Useful Links

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

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

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.

Applying for a PR

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.