers next week and send them to the ACS a.s.a.p.

Also today I was researching how to make an international fund transfer and it’s really easy, I only went to Bancolombia and they told me that if I have an account with them, the only thing I need to do is go to International transfer office of themselves and having money into the account and no more, they make the transfer in Australian dollars how is required, but they warn me the transfer have to be done before noon cause if not, it is going to be process until the next day due the time difference with Australia, also they told me the transfer cost is 29 American dollars plus IVA.

Following up my English practice, this week I had been very judicious studying on the page http://australianetwork.com/studyenglish/ which is excellent, I recommend it and also the page http://www.esl-lab.com/index.htm that Alejandro the Author of the blog http://fromca2australia.blogspot.com/ recommend me. Thanks a lot Alejandro.

So, until yesterday is just to say I had been cover the reading skill, reading very carefully the Australian diaries, The listening skill with the pages that I refer before, the writing skill with the practice in this blog and what I try to write in my work but I was very worry about the speaking skill so I downloaded the Skype software which is use to make internet calls and I found that it’s an invaluable tool, yesterday after download the software I was trying to find someone to practice English and I found a forum call http://forum.skype.com/ where there is a lot of people interested for practice several languages, so I made some calls until someone from UK answer me, It was a good practice although it was very short due the time difference hence in UK was 4 AM, but we going to meet us again. Then I recommend use that tool y if someone want to practice with me, my Skype name is siwel.aragon

2008-10-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Primer Paso.

El 10 de Octubre de 2008 me presenté al British Council para presentar la entrevista de clasificación y realizar el curso de preparación para el IELTS pero ¡oh sorpresa!, cuando terminó la entrevista, la cual consistió en un pequeño examen escrito de 50 preguntas y una conversación con un entrevistador, me explicaron que ellos tienen clasificados los niveles de ingles así:

Elemental
Pre-Intermedio
Intermedio
Superior-Intermedio
Avanzado

Y cada uno de los niveles a su vez están divididos en categorías que van del 1 al 4 y que para presentar el curso de preparación para el IELTS se debe estar al menos en el nivel Superior-Intermedio en la categoría 3 y que en mi caso en particular, ellos me clasificaban en el nivel Superior-Intermedio pero que desafortunadamente estaba en la categoría uno, que debía realizar los cursos de Superior intermedio 1,2 y 3 para poder inscribirme en el preparatorio de IELTS por lo cual quedé con dos sentimientos, triste por no estar en el nivel adecuado para realizar el curso de preparación y contento por estar en el nivel Superior-Intermedio y solo estar a tres cursos para estar en el nivel requerido.

Pero las malas noticias no terminaban allí, pues no había cupo para inscribirme en el nivel que debía empezar, que me dejaban en una lista de espera por si alguna de las personas pre-seleccionadas no se inscribía y que si definitivamente no me podía inscribir para ese periodo, debía esperar hasta enero de 2009 que es cuando vuelven a abrir los cursos.

Por lo tanto me fui a la casa con la firme decisión de ponerme a estudiar ingles lo que mas pueda y si me siento preparado para presentar el examen en Enero de 2009, pues no haré el curso y mejor presento el examen.

Después de la decisión vinieron los hechos, es decir, hice instalar Internet en la casa, empecé a buscar por Internet material del IELTS, del cual encontré bastante (la dirección donde lo encontré es:http://notes.ump.edu.my/fkksa/IELTS%20Materials/), me inscribí en un foro de personas que también están en el proceso de inmigración para Australia que se llama Aussie Neighbor al cual pueden ingresar por la URL:http://aussieneighbor.freeforums.org/ , es un sitio muy provechoso pues los moderadores del foro colaboran muchísimo, te dan una calida bienvenida y te responden las preguntas que tengas, no solo los moderadores sino también otros usuarios que están con el proceso mas adelantado o que ya están en Australia.

Bueno así voy hasta el momento, ahora estoy escribiendo el Resume para enviar al ACS que es la entidad que realiza la validación del título de Ing. de Sistemas.
En cuanto lo tenga terminado, estaré publicándolo para que pueda servir a otras personas como plantilla para sus propios resumes.

Y para mostrar que estoy tratando de mejorar mi ingles, pues aquí va la versión en ingles, perdón, en mi Ingles.

October 10, 2008 I went to the British Council to a classification interview in order to enroll me in the IELTS preparation course but !Oh surprise!, when the interview finished, which included in a little exam with 50 questions and a chat with an interviewer, who explained me that in the British council, they classify the students in 5 levels which are:
Elementary
Pre-Intermediate
Intermidiate
Upper-Intermidiate
Advance

And each level is itself divided into 4 categories from 1 to 4 and to let you do the IELTS preparation course you must to be at least in the level Upper-Intermediate in the third category and in my particular case, they classified me in the level Upper-Intermediate but in the first category, so I must to see the courses 1,2 and 3 of Upper-Intermediate if I’d like to enroll me in the IELTS preparation course. Whereby I kept whit two feelings, sad cause I wasn’t in the appropriate level to do the course, and happy cause I was in the Upper-Intermediate level and only need to do 3 courses to be in the required level.

But the bad news wasn’t finish there, because there wasn’t place in the course I must begin, so they put me in the waiting list just in case if someone drop out, but if nobody cancel the course, so, I must wait until January 2009 when they open courses again.

Then I went to my house with a firm decision to study hard and if I feel ready to present the IELTS in January 2009, then I won’t do the course and present just the exam.

After I had take that decision, the facts, I subscribe me with a company to have internet in my home, I started to browse through internet IELTS material, and I found a lot (the address is http://notes.ump.edu.my/fkksa/IELTS%20Materials/), I subscribe me in a forum where there are people doing the process to immigrate to Australia, the forum is called Aussie Neighbor which you can find in the URL: http://aussieneighbor.freeforums.org/, it’s a web site really rewarding cause the moderators help you a lot, they give you a warm welcome and they answer your questions, but no only the moderators but also the other users who are in the same process or someone who already are in Australia.

Well, that’s all, at the moment I writing the resume to send it to the ACS who is the institution in charge to give you the assessment skill for Systems Engineering.

When I had finish the resume, I’ll make it public just to give the readers of this blog a template for their owns resumes.

Inmigracion de Colombia a Australia Parte1

2008-10-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

En este Blog iré colocando casa uno de los pasos e investigaciones que iré realizando a cerca del proceso de inmigración a Australia, espero que sea de ayuda para muchas personas que también piensan realizar el mismo proceso y de hecho me gustaría contactarme con ellos para intercambiar ideas, tips y datos importantes que nos puedan ayudar a todos en el proceso de la obtención de la visa para poder inmigrar a Australia.

Trataré de abordar en este Blog temas como son La obtención de la Validación del título universitario, El proceso de preparación para el IELTS del cual tengo muchisimo material que he bajado de internet y está compuesto de pdf's y mp3 lo cual permite realizar una buena preparación y estoy dispuesto a compartir (siwel2008@gmail.com es mi correo por si les interesa). La obtención de la documentación para presentar a DIAC, La obtención de un empleo, una vivienda etc.

My Daugther

2008-10-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

My Daugther Photos.